GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Trine University football team dropped a back-and-forth Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) contest at Calvin University. The Knights scored the go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter to hand the Thunder a 34-31 loss.
Trine received the opening kickoff and completed a nice pass to Rashawn Street for 15 yards on the second play of the game. Unfortunately, the fourth play of the game was an errant pass by RJ West II that ended up between two Thunder receivers and in the hands of the defense. Calvin scored on the ensuing drive to take a 7-0 lead.
West broke off a 32 yard scramble on a third-and-long play to extend the team's next drive and then found Tristan Burrus for a long completion to move well into the offensive zone. Burrus was the favorite target in the game leading all receivers, on both teams, with 131 yards on nine catches during the contest.
The drive stalled at the four yard line, and a fourth-down attempt came up short of the endzone, sending the Thunder away empty handed despite 61 yards of work.
The Thunder defense reared its head to end the next drive for the home side. On a third-and-eight play, Jeshua Miller picked off Calvin's Thomas Vaccaro. The takeaway set up the offense on the positive side of the field. Saleem Felder took full advantage, going the 34 yards in three straight rushing attempts for the touchdown that made the game 7-7.
Neither team scored through the rest of the first quarter, but Emil Drake recorded an interception of his own on the first Calvin drive of the second. The takeaway was deep in the Knights' side of the field, but Trine was forced into a field goal attempt after two incompletions. Bryce Hufford connected on the 29 yard attempt to give the team a 10-7 lead.
Calvin responded with a touchdown on their next drive and then a fake punt came up short for the Thunder allowing Calvin to double up before the end of the half with a field goal. Trine trailed 17-10 at half. The Knights added to that lead on their first drive of the third, making the score 24-10.
A long completion to Zack Pillow cut into the deficit on the next drive, but after a blocked extra point the score was 24-16. The defense forced a three-and-out and the offense scored again, this time on another Felder run. Felder completed a pass to tie the game at 24, with two extra points.
The final points of the third came on a field goal for the home side and the last drive for the Thunder ended with West's second interception.
After the teams traded unsuccessful possessions, Sylvester Orozco blocked a punt with Tyler Drain taking it to the house to give the Thunder the lead again with 12 minutes remaining in the game. They had a chance to add to that lead soon after with Cleaster Kimbrough picking off Vaccaro.
The ensuing drive stalled out and the teams traded punts before the Calvin defense came up with a huge stop on fourth down near midfield. That drive was successful, ending in a 28-yard touchdown, that gave the team their final lead of 34-31.
A Knights defensive stand and then a costly penalty on the Thunder defense allowed the game to go final.
West finished the game 25 of 46 for 263 yards and one touchdown. He was sacked five times and had two interceptions. Pillow finished the game second in receiving with 62 yards. Felder led the team with 72 yards on the ground while Cortaveon Barnett finished with 36 yards.
Cole Basey led the team with 14 tackles to lead the team, while Ridge Howard came second with nine. In addition to his blocked punt, Orozco recorded a sack and had a pass breakup. Howard and Blake Lincoln each had two tackles for a loss in the contest to lead the team.
The Thunder fall to 4-3 overall and 2-2 in MIAA play following the loss. They will return home for their next game, hosting Alma College on Saturday, November 1. The game is set to kickoff at 1 p.m.
