Football team shuts-out Manchester, 56-0

The Olivet College football team shut-out its second straight opponent today with a 56-0 victory at Manchester (Ind.) College at the Carl W. Burt Memorial Stadium. The Fighting Comets outgained the Spartans, 514-189 in total offense with six different players scoring a rushing touchdown.

The last time Olivet had consecutive shut-out victories was 1966. The 56 point margin of victory is the most since 1917 when the Comets defeated Adrian, 65-0.

Sophomore Damien Brown (Harper Woods Gallagher High School) scored from 27-yards out on the Comets' second-play of the game from scrimmage. Sophomore Justin Hunwick (Sterling Heights/Stevenson High School) added the PAT kick. On Olivet's next possession, freshman Steve Van Nortwick (Novi/Walled Lake Western High School) scored.

Following a Manchester fumble, junior quarterback Rick Mason (Belding High School) found sophomore Josh Ewing (Hopkins High School) in the left corner of the endzone for a touchdown. Hunwick made the PAT kick for a 20-0 Comet lead. Junior Dave Trudell (Springport High School) intercepted Manchester's first pass. Two plays later freshman Kemp Luchie (Grand Rapids/Forest Hills Northern High School) scored a touchdown from 61 yards out, and Olivet led 26-0 after the first quarter.

Olivet scored touchdowns in the second quarter on a 21-yard run by sophomore Travis Sleight (Battle Creek/Lakeview High School) and a 60-yard pass completion by Mason to Ewing. Hunwick also added both PAT kicks and a 21-yard field goal.

Freshmen Drew Nielsen (Belding High School) and Isiah Wiltshire (Toronto, Ontario) each scored a touchdown in the fourth quarter for Olivet.

Olivet, who entered the game leading all NCAA divisions in rushing offense, used 14 different ball carriers to pick up 389 yards on the ground. Luchie led the ground attack with 64 yards, followed by Brown with 60, Van Nortwick with 50, sophomore Mick Faasen (Belding High School) with 42, freshman Jeff LaClair (Milford High School) with 39 and Sleight with 33.

The Comet defense played a great game with five players having at least five tackles apiece. Trudell, sophomores Aaron Denson (Detroit Southwest High School) and Jarrod LaRoche (Lake Odessa/Lakewood High School) each recorded six tackles. Freshman Blake Wagner (Belding High School) had five tackles, including two quarterback sacks for minus 18 yards. He also forced and recovered a fumble. Senior Charles Shaw (Kalamazoo/Loy Norrix High School) also had five tackles.

Olivet is next in action on Saturday, Oct. 4 when it opens Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association play at home against Albion College. Kick-off from Griswold Field is 1 p.m. The Fighting Comets were selected as the preseason favorite to win the MIAA title.