Skip to navigation Skip to content Skip to footer
Photo credit: Seth Ellis
Photo credit: Seth Ellis
Posted: Sep 24, 2022

TIGERS HANDLE BUSINESS AT TAYLOR; PICK UP FIRST WIN OF 2022 CAMPAIGN

Photos Box Score

UPLAND, Ind. - An electric first half powered the Olivet Nazarene University football team past the Taylor Trojans Saturday night, giving the Tigers their first win of the 2022 season.

 

It didn't take long for the Tigers to get on the board, with Cameron Crouch hitting Brian Jenkins in stride for a 48-yard touchdown just 56 seconds into the game.

 

The ground game was working all night for ONU. Arthur Walker ripped off his first-career touchdown on a 36-yard dash, while Cameron Crouch pounded in a goal-line touchdown for the third Tiger score before Taylor made an appearance on the scoreboard.

 

Crouch would scurry for another touchdown, this one from 26 yards out. The Tiger defense put the finishing touches on the dominant first half with a blocked punt that Gerald Blackmon brought to the house to build a four-touchdown ONU lead heading into the break.

 

Halftime: Olivet Nazarene 35, Taylor 7

 

The game's pace slowed in the second half, but that didn't stop the Tigers from putting points on the board.

 

Brendyn Agbayani, a Hawaiian-native sophomore, slung a 16-yard strike to Andrew Cloy for a score late in the third quarter and tacked six on more with a seven-yard scoring scramble to score the final touchdown of the game.

 

Once again, the ONU defense made a big play to close out the half. Xavier Hardiman intercepted a Taylor pass, allowing the offense to come out in victory formation to nail down the first Tiger win of the season.

 

GAME VITALS

Final: Olivet Nazarene 49, Taylor 14

Records: Olivet Nazarene 1-2 | Taylor 3-2

Location: Turner Stadium | Taylor University | Upland, Ind.

 

QUICK HITS

  • The ONU defense forced two turnovers while the special teams unit scored a touchdown on a blocked punt.

  • Abraham Flores-Cuen and Josh Miser recorded two sacks apiece.

  • Crouch (217) and Agbayani (126) combined for 343 passing yards.

  • The Tigers rushed for 221 yards, led by Evan Leake with 91.

  • ONU won the first down battle 27-16.

 

WHAT'S NEXT?

The Tigers will return to Ward Field to open MSFA play against Judson. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. CST.

 

--ONU—

 

*Contact: Evan Wild, Sports Information Director, ewwild@olivet.edu