QUICK START LEADS ONU TO 42-15 WIN OVER MADONNA

BOURBONNAIS, Ill. – Three touchdowns in the first quarter accelerated the Olivet Nazarene University football team to a 42-15 victory over the Madonna Crusaders Saturday afternoon at Ward Field.

The Tigers wasted no time in getting on the scoreboard early, punching in two touchdowns before running a single snap on offense. Hunter Ah Loo struck first on the game's opening drive when he returned an interception 22 yards for a touchdown. The ONU defense kept their foot on the gas, forcing a quick three-and-out on Madonna's (0-6) ensuing possession.

Brett Deiter then pounced on the Crusader punt, allowing Keshawn Huguely to scoop up the ball and score the short touchdown to make it 14-0 in less than two minutes. And when Evan Leake broke multiple tackles to score a 32-yard rushing touchdown, the Purple & Yellow Gold led by three scores in the opening quarter.

On the second half's first drive, Aaron Bennett used his speed in the second level to score from 66 yards on a run down the middle. Brendyn Agbayani connected with two of his receivers for a pair of touchdowns to round out ONU's big day, the first on a 27-yard score from Ray Coffey and the finale coming on a 15-yard strike to Blake Lamb.

Agbayani finished the day 5-of-10 through the air for 64 yards and the two scores. Jack Miller, who started as quarterback for ONU, completed nine of his 19 pass attempts for 86 yards.

The Tigers did most of their damage in the rush attack, gashing the Crusaders for 226 yards on the ground and two touchdowns. Bennett led the running back corps with 89 yards on just six carries for a 14.8 yards-per-carry average. Noah Bartley toted the ball a team-leading eight times for 68 yards. Leake and Huguely each notched five carries for 55 and 29 yards, respectively.

Coffey and Lamb paced the receivers with four receptions and one touchdown apiece. Coffey led ONU with 73 yards and Lamb finished with 43. Christian Warren tabbed three catches for 17 yards, while Andy Vogelmann, Huguely, and Jarvis Turner all grabbed one.

John Harmon anchored the ONU defense, registering 12 total tackles and 3.5 tackles-for-loss in the dominant win. The Tigers finished the day with three takeaways on interceptions from Ah Loo and Kyle Taylor and a forced fumble from Ke'Mari Anderson.

The Tigers will take another bye week before traveling to Marian on Oct. 19.

--ONU—

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