No. 10 Tigers Use Timely Offense and Stout Defense to Hold Off Siena Heights
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Siena Heights (0-1) | 7 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 17 |
|
Olivet Nazarene (1-0) | 7 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 20 |
BOURBONNAIS, Ill. – The No. 10 Olivet Nazarene University football team opened its 2021 season in front of a packed house at Ward Field, on Saturday, hosting Siena Heights. The Tigers pulled out a 20-17 victory over the Saints.
The Tigers struggled out of the gate in the first quarter as Siena Heights took the opening kickoff back 52 yards to the ONU 46-yard line. A few plays later, the Saints scored a 42-yard touchdown making the score, 7-0. Later in the first quarter, the Tigers tied the game. With 10:26 left in the quarter, David Hutton connected with Aaje Grayson for a 27-yard gain on the first play. Then, Grayson punched the ball in for a nine-yard touchdown rush. Bryce Deguira's extra point made the score seven all.
The Saints started the second quarter how they started the first quarter and tacked on another touchdown. After a Tiger interception, the Saints took advantage of great field position at the Tiger 19-yard line. Then, the Saints punched in a one-yard touchdown to take a 14-7 lead. The Tigers and Saints traded punts the majority of the second quarter as neither team could gain any momentum. With 1:14 left in the half, the Tigers took over following a fumble recovery. In the opening play, Hutton hooked up with Jalen Dunnigan for a 19-yard reception. Hutton then completed a 30-yard pass to Brian Jenkins to put the ball at the Saint 28-yard line. A couple plays later, as time expired, DeGuira nailed a 50-yard field goal as the Tigers trailed 14-10 at the half.
On the opening possession of the third quarter, the Tigers took the lead. Hutton, started the drive, completing a pass to Jenkins for 51 yards to place the ball at the Saints' 25-yard line. A few plays later, Grayson broke the plane of the goal line for his second touchdown of the afternoon making the score 17-14, Tigers. Neither the teams broke the scoring column again in the third quarter as the two teams took a ,17-14, score into the fourth quarter.
At the beginning of the fourth quarter, Bryce Deguira made a 21-yard field goal to extend the Tiger lead to 20-14. The Saints then came back and ran a 7-play 46-yard drive and made a 43-yard field goal to cut the Tiger lead to 20-17.
Defense on both sides dominated the rest of the fourth quarter, but the Tigers held on to take the opener 20-17.
GAME VITALS
Final: No. 10 Olivet Nazarene 20, Siena Heights 17
Records: No. 10 Olivet Nazarene: 1-0 | Siena Heights: 0-1
Location: Ward Field | Olivet Nazarene University | Bourbonnais, Ill.
QUICK HITS
- Grayson rushed 17 times for 67 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
- Hutton went 25-for-39 with 312 yards and two interceptions.
- Jenkins led the Tigers with 97 yards receiving
- Dunnigan followed with 76 yards receiving.
- Deguira made 2-of-4 field goals.
- Jason Freeman led the Tigers with 16 tackles while Drew Hanft followed with 6 tackles.
- Joshua Mathiasen and Joshua Miser each tallied five tackles
- Freeman had five tackles-for-loss, two sacks, and four quarterback hurries.
- The Tiger defense held the Saints to 200 total yards of offense.
WHAT'S NEXT?
The No. 10 Tigers enjoy a bye week next week and then travel to Marion, Ind. to face the Wildcats of Indiana Wesleyan on Saturday, September 18 at 5 p.m. CST. Please visit onutigers.com for the most up-to-date information.
--ONU—
*Contact: Sam Viebrock, Sports Information Director, stviebrock@olivet.edu
