ANGOLA, Ind. – The Trine University football team battled through the wind and rain to secure a 28-14 victory over the visitors from The University of Olivet. Four different members of the Thunder scored on route to the victory.
It didn't take long for Trine to put points on the board. After the opening kickoff from the Comets hung up in the wind and landed at the 19 yard line, sophomore Rashawn Street picked the ball up there and split the coverage team. He went untouched for the 81-yard return touchdown, giving the team a 7-0 lead.
It was a short-lived lead, with Olivet taking advantage of a strong kickoff return of their own. They went the remaining 50 yards in just four plays and a little over a minute of game time to tie the contest at seven.
Neither team scored through the rest of the first quarter, but the Thunder defense came up with a highlight of their own in the latter minutes of the period. After Tucker Hasselman came up with a tackle in the backfield to make it a long third down around midfield, Jamon Gibson came up with the first turnover of the day. Gibson read a screen up the middle perfectly and back pedaled into coverage from his spot on the edge of the line before tipping the pass to himself for the interception.
The offense cashed in on the turnover, but it took into the second quarter. Seniors Xaine Kirby and Alex Price led the drive for the team. Kirby had 26 yards rushing on the 51-yard drive, with Price accounting for the other half with two passes and a run of his own. He connected with Connor Arthur on a four-yard pass to give the team the lead at 14-7.
After the defense forced a three-and-out on the next drive, the Thunder offense went right back to work. Again, the squad combined for a balanced drive, this time for 80 yards and another touchdown. Price picked up his second touchdown of the day, connecting with Kale Lawson in the back of the endzone.
The Comets had some success on their final drive of the first half, but a redzone stand by the defense sent the game to intermission with the score of 21-7 in favor of Trine.
The Thunder added their final points of the day in the middle of the third quarter. The drive started on the team's own 36, with freshman Craig Nichols taking on the workload for the drive. He carried the ball four times for 25 yards and the touchdown. The other highlight of the drive was an amazing catch on the sideline by Owen Hebberd.
The Trine defense created another turnover on the next Olivet drive, with Joseph Johnson coming on the safety blitz and recording the sack-fumble. Elijah Bouyer was able to jump on top of the lose ball for the Thunder.
The rest of the game went quickly with the offense bleeding clock for Trine and the defense keeping everything in front of them. Olivet did come up with one more touchdown in the fourth quarter, but it was nowhere near enough, and the game eventually went final at 28-14.
Price finished the game with 135 yards in the air and the pair of touchdowns. Jermaine Williams led the way on the ground finishing with 74 yards. Nichols came in second with 44 yards and Kirby recorded 33.
Defensively Johnson led the team with 15 total tackles including the sack and forced fumble. Freshman Tamir Woods had 1.5 sacks in the game and a forced fumble of his own. Freshman Charles Thompson joined Gibson with an interception of his own in the second half.
The Thunder improve to 4-3 overall and 2-1 in Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) play following the victory. They will travel to face Albion College next Saturday, October 21. Opening kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.