Missed opportunities lead to 28-21 loss to Rochester in home-opener

OLIVET, Mich. – Two missed scoring opportunities in the red zone were the difference in the game, as The University of Olivet football team fell to University of Rochester, 28-21, this afternoon in its home-opener at the Cutler Athletic Complex.

THE BASICS

• Final Score: Rochester 28, Olivet 21
• Location: Cutler Athletic Complex; Olivet, Michigan
• Records: Olivet 0-1 overall, Rochester 1-0 overall

HOW IT HAPPENED

• A promising opening first possession resulted in zero points for the Comets. A 24-yard rush play moved the ball down to the Rochester 1-yard line, but a penalty brought the ball back to 40-yard line. Olivet punted the ball back to the Yellowjackets.
• Rochester's first drive also resulted in a punt that was downed at the Comet 28-yard line. On the first play of Olivet's drive, junior quarterback Thomas Foust threw a 72-yard touchdown pass to sophomore Kevin Lebron. The PAT kick by senior Tristan McElhinney was good to make the score 7-0 at the 5:22 mark of the opening quarter.
• The Comet defense forced a three-and-out for the Yellowjackets. After getting the ball at the 30, Foust threw an interception, and Rochester took over at its own 39-yard line.
• The Yellowjackets took advantage of the turnover and used an eight-play drive to tie the game.
• After the teams traded punts, Olivet started its next drive at its own 19-yard line. A 35-yard pass play from Foust to junior Dontal Wright put the Comets into the Rochester half of the field. Following a rush for minus one yard, Foust rumbled 47 yards through the defense for a touchdown. Another McElhinney PAT kick split the uprights to make the score 14-7 with 7:01 left before halftime.
• The Yellowjackets immediately answered on their next drive when Ryan Rose threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Trey Johnson.
• Both teams committed a turnover on their next possessions. Olivet then had to punt the ball back with 1:10 left in the second quarter. Senior Austin Berkompas then picked-off a Rose pass and returned the ball 54 yards down to the Rochester 2-yard line with 34 seconds remaining in the half. Three straight run plays did not result in any points for the Comets.
• Rochester got the ball to start the second half. The Yellowjackets were able to gain only seven yards before punting the ball.
• Olivet took over at its 39-yard line. The Comets used 13 plays to move the ball to the Rochester 8-yard line before turning the ball over on downs.
• Neither team was able to put any points on the scoreboard in the third quarter.
• Rochester scored the go-ahead touchdown five seconds into the fourth quarter on an 11-yard pass from Rose to Jackson Kane.
• The Yellowjackets took advantage of another Olivet interception to put seven more points on the scoreboard with 6:52 left in the game on a 10-yard touchdown pass from Ross to Johnson.
• Another Comet drive ended in an interception. But this time, Rochester did not score any points on its ensuing possession. Instead, the Yellowjackets only gained five yards and punted the ball back to Olivet.
• Olivet put together a 15-play, 64-yard drive to cut its deficit to 28-21. The drive was capped by a two-yard touchdown run by Foust.
• The on-side kick was recovered by Rochester, and two kneel-downs ended the game.

FOR THE COMETS

• Olivet out-gained Rochester in total offensive yards, 384 to 264. The Comets had 242 yards on the ground and 142 through the air, while the Yellowjackets had 144 rushing and 120 passing yards.
• Foust had 13 carries for 112 yards and was 8-of-31 passing for 142 yards.
• Wright rushed 19 times for 82 yards. He also hauled in three passes for 46 yards.
• Freshman Rickey Smith III topped the defense with 16 total tackles, including 13 solo stops.
• Senior Isaac Rowe and junior Dominico Tejeda had six tackles apiece. Of Rowe's six tackles, two and one-half were for loss yards.

UP NEXT

• Olivet plays the College of Wooster Scots at the Cutler Athletic Complex next Saturday, September 14. Kickoff is at 1 p.m.