FAST START FIZZLES OUT IN ONU HOMECOMING LOSS

BOURBONNAIS, Ill. – An early double-digit lead slipped through the fingers of the Olivet Nazarene University football team as they fell 48-24 to the Roosevelt Lakers Saturday afternoon at Ward Field.

Evan Leake got the Tigers on the board first when he found a huge gap in the defense to make a 65-yard dash to the endzone. And on Roosevelt's ensuing drive, Nic Bunkosky jumped a route to snag an interception in Laker territory that set up a Graham Johnson 20-yard field goal to make it 10-0 Tigers in just four minutes of game time.

The ONU defense got out to a strong start, as well, forcing takeaways on Roosevelt's first four drives of the game. The Tigers came up with two fourth-down stops, while Lucas Eckles forced a Laker fumble to go with Bunkosky's interception.

The offense regained possession with the 10-0 lead and were looking to add on before the Lakers came up with a 40-yard pick-six to get on the scoreboard. RU found the endzone again a few possessions later on a 48-yard rushing touchdown to take their first lead.

However, Leake got the Tigers back in front with another spark plug play, returning a punt for 75 yards to the endzone to retake the lead.

The Tigers looked poised to take the 17-13 lead into halftime, but a mishandled snap on a punt led to a Roosevelt block that they scooped up for a 40-yard touchdown as time expired on the second quarter.

The Lakers would go on to score the next 28 points of the contest to put the game out of reach for ONU. Cameron Crouch connected with Brian Jenkins on a 28-yard strike for touchdown late in the fourth quarter, but it was too late to mount any sort of comeback as the Tigers fell to Roosevelt.

Leake was responsible for the bulk of ONU's yards, finishing with 67 on the ground, 106 yards on three kickoff returns and 81 more on a pair of punt returns. He was the only ONU rusher to hit double-digits for yards gained.

Brandon Odam went 9-for-18 for 101 yards through the air. Crouch finished 8-of-14 for 91 yards and the score. Ryan Morrison-Gravenberg averaged 20 yards a catch with 80 yards on four receptions. Jenkins finished with two snags for 40 yards and the touchdown.

John Harman and Abraham Flores-Cuen led the ONU defensive effort once again, racking up 12 tackles each. Harman picked up a sack and the fumble recovery on Eckles' punch out. Brayden Cook racked up two sacks on four tackles for loss.

The Tigers, now 4-3 overall and 1-1 in the MSFA, will start their conference road trip next Saturday at St. Francis (Ill.). Kickoff is set for 12 p.m.

--ONU—

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