ONU COMES UP SHORT IN MSFA OPENER AT No. 17 MARIAN

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – The Olivet Nazarene University football team dropped its Mid-States Football Association Midwest League opener Saturday afternoon, hanging tough but falling short 45-40 to No. 17 Marian at St. Vincent Field.

Despite the final score, the Tigers got off to a great start. Vaisen Viloria ripped the ball from the Knights' quarterback, which John Harman quickly pounced on, setting up ONU in plus territory. Senior running back Evan Leake toted the ball four consecutive times to pay off the short field with a touchdown, getting ONU on the board first in the opening quarter.

But the Knights (5-1, 1-0 MSFA) would spoil ONU's strong start. The No. 17-ranked team finally clicked on offense, scoring 31 unanswered points on four touchdowns and a field goal to take a commanding 31-7 lead.

However, the Tigers fought right back with junior quarterback Jack Miller rifling three touchdowns on three drives to cut the deficit to just three points at the start of the fourth quarter. Miller connected with Ray Coffey from nine yards out, Blake Lamb from 36 yards, and again to Coffey on a 52-yard strike to make it a one-score game.

Marian widened the gap back to three scores on back-to-back touchdown dives, capitalizing on a short field to make it 45-28 with nine minutes to go. The Tigers made it interesting with Lamb hauling in his second and third touchdown grabs late in the game, but it was not enough as the Tigers dropped their conference opener.

Miller completed 23-of-38 passes for 356 yards and four touchdowns.Coffey and Lamb both caught five passes each for 94 and 77 yards, respectively, along with their multiple scores. Caiden Ray brought down three receptions, while Brandon Jackson, Christian Warren, Leake, and Aaron Bennett all hauled in two apiece.

Leake led the rushing attack with 73 yards on 14 carries and the game-opening touchdown. Bennett toted the ball eight times for a pair of yards.

Harman was credited with 10 tackles, including one tackle-for-loss, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery. Abe Flores-Cuen had seven stops and a fumble recovery of his own.

ONU (3-3, 0-1 MSFA) will return to action on Oct. 26 to host No. 18 Saint Xavier as part of Homecoming Weekend.

--ONU—

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