Olivet tied for third in 2015 MIAA preseason football poll

FREELAND, Mich. -- The Olivet College football team tied for third-place in the 2015 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) preseason poll. 

In voting by the coaches, the Comets and Trine (Ind.) University shared third-place with 17 total points each. Defending MIAA champion Adrian College was picked the preseason favorite with nine points. Albion College was second with 16 points. After Olivet and Trine was Hope in fifth, 23 points; Kalamazoo College in sixth, 31 points; and Alma College in seventh, 34 points.

Under the leadership of third-year head coach Dan Pifer, Olivet looks to improve on its 6-4 overall record from the 2014 season. The Comets were 3-3 against MIAA rivals. All four of their losses were by a touchdown or less and the winning points in three of the losses were on the opponent's last offensive play of the game.

Olivet welcomes back more than 50 letterwinners, including five All-MIAA players from last season -- senior wide receiver Kyle Bryson, senior offensive linemen Jacob Cramer and Ty Rozema, senior tight end Dominik Givens and junior running back Damorria Lilly. In addition, junior defensive lineman Justin Madar, a 2013 All-MIAA pick, is back.

Other returning starters include sophomore kicker Gunnar Aper, senior wideout Jason Barbosa, junior quarterback Braden Black, senior defensive back Curtis French, senior linebackers Trevor Garbow, Tyler Gorby and Zechariah Jenkins, junior defensive back Javon Moore, senior offensive lineman Colt Nevins, senior Andrew Pabst, senior offensive lineman Cornelius Pettit, senior defensive lineman Cody Ross, sophomore wideout Kornelius Saxton and junior defensive back Christopher Thomas.

Olivet will open the 2015 season Saturday, Sept. 5 when it welcomes the Earlham (Ind.) College Quakers to the Cutler Athletic Complex for a 1 p.m. contest. The Comets will begin MIAA play Saturday, Oct. 3 against Adrian College at 2 p.m.