ANGOLA, Ind. – The Trine University football team won their third game of the season, defeating The University of Olivet by the score of 35-28.

The victory marks the 64^th of Head Coach Troy Abbs career, making him the winningest coach in program history. He surpasses the old mark set by Assistant Vice President for Athletics Matt Land, who stepped down from coaching with a record of 63-32. Abbs accomplishes the feat in one less game currently sitting at a overall record of 64-30.

"I am so proud of this team and the effort they showcased on the field today. That is so much more important than any record," said Abbs after the victory, "I do want to thank Coach Land for his constant support and Coach [Jake] Kinsey, who has been with me every day of my time at Trine."

It wasn't always a pretty start to the game for either team. Both starting quarterbacks threw interceptions on their first passes of the game. After receiving the open kickoff and running on the first play, Ivyn Collins threw the first pick. The defense got the ball right back intercepting the Comets' pass into the endzone on the first play of the next drive.

A pair of long runs from Jermaine Williams and Saleem Felder flipped the field for the Thunder and set them up with a first and ten at the Olivet 23. Collins' third pass of the game was much more fruitful, ending in a 24 yard completion to Tristan Burrus and giving the team a 7-0 lead.

The Comets responded on their next drive before both teams traded punts through the rest of the first quarter.

The 7-7 score held until the halfway mark of the second quarter, when Olivet utilized a steady rushing attack to score their second touchdown of the game and take a 14-7 lead.

After another Thunder punt, the Comets looked ready to march in for another score and the commanding lead. Roman Schrock put an end to those thoughts, forcing a fumble that was recovered and returned to midfield by Emil Drake.
Collins connected with Burrus again on the ensuing drive to tie the game at 14. That score would eventually go final after a final stop by the Trine defense.

Trine's defense forced another turnover to start the second half, this time with Wesyn Ludwig knocking the ball out and Trestan Kern recovering the ball. The first offensive play of the half saw a bit of trickery by the Thunder, with a pitch to Williams leading to the running back making a throw down the sideline. Rashawn Street made the catch and scampered into the endzone for the 21-14 lead.

Another stop by the defense, gave the ball right back to the offense. Felder broke through the line on the second play of that drive, making it all the way down to the opposing one-yard line and setting up an easy score for Craig Nichols. After a fourth successful extra point from Colton Wampler the Thunder led 28-14.

Olivet finally responded on the next drive, once again with some nifty runs on the boundary, but capped by a power run up the middle to make the score 28-21. An interception by Cole Alexander on the next drive gave the ball back to the Comets, who looked like they had tied the game with a long passing play. The score was negated by a penalty and the Thunder defense stepped up to eventually get the stop.

Collins followed up by leading another touchdown drive for the team. He completed on a pair of crucial passes during the possession, one to Tim Kasper for a third down conversion and the other to Street for 24 yards. Nichols capped the drive again to give the team a 35-21 with just 3:55 remaining in the game.

Another successful drive for the opposition cut the lead back to seven at 35-28 with 1:48 remaining in the game. The Comets lined up for the onside kick, but a high second bounce on the kick, led to an easy recovery for Burrus and the Thunder hands team. Alexander finished out the game with three kneel down plays.

Despite not reaching the endzone, Felder was the offensive start of the game for the Thunder. He ran for 175 yards in the contest, leading both teams. All told the team finished with 224 yards on the ground. Collins led the team in passing with 74 yards while going five for nine.

Defensively Cam McCarver led the way with eight tackles, followed closely by Trey Richards who had seven. Charles Thompson had the interception for the team, marking the third turnover of the game.

Trine improves to 3-3 overall and 1-2 in MIAA play following the victory. They remain at home next weekend when they host Calvin University on Saturday, October 26. Opening kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.