OLIVET, Mich. -- The defense came up with four turnovers in the game leading the Trine University football team to a 35-14 victory over their hosts from Olivet College. The Thunder improved to 4-2 following the victory remaining a perfect 2-0 in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association.
The game started as a defensive battle with both teams holding firm through the majority of the first quarter. It was Trine that came up with the first momentum shifting play, when they ended the Comets' third drive of the contest with their first interception of the day. Senior Angel Sanchez (Valparaiso, Ind. / Portage) came up with the pick, giving the offense the ball on their own 30-yard line.
The Thunder drove the ball down the field in the following drive finishing with a touchdown in the opening play of the second quarter. Junior Alex Price (Reading, Mich. / Reading) capped the drive with an eight-yard pass over the middle to senior Seth Vargo (Port Clinton, Ohio / Clyde) who pushed two defenders over the goal line for the touchdown.
The game settled back into a defensive struggle following the Thunder taking the 7-0 lead, with both teams punting through the rest of the quarter, entering halftime with the same score.
After a disappointing offensive possession, the Trine defense once again turned the tide for the team in their first action of the half. With Olivet poised to score with the ball in the red zone, the Thunder front swarmed the quarterback and forced a loose ball in the flat. Junior Kyle Naif (Riverview, Mich. / Riverview) was there to collect the fumble and sprinted the 68 yards to the endzone to put the team up 14-0.
On the succeeding kickoff the Comets came up with a long return and their offense capitalized on the short field with their first touchdown of the contest cutting the deficit to 14-7.
Price gave the Thunder back their 14-point lead on the next drive, placing a pass perfectly for junior Kyran Pearson (Elkhart, Ind. / Elkhart Central) who finished off the 44-yard play by scampering into the endzone. The score was 21-7 following the successful extra point.
Olivet posted their most successful drive of the contest during their next possession with an 11 play, 78-yard touchdown drive that took 5:23 off the clock and cut the Trine lead 21-14. It would span the final minutes of the third and ended during the opening of the fourth quarter.
The Thunder needed significantly less time to respond. Having seen the opposition with success on kickoff returns, senior wideout Josh Davis (Sterling Heights, Mich. / Sterling Heights) decided it was his turn and took the next kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown taking the 28-14 lead.
The score spurred the Thunder defense to new heights, as they ended the final three Comet drives with a three and out and a pair of interceptions. Junior Jaylin Page (Anderson, Ind. / Lapel) and sophomore Camden Nagel (Noblesville, Ind. / Noblesville) recorded the interceptions.
The final touchdown of the game went to junior running back Xaine Kirby (Sweester, Ind. / Eastbrook) who broke a 43-yard run for the score. Kirby led the contest offensively finishing with 140 rushing yards.
Price finished the game 8-14 for 102 yards in the air with the pair of touchdowns while adding 68 yards on the ground.
Next weekend is a bye for the Thunder. They will return to action on Saturday, Oct. 23 when they host Kalamazoo College for a 1 p.m. contest.
