October 21, 2000 - Kalamazoo College at Olivet College

OLIVET - Kalamazoo held off a second half rally by Olivet and emerged with a 29-22 victory today, their first in the MIAA this season.

The Hornets jumped out to a 21-0 lead and carried a 21-7 lead into halftime. Justin Gross scored on a two-yard run on the team's opening drive. Zach Burton scored his first career touchdown nine seconds into the second quarter on a 41-yard pass from Zach Ellis. One minute and 55 seconds later Dwight White scored on a two-yard run after Paul Natonek's 44-yard interception return set the Hornets up at the Olivet three yard line. Olivet scored with 6:54 left in the first half on a 26-yard completion from Jason VanLuven to Andy Boyd.

Olivet kicked off to start the second half and tackled the Kalamazoo returner in the end zone for a safety.

Dwight White scored his second touchdown of the game with 5:39 left in the third on a six-yard run to increase the Kalamazoo lead to 27-9. Olivet's Kris Brown scored on subsequent possessions late in the third with runs of 15 and five yards to cut the Kalamazoo lead to 27-22.

Ben Szelag recorded a safety for Kalamazoo in the fourth quarter after a booming punt by Tom Hillemeier went into the end zone, giving Kalamazoo the 29-22 lead and eventual final score.

Olivet had 413 yards of total offense, including 296 yards passing. Kalamazoo had 320 yards of total offense, of which 166 came on the ground and 154 came in the air. Kalamazoo held a slight edge in time of possession 32:34 to 27:26.

Dwight White led the Hornets with 95 yards rushing on 23 carries. Justin Gross had 86 yards on 21 carries. Olivet's Kris Brown had 109 yards on 20 carries.

Zach Ellis threw for 154 yards, completing 9-of-26 passes with one touchdown and one interception. Olivet's Jason VanLuven was 27-of-53 for 296 yards with one touchdown and three interceptions. He was sacked four times.

Andy Graham led the Hornet receivers with 58 yards on five catches. Andy Boyd had 10 receptions for 153 yards for the Comets.

Brent Klein and Brant Haverdink each had 11 tackles to lead Kalamazoo. Haverdink had three tackles for loss, one interception, and one sack. Mark LaCombe and Paul Natonek each had interceptions. Brett Foster had one and a half sacks. Tim Prater had one sack and Paul Hubbard had half of a sack. Olivet's Mike Hanna had 13 tackles and one interception.

The Hornets improve to 3-3 on the season and 1-1 in the MIAA. Olivet falls to 2-5 overall and 0-2 in the MIAA. Kalamazoo returns to Angell Field next week to host Alma College at 1 p.m.

Game Statistics