ELGIN, Ill. – Relying on its running game and defense, the Olivet Nazarene University football team overpowered Judson in a 65-20 road win Saturday afternoon at Millennium Field.
The Tigers piled up 336 yards on the ground, their most in a single game this season. The team ran the ball 38 times in averaging 8.8 yards per carry and totaling five rushing touchdowns.
ONU used its entire stable of backs. Keshawn Huguely topped the century mark with 100 yards and a touchdown on 13 attempts. Aaron Bennett averaged 12.8 yards per carry with 64 yards on five attempts. Evan Leake punched in a pair of touchdowns to go with 63 yards on nine carries. Andrew-Lee Smith only had one carry but he made it count, going for 60 yards and a score on his lone attempt. Noah Bartley rounded out the big day with 47 yards and a touchdown on three carries.
The defense was as dominant as the running game. Judson (1-7, 0-3 MSFA) finished with -44 yards on the ground on 17 rush attempts. The Eagles had mild success through the air but failed to get on the scoreboard until the second half when ONU had already built a dominant 44-0 lead.
The outcome was never in question as the Tigers improved to 2-1 in the MSFA Midwest League and two games over .500 at 5-3 overall.
Jack Miller had a solid day as the starting quarterback, going 12-of-20 through the air for 182 yards and two passing touchdowns. He also kept a clean sheet with zero interceptions for the first time this season.
Blake Lamb led the receiving corps from the tight end position with four catches for 76 yards and two touchdowns. Ray Coffey and Bartley both hauled in three grabs each for 43 and 27 yards, respectively. Christian Warren, Levi Maafala, Bennett, Brandon Jackson, and Jarvis Turner all snagged one catch apiece.
Brody Boswell paced the defense with a team-leading six tackles and an interception. Hunter Ah Loo recorded two tackles for loss while also securing a 32-yard scoop-and-score fumble recovery for the team’s third touchdown. Daniel Real was a perfect 9-for-9 on extra-point attempts.
The Tigers will continue their push for a conference title when they travel to Joliet, Ill., to take on the No. 19 St. Francis Fighting Saints Saturday at Joliet Memorial Stadium.
–ONU—
*Contact: Evan Wild, Sports Information Director, ewwild@olivet.edu
To learn more about Olivet Athletics, visit onutigers.com.
