NO. 6 ONU UPENDED BY NO. 25 INDIANA WESLEYAN ON SATURDAY NIGHT

MARION, Ind. – The No. 6 Olivet Nazarene University football team returned to the gridiron on Saturday night and travelled to the Wildcat Football Stadium to play No. 25 Indiana Wesleyan.  The Tigers fell to the Wildcats, 52-28. 

The Wildcats took advantage of their first drive, striking early for a quick touchdown to opening the scoring, 7-0.  Then the Tigers fired back through the air.  David Hutton led a 10-play, 75-yard drive including passing for a perfect 7-for-7 for 78 yards.  Hutton hooked up with Jared Honey, Jalen Dunnigan, Brian Jenkins, and Scotty Graziano on the drive.  The drive ended when Hutton ran into the endzone for a two-yard rushing touchdown making the score 7-7.  Indiana Wesleyan used their quick striking abilities to find the back of the endzone twice more as the Wildcats took a 21-7 lead going into the second quarter.

Indiana Wesleyan kept their foot on the gas in the second quarter as they extended their lead to 35-7.  Late in the second quarter, the Tigers looked to close the gap before the half.  After throwing the ball incomplete on his first play, Hutton connected with Aaje Grayson, Jenkins, Andrew Cloy, and Graziano for four straight completions.  With less than a minute left, Hutton decided to help his cause and ran for a 16-yard gain which put the Tigers in good position for a score.  With 10 ticks left on the clock, Dunnigan grabbed a three-yard reception from Hutton which resulted in a Tiger touchdown.  After Bryce DeGuira made the extra point, the Tigers still trailed 35-14 going into the locker room.

Halftime: No. 25 Indiana Wesleyan 35, No. 6 Olivet Nazarene 14

The third quarter was all Indiana Wesleyan as they marked a rushing touchdown and a 28-yard field goal, which extended their lead to 45-14.  The Wildcats started the fourth quarter with a touchdown and now led 52-14.  After a Tiger interception, the reigning Mid-States Football Association (MSFA) and National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Defensive Player of the Week, Jason Freeman forced a fumble on the Wildcat 41-yard line, which gave Hutton and the Tiger offense good field position.  That drive was capped off with an eight-yard touchdown reception from Hutton to Jenkins.  That made the score 52-21.

On the next drive for ONU, Hutton was replaced by backup quarterback Cameron Crouch.  Crouch mainly moved the ball for the Tigers with his legs rushing the ball four times for 27 yards.  During the drive, Crouch connected with Jaylen Fowler for a 26-yard gain.  Crouch finished the drive finding the back of the endzone for a two-yard rushing touchdown. 

The Tigers suffer their first loss of the season falling, 52-28. 

GAME VITALS

Final: No. 25 Indiana Wesleyan 52, No. 6 Olivet Nazarene 28

Records: No. 25 Indiana Wesleyan: 3-0 | No. 6 Olivet Nazarene: 1-1

Location: Wildcat Football Stadium | Indiana Wesleyan University | Marion, Ind.

QUICK HITS

• Hutton went 28-for-46 with 298 yards and a pair of touchdowns and interceptions.
• Dunnigan led the Tigers with 9 receptions for 134 yards and a touchdown. 
• Jenkins also grabbed a touchdown reception. 
• Andrew Ryczek punted five times including two times inside the 20-yard line. 
• Freeman led the Tigers with 12 tackles while Joshua Miser followed with 9 tackles. 
• Freeman, Drew Hanft, Damien Savage, and Adam Worley each marked a tackle-for-loss. 

WHAT'S NEXT?

The No. 6 Tigers host the Trojans of Taylor University on Saturday, September 25.  Kickoff at Ward Field is set for 6 p.m.

--ONU—

*Contact: Sam Viebrock, Sports Information Director, stviebrock@olivet.edu