ANGOLA, Ind. – The Trine University football team rolled up 671 yards of offense in a 69-7 thrashing of The University of Olivet Comets on Saturday afternoon at Zollner Stadium.
Saleem Felder led the Thunder with 221 rushing yards on just 10 carries. Trine's 69 points are the third most in a game in program history.
435 of Trine's yards came on the ground, the fourth most in a game. It's 671 total yards are the third most in game. Felder scored three times on the ground to solidify his best outing of the season.
RJ West II was 23-of-33 through the air for 195 yard and three touchdowns, two going to
Zack Pillow who caught nine passes for 47 yards.
The Thunder defense was equally impressive, limiting the Comets to 164 yards and forcing nine punts. Trine tallied three sacks and racked up 12 tackles for loss.
It was the defensive unit on the field first, forcing a three and out from their guests, but the offense's first drive was also short lived. On their first play, West coughed up the ball into the waiting arms of the Comet defense.
Kanye Tucker continued his impressive season, finding multiple ways to disrupt the Olivet offense. On the ensuing drive he made two of his eight tackles to turn the Comets over on downs. West led Trine's first scoring drive for 11 plays covering 72 yards by completing four passes before calling his own number from two yards out to open the scoring.
The Thunder quickly extended the lead with a pair of one play drives. Felder broke free up the home sideline and streaked past the Comets for an 88-yard touchdown dash, the fourth longest in program history. The following drive covered just eight yards courtesy of Tucker. The junior strip sacked the Comets' quarterback, then scooped it up and returned it deep into enemy territory. West fired his first passing touchdown of the day to Pillow to push the lead to 21-0.
Two more Comet three and outs led to the Thunder building a 35-0 advantage. West led the offense down the field for the fourth score, completing a pair of passes to
Bryce Ferman who trucked his way through the Olivet defense to set Trine up in Comet territory. West raced in from four yards out this time.
The next Thunder score came from Felder who ripped off a 30 yard gain on the first play of the drive. Pillow and
Macrae Thompson got Trine inside the 10-yard line and Felder lowered the boom to score his second touchdown of the day.
West found Pillow four times on Trine's final scoring drive of the first half to build the 42-0 lead at the break.
Trine received the second half kick and would score in just three plays.
Raymond Scott-Harbolt caught a 17-yard pass from West and Felder capped off his afternoon with a 58-yard dash to the house. Felder's 221 yards and three touchdowns are both the eighth most in a single game. Olivet responded with a nine play drive to provide its lone score of the day.
West added a third passing score with a one yard strike to Scott-Harbolt to end the third quarter. Trine's ninth touchdown came on the third play of the fourth quarter. Freshman quarterback
Chase Cromartie kept a read-option play and sprinted 77 yards down the Olivet sideline to score the final touchdown of the day. Trine's nine touchdowns are the second most in a single game.
Nathan Potter connected on all nine extra points, the second most in a game, and a 23-yard field goal.
Robert Castro added a 35-yard field goal to complete the scoring.
Trine finish the day with a 7-2 overall record while sitting at 5-1 in Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) play. The team still has an outside chance at sharing the MIAA championship, but would need help to do so. Trine and Hope College are currently tied for second with Calvin University holding the top spot. The Thunder could tie the Knights with a win against the Flying Dutch and an upset victory by Alma College against Calvin. The crucial final game of the season will take place at Hope and is scheduled for a 1:00 p.m. kickoff on Saturday, November 14.
