The Yellowjackets beat the University of Olivet Comets 28-21 in Olivet, Michigan on Saturday.
Despite surrendering over 120 more total yards than Olivet, UR efficiently converted all four of its red zone scoring opportunities whilst stopping Olivet’s drives with fewer than 20 yards to go twice.
UR split its offense relatively evenly between passing and running the ball, with 144 rushing yards and 120 passing yards. The Yellowjackets struggled to contain the Comets’ run game, surrendering 242 rushing yards. They also gave up 142 passing yards.
Olivet struck first with five minutes to go in the first quarter when quarterback Thomas Foust (junior, #9) connected with wide receiver Kevin Lebron (sophomore, #12) en route to a 72-yard touchdown. After UR gave the ball back on a punt, defensive back Judah Thomas (junior, #23) recorded the first of UR’s four interceptions.
After the quarter break, UR tied the game when Daniel Papantonis (graduate student, #1) rushed 17 yards for a touchdown.
Foust responded with a 47-yard run into the end zone through the right side.
UR quarterback, Ryan Rose (senior, #9) finished a 52-yard drive with a pass to wide receiver Trey Johnson (senior, #3) for 25 yards.
A dizzying series of a Olivet fumble and two UR interceptions led to Olivet with the ball on the Yellowjackets’ 2-yard line with 36 seconds in the half. Miraculously, UR stopped them from scoring at all, maintaining the 14-14 tie.
UR stopped the Comets in the red zone again in the third, this time at the 8-yard line, before being forced to punt.
After the teams traded punts, UR converted on a successful drive when Rose hit tight end Jackson Kane (junior, #83) on a short pass, making the score 21-14 at the beginning of the fourth.
Kane found Johnson for another touchdown after an interception got the Yellowjackets in position to score, making it 28-14 with seven minutes left.
Although Rochester completed another interception shortly thereafter, they were forced to punt and the Comets struck back to make it 28-21. However, the Comets were unable to recover their own onside kick and time soon expired.
UR will next play an away game at Alfred State College on Saturday, Sept. 14.
