DEERFIELD, IL - The Trojans and Tigers took the field on a brisk Saturday afternoon looking to renew their rivalry once again.   After falling behind 14 points in the first half, the Trojans rallied but came up a little short as their rivals from Bourbonnais came out on top 28-7. 

The Trojans came out looking to make a statement on the opening drive. The Tigers however, returned the opening kickoff out to the 48-yard line taking the early momentum. The Tigers dinked and dunked the ball on the Trojans all the way down to the TIU 22 where the Trojans forced them into a 4th and 4. As Olivet sent their offense back on the field, the Trojan crowd got behind the defense hoping for a huge momentum-changing stop. However, Olivet hit a receiver in the flats for an 11-yard gain to pick up the first down. Two plays later Olivet punched it in and took a quick 7-0 lead. 

On the Trojans first offensive possession, they started with the ball on the 36-yard line but went three and out after a failed third and two conversion. The Trojans then sent Josiah Schillinger (Fr, Middletown, OH) onto the field, who last week pinned three inside the 20 yard line. This week was a different story for the talented freshman as the wind got a hold of his first punt and pushed it out of bounds after only 11 yards. 

The defense came back on the field once again in poor field position. This time however, they held up, giving up only one first down and forcing Olivet to punt.              

The Trojans offense came back onto the field looking to change field position as they were backed up on their own 15-yard line. On the first play, Daniel Beal (Fr, Chicago, IL) found Kyle Mowen (Fr, Omond Beach, FL) for a 19-yard gain and a first down. On the next play, however the momentum once again swung in Olivet's favor as Beals tried to find Conrad Ognibene (Fr, Rockford, IL) but the pass was intercepted by Olivet's middle linebacker.

This time the Olivet offense looked to capitalize on their 3rd straight drive with great field position. Two plays later, they punched it in on a 24-yard touchdown pass. This extended Olivet's lead to 14-0 and put the hope for a Trojan victory in doubt. 

The Trojans offense would struggle with miscues for most of the first half as many of the young skill players struggled to adapt to the muddy conditions. The Trojans moved the ball on the Olivet defense but three fumbled exchanges kept the Trojans out of the redzone and off the scoreboard. On the last possession of the first half, the Trojans drove the ball down to the Olivet 8 yard line. On fourth and six, the Trojans sent out the Field Goal team to try and cut into the lead. However, the snap was high and Pete Miller (JR, Chicago, IL) was unable to get the ball down. Instead, Schillinger picked up the ball rolled right and found his high school teammate David Wheeler (Middletown, OH) for what the Trojans thought was a first down. But when the referees measure the Trojan were an inch short, giving the ball back to the Tigers.   

A quick change in scheme from Coach Daniel, (Defensive Coordinator) back to their regular 4-3 defense, gave the Trojans a newfound energy. The defense held Olivet scoreless the rest of the first quarter and all of the second quarter including four straight possessions.  

As halftime came, the score was Olivet 14 Trinity 0

The second half began much like the first half ended. The Trojans continued to pick up first downs on offense but were unable to convert long drives into points. The defense continued to forced Olivet into punts and turnovers keeping the Trojans within striking distance. 

On the first drive of the 4th quarter, the Trojans came alive. On the second play of the drive after another Olivet 3 and out, Beals dropped back to pass, saw that everyone was covered so he tucked the ball and ran 49 yards for the first Trojan touchdown of the day. After the Schillinger extra point the Tiger lead was cut in half as the scoreboard now read Olivet 14 Trinity 7. 

As the defense came back out onto the field the continued to play with the same passion and energy the fans had seen since late in the first quarter. After one first down, the Tigers were forced to punt giving the ball back to the Trojans down only one score. 

The Tigers punt team pinned the Trojans down on their own one-yard line. On the first play, Clif Johnson (Fr, Chicago, IL) fumbled the exchanged but picked up two yards to give the offense some breathing room. After an incomplete pass, the Trojans offense faced a 3rd and 8. As Beals dropped back to pass and big Olivet D-lineman got his hands up and tipped the pass in the air, as the ball came down both teams fought hard for it but the Tigers came away with the ball taking away the Trojan momentum. 

The Tigers got the ball on the six yard line and while the Trojan defense tried to make a goal line stand on 3rd and 6 Olivet found their TE in the back of the endzone for a momentum crushing touchdown. 

From that point on the Trojan offense tried to get things going through the air but the windy muddy conditions kept the Trojan offense at bay. Olivet would tack on one more touchdown and in the end it was Olivet Nazarene 28 Trinity International 7.

Of Note: Pete Miller had 6 tackles and 2INTs giving him 5INTs on the season. Jawon Spivery (FR, Chicago, IL) led the Trojans in tackled with 11 tackles. 

The Trojans next take on #4 St. Francis (IN) in Fort Wayne, Indiana on Saturday October 17 @ 11:00AM CST.