OLIVET, MICH.-- Trine fought back from an 18-point second half deficit to stun Olivet, 46-42, on Homecoming Saturday afternoon at Cutler Athletic Complex.
The Thunder faced a 42-24 deficit with 50 seconds to play in the third quarter, but closed with 22 unanswered points to earn the victory. Anthony Yoder (Goshen, Ind./Concord) hauled in two TD passes from Taylor Masiewicz (Belmont, Mich./Rockford) during the deciding stretch, including the game-winning 80-yard TD strike with 1:57 remaining. Yoder caught four passes for a career-high 154 yards and the two scores. The Thunder extended their winning-streak to four with the victory, and have now won seven-straight over Olivet. They are now 4-1 overall and 2-0 in the MIAA. Olivet falls to 3-2 overall and 1-1 in conference play.
The Comets pushed a 21-17 lead to 42-24 with a big third quarter prior to the Thunder comeback. Chris Jones scored on a 13-yard rush, and Damorria Lilly scored on touchdown runs of 18 and five yards. Frantz Petitpapa (Fort Lauderdale, Fla./Archbishop McCarthy) scored on a 15-yard rush to keep Trine within 35-24 during that stretch. The second of Lilly's TDs pushed the score to 42-24 with 50 seconds remaining in the third. Lilly finished the afternoon with a prolific 219 rushing yards and four rushing TDs.
A quick-strike offense answered right back before the quarter was out, as Masiewicz and Yoder connected for the first of their TD hookups. Masiewicz hit Yoder in stride behind the defense for the 54-yard strike to cut the score to 42-31.
Olivet moved the ball deep into Trine territory on the next possession, but the Thunder defense stood tall when the moments were biggest. Charles Dreessen (Walkerton, Ind./John Glenn) wrapped up Jones on fourth and short from the Trine 18 to force a turnover on downs.
The Thunder faced fourth and eight from the Olivet 26 on the ensuing drive, but Masiewicz found Gage Corner (Leo, Ind./Leo) for 17 yards to keep the chains moving. Two plays later, Frank Vuocolo (Jackson, Mich./Grass Lake) found paydirt from 14-yards out. Vuocolo finished the afternoon with 85 yards, and scored two touchdowns on 13 carries. He also scored on a 3-yard rush in the first quarter. Masiewicz's two-point rush was good, which cut the score to 42-39 with 6:23 remaining.
Another huge fourth down stop gave Trine the chance to win. Olivet faced fourth and one from the Trine 12 with 2:32 to play. A delay of game on the Comets moved the ball back five yards, and the Thunder forced an incompletion and take over on downs.
Two plays later, Masiewicz hit Yoder for what would prove to be the game-winning 80-yard TD-strike. The touchdown was the second-longest passing TD in school-history, and it put the Thunder up 46-42 with 1:57 remaining in front of a stunned Comet crowd.
On the ensuing Comet possession, Tyler Guzy (Coldwater, Mich./Coldwater) picked off an overthrown pass to seal the victory. Guzy has three picks in the last two games. He is now fifth in school-history with nine career INTs.
Masiewicz completed 13-of-26 passes for 285 yards and two TDs. He also carried the ball eight times for 80 yards. Corner finished with 80 receiving yards and moved into sixth on Trine's all-time list with 1,330 receiving yards. Petitpapa totaled 35 yards on four carries and added a 13-yard rush TD in addition to his second-half score.
Olivet showcased their potent offense throughout much of the afternoon. MIAA-leading passer Braden Black completed 23-of-36 passes for 272 yards and a touchdown. Kyle Bryson hauled in nine of those passes for 80 yards and a touchdown. Black connected with Kornelius Saxton for a 24-yard strike for Black's lone passing score of the afternoon. Saxton caught four passes for 49 yards on the afternoon.
The Comets outgained Trine by a 553-to-520 margin. Each team showcased a balanced threat with over 200 yards rushing and passing yards apiece. The turnover battle was an even two-apiece.
Trine will get a break from conference play next Saturday, Oct. 18 when they host Concordia (Wisc.) at 1 p.m. at Shive Field and Fred Zollner Athletic Stadium. The Thunder will be seeking their first five-game winning-streak since 2010.