FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. - Madonna University fell 49-17 to Olivet Nazarene (IL) on Saturday, Oct. 10, in Farmington Hills, Michigan, as the visitors broke open a four-point game with three touchdowns before halftime. The Crusaders scored both of their touchdowns in the third quarter.
Duke Coats stopped Olivet Nazarene's opening possession by forcing a fumble near the goal line and recovering it in the end zone for a touchback. Lehiwa Kahana-Travis later scored on a 2-yard run for a 7-0 lead. Madonna's special teams supplied the next opening when Jamarrion Banks blocked a punt early in the second quarter, giving the Crusaders possession at the visitors' 11. Caiden Thomas converted a 27-yard field goal with 13:13 remaining to make it 7-3.
Olivet Nazarene answered with an 83-yard drive capped by AJ Stowers' 11-yard touchdown pass to Aaron Bennett. Kevin Burke then blocked a Madonna punt, and Kam Williams returned it 28 yards for a touchdown just 57 seconds after Bennett's score. Stowers connected with Japheth Lilo for a 5-yard touchdown with 2:19 left, sending the visitors into halftime ahead 28-3.
Kevin Wilson's interception and 22-yard return set up Stowers' 23-yard touchdown pass to Calvin Kohl at 13:13 of the third quarter, extending the margin to 35-3. Madonna responded with a four-play, 88-yard scoring drive. Kolter Smith found Eric Thomas for 66 yards before throwing a 20-yard touchdown pass to Kwame Miller with 11:29 remaining. Thomas led the Crusaders with two receptions for 69 yards.
Blake Zoro and Nash Phillips combined for an 8-yard sack on third down to help force a punt, giving Madonna the ball at midfield. The Crusaders drove 50 yards and converted fourth-and-2 with Coats' 3-yard touchdown pass to Smith at 4:42. The extra point cut the deficit to 35-17, but Madonna went scoreless in the fourth quarter. Kahana-Travis added a 13-yard touchdown run at 6:57, and Lilo caught a 7-yard scoring pass at 2:46.
Smith finished 15-of-38 passing for 168 yards, one touchdown and one interception, adding the touchdown reception. Miller and Micale McClure each caught three passes for 30 yards. Stowers completed 15-of-20 passes for 193 yards and four touchdowns without an interception. Olivet Nazarene outgained Madonna 363-167, including a 139 to minus-13 advantage on the ground.
Colin Tola led Madonna's defense with 10 tackles and a pass breakup. Tahsaan Lunn recorded six tackles, including four tackles for loss and one sack, while Zoro added six tackles and two tackles for loss. The Crusaders finished with 10 tackles for loss, two sacks and six pass breakups.
Madonna Football will look to bounce back when they travel to Fort Wayne, Indiana this Saturday to take on the University of Saint Francis (Ind.) for a MSFA 3:00 PM kickoff at Bishop John M D'Arcy Stadium.
