NO.19 TIGERS BOUNCE BACK NICELY AGAINST MISSOURI BAPTIST ON HOMECOMING SATURDAY
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Missouri Baptist (3-5) | 3 | 0 | 6 | 7 | 16 |
|
Olivet Nazarene (5-2) | 14 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 37 |
BOURBONNAIS, Ill. – In front of a sellout crowd, on Homecoming Saturday, at Ward Field, the No. 19 Olivet Nazarene University football team defeated the Spartans of Missouri Baptist University, 37-16. The Tigers used great success on the ground and stout defense to take down the Spartans.
The Spartans kicked a 37-yard field goal on their opening drive and took a 3-0 lead. The Tigers took the lead on their next drive. On a 3rd and six, Aaje Grayson picked up a 21-yard gain to put the ball on the ONU 44 yard-line. Then, Cameron Crouch completed passes to Tyler Isaacson and Jared Honey for 12-yard gains. After a rush for no gain, Crouch found Brian Jenkins for an 11-yard touchdown reception. After a Bryce Deguira extra point, the Tigers led 7-3. On the next Spartan possession, the defense for the Tigers made a statement. On 2nd and 10 from the ONU 42, Patryk Ryczek intercepted MBU quarterback Josh Munn and took the ball in for six points. The Tigers led 14-3 and that score would hold going into the second quarter.
On the Tigers' first possession of the second quarter, they added to their lead. Evan Leake kicked off the drive with a 14-yard rush. A few plays later, Crouch hooked up with Honey for a 20-yard reception. Grayson, on the next play, ran for a 14-yard rush putting the ball on the MBU 18-yard line. Gil'Scott Jackson II finished the drive, a few plays later, with a one-yard touchdown rush making the score, 20-3. The Tiger defense was back to work and on the first play of the Spartan drive, Jason Freeman intercepted Josh Munn. The Tigers did not take advantage of that turnover and still led 20-3.
With a little over 4:30 minutes left in the first half, the Tigers added to their lead. On a 2nd and 15, Crouch found Scotty Graziano for a 23-yard pitch-and-catch. After three rushes of 15 yards, Deguira hit a 32-yard field goal making the score, 23-3. That score would true as the two teams hit the locker room for halftime.
After the Spartans were forced to punt on their opening drive of the third quarter, the Tigers drove the ball down the field for a touchdown. After a false start and a sack, Crouch found Jalen Dunnigan for a 42-yard reception to the MBU 29-yard line. Eventually, Jackson II found the endzone for the second time of the game and made the score, 30-3. After both teams traded punts, the Spartans rushed in a 45-yard touchdown to make the score, 30-9. The Tigers led, 30-9, going into the final quarter of the game.
After the Tigers punted in their opening possession of the fourth quarter, the Spartans ran in another touchdown making the score, 30-16. A few drives later, the Tiger defense forced a turnover-on-downs on the ONU 20-yard line, and that is where they started their next drive. On the first play, Grayson rushed for a 48-yard gain. A few plays later, Crouch completed a pass to Dunnigan for 19-yards to set up a one-yard touchdown rush by Grayson. The Tiger extended their lead to 37-16.
The Tigers gave up only 86 passing yards and defeated Missouri Baptist, 37-16.
GAME VITALS
Final: No. 19 Olivet Nazarene 37, Missouri Baptist 16
Records: No. 19 Olivet Nazarene 5-2 (3-1 MSFA) | Missouri Baptist: 3-5 (0-4 MSFA)
Location: Ward Field | Olivet Nazarene University | Bourbonnais, Ill.
QUICK HITS
- Grayson led the Tigers on the ground with 13 carries for 107 yards and a touchdown.
- Jackson II scored a pair of touchdowns on the ground.
- Crouch passed for 213 yards and a touchdown.
- Honey led the Tigers with five receptions for 71 yards and Dunnigan followed with three catches for 70 yards.
- Deguira made a 32-yard field goal and went four for five in extra points.
- Andrew Ryczek punted the ball six times for 221 yards and placed a pair inside the 20-yard line.
- Freeman led the Tigers with 14 tackles, an interception, two pass breakups, and one QB hurry.
- Damien Savage, Joshua Mathiasen, and Grant Manke followed Freeman with six and five tackles, respectively.
- Mathiasen and Joshua Anderson each picked up a sack.
- Patryk Ryczek scored a pick-six.
- Princeten Harris led the Tigers with three pass breakups.
- The Tigers amassed 402 yards of total offense on 71 plays.
WHAT'S NEXT?
The No. 19 Tigers hit the road for the final time this season as they travel up north to the University of St. Francis on Saturday, October 30. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at Joliet Memorial Stadium.
--ONU—
*Contact: Sam Viebrock, Sports Information Director, stviebrock@olivet.edu
