Olivet College 49, Trine University 24
Trine University has produced formidable football teams through most of the past two decades, and the 2015 team had a record of 3-1 after four games of the season.
But the Thunder had to be wary entering this homecoming game against undefeated Olivet (Mich.) College, which had won all four of its games by double-digit margins, including a 74-13 blowout of Earlham College to open the season.
But first, I need to share a Trine football home game tradition that had been going on at least through the 2015 season when I made my visit: The game ball for the opening kickoff was delivered to Shive Field via helicopter to the backdrop of a musical performance by the Thunder Marching Band.
I'm not kidding. See the four photos immediately below.
A university spokesman contacted in April 2024 said this tradition is no longer observed, but he did not say when the practice stopped.
Now back to serious stuff …
The Olivet Comets demonstrated without a doubt which was the better team on this day, amassing 420 total yards, including 265 on the ground, in winning their fifth straight, 49-24, to share the lead in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Conference with Albion at 2-0. The co-leaders would square off Oct. 31 at Olivet.
Trine, which is in northeastern Indiana and is the only Indiana school in the MIAA football league, got off to a good start after winning the toss and electing to defer possession.
Trine, which is in northeastern Indiana and is the only Indiana school in the MIAA football league, got off to a good start after winning the toss and electing to defer possession.
The Thunder defense held Olivet to a three-and-out — and the Comets’only punt of the game — after which the Trine offense came on the field and marched 72 yards in 13 plays before sputtering inside the red zone. Twice the Thunder offense started plays from the 1-yard-line and could not punch it in, settling for a 19-yard field goal by Mark Haydock.
The Comets and Thunder then traded touchdowns, and the Thunder's 10-7 lead at the end of the first quarter was their last of the game. Olivet scored 21 unanswered points — all in the second quarter — to hold a 28-10 halftime lead.
In the third quarter, Trine freshman cornerback Marcus Winters gave the home team some hope when he wrestled the ball from a Braden Black pass out of the hands of intended Olivet senior receiver Jason Barbosa and returned it 20 yards to the Olivet 24-yard line.
Two plays after Winters’ interception, Thunder freshman running back Lamar Carswell scampered 11 yards for a touchdown to trim Olivet’s lead to 28-17. But with with 24 seconds left in the quarter, Olivet senior quarterback Black followed freshman running back Andrew Houston through a small hole in the line of scrimmage and scored from 2 yards out to give the Comets a 35-17 lead.
Trine had 345 yards of total offense on the day, 294 of those coming through the passing of Taylor Masiewicz, who tossed five- and one-yard touchdown passes to Gage Corner. But Masiewicz also threw a costly interception that defensive back Trevor Haas returned 58 yards to set up one Olivet fourth-quarter score. The Thunder senior quarterback also lost a fumble at the Comets’ 3-yard-line in the second quarter. Comets’ defensive end Cody Ross ran back the fumble 49 yards.
As usual, to bring up and see bigger, sharper images, click on the photo. For a full gallery of images from this game, follow the link in this sentence.
Above and below: The Trine cheerleaders led the Thunder onto the field before kickoff, and shortly afterward, several players gathered for a pre-kickoff huddle.
Above: Trine quarterback Taylor Masiewicz scampered for a modest gain early in the first quarter.
Above and below: After Olivet scored a touchdown in the first quarter to take a 7-3 lead, the Trine offense got a huge lift with the completion of a 47-yard pass to Jeffery Barnett (above) from Masiewicz. Three plays later (below), the Thunder took its last lead when Masiewicz hit Gage Corner with a one-yard TD pass.
Above: I don't often devote time to photographing punters’ kicks; blocked punts are a rarity, and the odds of catching good shots of a fumbled catch and or a great return are much greater. When I have stuck around to shoot the punt, I’ve tried to catch that moment when ball meets foot. I hadn't been very successful in the past, but I was in this boot by Trine’s Ben Cornell early in the second quarter on one of few times I lingered to photograph the kick. Alas, that “rarity” of a blocked punt materialized in the third quarter, on Trine’s first offensive possession of the half. In advance of the fourth-down snap, I had darted to the other end of the field to be in position to photograph the catch and return, which I usually do. But Olivet's Travis Lankerd blocked Cornell’s punt, giving the Comets great field position at the Trine 31. A failed fourth-and-4 attempt on that possession merely delayed the Comets’ third-quarter offensive steamroll.
Above and next two below: Olivet’s Damorria Lilly ran untouched for this 10-yard touchdown scamper in the third quarter, and afterward, teammates lined up to extend congratulations.
Above and next two below: Late in the second quarter, Trine QB Taylor Masiewicz recovered from this bad snap from center to pick up five yards before being forced out of bounds at the Trine 43. The Thunder would eventually reach the Olivet 1-yard line before the drive ended on Masiewicz’s fumble.
Above and next three below: I’ve had bittersweet luck capturing pass receptions for touchdowns in the pas. I’ve gotten some great shots, only to have the plays not count because of a penalty or an official’s ruling that a catch was not made in bounds. This one has to be the most frustrating. On a first and 10 from the Trine 10 on the Comets’ drive after recovering and returning Masiewicz’s fumble, Comets quarterback Braden Black connected with Kyle Bryson on this pass from the Trine 20. Not only was I in perfect position to capture the throw from start to finish, but Bryson made a spectacular one-hand catch right in front of me — and had full possession of the ball all the way to the ground after the catch. Unfortunately, Side Judge Darric Roesler strolled right in front of me as Bryson grabbed the ball, forcing me to apply a radical crop to minimize the distraction in the second photo below. In addition, Bryson was not able to get at least one foot in bounds to validate the catch, rendering the pass incomplete.
Above and next three below: Just like the above series of photos, this Trine pass play came right at me. Masiewcz threw to running back Lamar Carswell (6) behind the line of scrimmage. Carswell juked Olivet linebacker Zachary Gropp to elude one tackle, but strong safety Zechariah Jenkins (4) caught up to Carswell shortly afterward and tackled him for a two-yard loss. Jenkins led the Comets defense with 12 tackles — 11 unassisted.
Above and below: Cornerback Marcus Winters gave Trine some hope in the third quarter when he wrestled a Braden Black pass from intended receiver Jason Barbosa and returned it 20 yards to the Olivet 24.
Above and next two below: Two plays after Winters’ interception, Lamar Carswell (6) ran it in for a touchdown from 11 yards out to trim Olivet’s lead to 28-17.
Above and below: On Olivet’s next possession, Braden Black threw to Mitchell Bailey (12) for a four-yard gain.
Above and below: With 24 seconds left in the third quarter, Olivet running back Andrew Houston (17) led quarterback Braden Black (15) through a small hole at the 2-yard line for a touchdown, giving the Comets a 35-17 lead.
Above and below: Olivet running backs, including Andrew Houston (17), frequently found holes in the line for significant gains.
Above and below: A Braden Black fourth-quarter pass in the end zone barely slips through the hands of Terence Sheard (88).
Above: Black’s second two-yard touchdown run was much more difficult than the first. He got this one with several Thunder defenders hanging on him.
Above and next two below: On the Thunder’s final touchdown drive of the day, Masiewicz completed five passes to Jeffery Barnett, including this one for 16 yards. Barnett put a nice move on Zechariah Jenkins (4) to get around the defender before being brought down by defensive back Trevor Haas (29).
Above: Trine capped its scoring for the day when Gage Corner (1) hauled in — and hung onto — this pass from Masiewicz.
When Black ran it in from 2 yards out with 8:57 of the fourth quarter, the Comets held their biggest lead of the game, 42-17. Andre Houston capped the Comets’ scoring with a 30-yard run with 1:02 left to play. Houston had 82 yards on 13 carries for the day, but teammate Damorria Lilly was the Comets’ rushing workhouse, gaining 138 yards on 25 carries, including second-quarter touchdown runs of seven and 10 yards. He is completing the former in the photo leading off the post.
Trine had 345 yards of total offense on the day, 294 of those coming through the passing of Taylor Masiewicz, who tossed five- and one-yard touchdown passes to Gage Corner. But Masiewicz also threw a costly interception that defensive back Trevor Haas returned 58 yards to set up one Olivet fourth-quarter score. The Thunder senior quarterback also lost a fumble at the Comets’ 3-yard-line in the second quarter. Comets’ defensive end Cody Ross ran back the fumble 49 yards.
As usual, to bring up and see bigger, sharper images, click on the photo. For a full gallery of images from this game, follow the link in this sentence.
Next up: Chapter 28, Trine University campus
Previously in Game Day Revisited:
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