OLIVET, Mich. - It was a comeback for the ages as the Thunder erased a 14 point deficit with just over a minute to play in regulation to win in overtime 47-41 at Olivet College on Saturday. The win marked the first of the conference season for the Thunder and showcased many memorable performances.
With Trine (1-4, 4-5) trailing 41-27 late in the fourth quarter on a windy and dark Saturday afternoon, Freshman Brandon Rooze (West Lafayette, Ind./Benton Central) shined in his first ever collegiate start. He engineered a 65 yard drive, capped off on a three yard touchdown run by freshman Frank Vuocolo (Jackson, Mich./Grass Lake) to pull the Thunder to within seven, at 41-34, with 1:01 left.
Then it was time for the onside kick. Senior Tyler Keck (Elkhart, Ind./Elkhart Memorial) angled the kick to left and the pigskin took a perfect hop at midfield into the diving arms of junior Zac Hess, (Eagle, Mich./Grand Ledge) and the Thunder recovered at the Comet 47.
With less than a minute to play, the offense took over. On the key play of the drive, Rooze connected with junior Anthony Yoder, (Goshen, Ind./Concord) who made a leaping catch in the middle of two defenders, for a 34 yard gain to place the Thunder at the Olivet five. After a pass interference by Olivet, Trine was shut down by the Comet defense to force a fourth-and-goal from the Olivet one. There was only time for one final play.
With the last second of regulation ticking away, Rooze rolled out to the right and fired a laser into the chest of junior wide receiver Jared Barton (Middleton, Mich/Fulton) for a one yard touchdown in the right side of the endzone to tie the score at 41-41 after the extra point.
For the fourth time in school history, Trine was headed into overtime. The Thunder won the coin flip and elected to play defense first.
After an incomplete pass by Comet sophomore quarterback Braden Black on first down, sophomore James Gregory (Akron, Ind./Tippecanoe Valley) made the biggest defensive play of the day for the Thunder. Gregory barricaded the receiver down the left sideline and hauled in his second interception of the year inside the ten yard line. The turnover gave the Thunder the ball in overtime, needing a score of any type to secure the victory.
It didn't take long for the offense to strike. Carrying the momentum of the change of possession, Vuocolo hit hard for a 21 yard gain to set the Thunder in striking distance at the Olivet four. On the very next play, Vuocolo barged into the endzone, giving the Thunder an improbable overtime win and sent the entire Trine sideline sprinting onto the field to pile in celebration in the back of the endzone. Trine scored the final 20 points of the afternoon and turned a 14 point deficit with around a minute to play in regulation into a six point thrilling overtime win.
The players weren't in the celebrating mood at the beginning of the game, however. Olivet built a 14-0 lead after a one yard touchdown run by sophomore Tyre Alexander and a five yard scoring scamper on a sweep by freshman Javon Moore early in the second quarter. Then, the Trine offense began to produce.
The Thunder marched 60 yards down the field and broke onto the scoreboard for the first time on a one yard power run by senior Richard Gunn (Ashley, Ind./Penn) to cut the Olivet lead to 14-7.
On the ensuing possession for Olivet, Black threw the ball straight into the swirling wind and sophomore cornerback Travis Smith (Clarkston, Mich./Clarkston) made a leaping grab to intercept the pass and dart down the left side to score on a 20 yard touchdown return to tie the game at 14-14.
Olivet wasted no time answering, as they took just six plays to travel 80 yards to score on another Moore sweep from six yards out to take a 21-14 advantage.
Trine would not be deterred. The Thunder drove into Comet territory, and a connection from Rooze to Gunn on 12 yard pass put the Thunder in position to score with time quickly fading before halftime. Rooze dropped back and lobbed a majestic pass into the air toward the front corner of the endzone as Yoder leaped over the defender and made an acrobatic catch to haul in a 27 yard touchdown pass to draw the Thunder within a point.
The extra point was missed on an errant snap, and the Thunder headed into the break trailing by one, at 21-20.
Trine's offense stalled in the third quarter, as the Comets added a touchdown on a 10 yard catch by sophomore Kyle Bryson to lead 28-20, headed into the fourth quarter.
Bryson struck again on a seven yard touchdown catch, and Olivet seemingly had all the momentum as they lead 35-20 with just over 11 minutes to play.
The Thunder were already relying on the freshman Rooze, who went the distance in his first ever start at quarterback. Now they turned toward another fresh face in Vuocolo, who was summoned into the game as he took over at running back for Gunn, the conference's leading rusher.
Vuocolo responded in a big way on a two yard touchdown run to cut the lead to 35-27 with 6:10 left.
Olivet's offense continued to roll on the very next possession. Black connected again with Bryson for his third touchdown catch of the day, this time on a perfectly placed 39 yard catch on a sprint down the sideline. The extra point sailed wide, however, and Olivet lead 41-27 with just over three minutes to play.
That set up the frantic final flurry of scoring for Trine at the end of regulation and into overtime to seal their sixth consecutive victory over the Comets, at 47-41.
Rooze was extremely solid in his starting debut, finishing 25-49 for 273 yards and two touchdowns. Vuocolo burst upon the scene late, rushing for a career-high 60 yards and scoring three times. Gunn finished with 70 yards on the ground, with a score.
Sophomore wide receiver Gage Corner (Leo, Ind./Leo) continued to pile up the numbers, finishing with 11 catches for 143 yards. Corner has 58 grabs on the year, which is third all-time in a season in Trine University history. His 884 receiving yards are the third best of any player wearing the Thunder blue in a season, trailing only Nick Testa and Paul Curtis.
Yoder's triumphant return to the field produced four catches for 69 yards and a score, while Barton hauled in the tying touchdown at the end of regulation. He ended with three catches on the day.
The defense was led by junior Tyler Guzy (Coldwater, Mich./Coldwater) with 11 tackles. Seniors Louis Danesi (Santa Fe, Texas/Santa Fe) and Caleb Nitz (Baroda, Mich./Lakeshore) each had 10 stops.
With the loss, Olivet drops to 2-3 in conference play and 6-3 overall.
The overtime win for the Thunder was the first since a 20-14 win at LaGrange College in 2011.
Next up for the Thunder is the conclusion to the 2013 season on a road trip at Alma College to face the Scots on Nov. 16 at 1 p.m.
