GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – In a game of twists and turns, Calvin toppled Trine 34-31 Saturday afternoon at Calvin Soccer Stadium.

The win is Calvin's first-ever victory in the month of October. It also improves the Knights to 5-2 overall and 2-2 in the MIAA.

Calvin led 17-10 at halftime and 24-10 in the third quarter, only to see the hard-charging Thunder roar back with 14 unanswered points to tie the score at 24. A late third quarter field goal by sophomore Logan Nap (Lawton, Mich./Lawton HS) lifted Calvin into a 27-24 lead but Trine used a successful punt block to return a loose ball for a touchdown and subsequent 31-27 fourth quarter lead. Calvin regained the lead on a 28-yard touchdown pass to sophomore Hunter Hogan (Ravenna, Mich./Ravenna HS) with 2:35 remaining and then got a defensive stop and successful offensive series to run out the clock for the win.

Calvin's defense was in an attacking mode throughout Saturday's game and came up with the first big play of the game as junior Alexander Minnehan (Lakeville, N.Y./Livonia Senior) stepped in front of a pass by Trine quarterback R.J. West for an interception that he returned 20 yards to the Thunder 44. Seven plays later, Calvin cashed in on a 21-yard touchdown toss from sophomore quarterback Thomas Vaccaro (Franklin, Tenn./Christ Presbyterian) to sophomore wide out Seth Anderson (Rockford, Mich./Rockford HS). The touchdown grab was Anderson's second of the season. The point-after by Nap gave the Knights a 7-0 first quarter lead.

Trine got an interception of its own later in the first quarter to set up a short field on the Calvin 34-yard line. Three plays later, Trine's Saleem Felder raced 22 yards through the center of the field for a score that helped tie the game 7-7.

Trine (4-3 overall, 2-2 MIAA) picked up another interception early in the second quarter to set up a 29-yard field goal that put the Thunder on top 10-7.

Calvin responded with a 10-play, 54-yard drive that was set by a 38-yard kickoff return by freshman Hudson Shoup (Charlotte, N.C./Charlotte Latin). Vaccaro completed the scoring drive with a one-yard touchdown pass to sophomore Luke Michmerhuizen (Holland, Mich./Holland Christian HS). On the scoring play, the lanky 6-7 wide receiver was able to tuck in just inside the end zone with a defensive back draped on top of him. The point-after by Nap gave the Knights a 14-10 lead.

On the subsequent drive, Calvin snuffed out a fake-punt attempt by Trine near midfield. The Calvin defensive stop helped set up a 42-yard field by Nap that allowed the Knights to take a 17-10 lead into halftime.

Calvin took the opening second half kickoff and mounted a five-play, 65-yard drive capped off by a one-yard touchdown plunge from Vaccaro. The drive was sparked by a 39-yard reception by Hogan and a 23-yard reception by Michmerhuizen. The Michmerhuizen grab went down to the one-yard line to set up the quarterback sneak by Vaccaro.

Trine responded with a six-play. 53-yard touchdown drive, culminated by a 37-yard touchdown toss from West to Zack Pillow. The point-after was blocked and Calvin led 24-16. After a defensive stop, Trine mounted an 11-play, 68-yard drive completed by a six-yard touchdown run by Felder. Felder caught the subsequent two-point conversion pass to tie the score at 24 with 6:37 left in the third.

Calvin responded with a lengthy drive of its own that resulted in a 29-yard field goal by Nap to put the Knights up 27-24. Trine struck back early in the fourth quarter as the Thunder blocked a Calvin punt at the Knight 22-yard line with Trine's Tyler Drain getting the scoop and score for a touchdown. The extra point put the Thunder up 31-27 with 11:19 left in the fourth quarter.

After a Calvin punt with just over five minutes remaining, Trine appeared poised to run out the clock as it took over near midfield. Three plays later, Trine elected to for a first down on fourth and one and was stuffed on a clutch Calvin tackle by sophomore Kaiden McCullough (Allendale, Mich./Allendale HS).

The turnover on downs gave Calvin a first down on its 46-yard line. Four plays later, Calvin struck gold when Vaccaro connected on a 28-yard scoring strike to Hogan on a well-conceived wheel route down the right sideline. Nap's extra-point lifted the Knights into a 35-31 lead.

Calvin then forced Trine into a three-and-out with the Thunder electing to punt with just under two minutes remaining. The strategy appeared sound as the Thunder pinned the Knights on their own 19-yard line but a Trine personal foul allowed the Knights to gain an additional first down and run out the clock.

Vaccaro was 18 of 39 passing for 223 yards and three touchdowns. He was intercepted three times and sacked three times. He also rushed for 17 key yards.

Hogan led the Calvin receiving corps with five catches for 107 yards and one touchdown. Michmerhuizen had six grabs for 60 yards and a touchdown. Anderson had two catches for 29 yards and a touchdown. Sophomore Jude Klunder (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian HS) had four catches for 26 yards. Sophomore Hayden Slegers (Ontario, Calif./Ontario Christian HS) led the Calvin ground game with 52 yards on 18 carries.

McCullough had a monster game on defense for the Knights with 11 tackles, four of them for loss. He was also credited with a career-high three sacks. Junior C.J. Sheets (Longwood, Fla./Lake Mary HS) had a sack. Sophomore Caiden Bolduc (Muskegon, Mich./Reeths-Puffer HS) had a sack and an interception. Minnehan had five tackles and an interception. Sophomore Carson Schnurstein (Portage, Mich./Portage Central HS) had 10 tackles. Freshman Reed Vogeler (Caledonia, Mich./Caledonia HS) had nine tackles and senior Jair Nowlin (Sugarhill, Ga./Lanier HS) seven tackles. Sophomore Caden Kolanowski (Goodrich, Mich./Goodrich HS) had five tackles and two pass break-ups.

Trine was led by West who was 25 of 46 passing for 246 yards and one touchdown. He was sacked five times. Felder had 72 rushing yards and a pair of touchdowns. Tristan Burrus had nine receptions for 131 yards. Trine's top tackler was Cole Basey with 14 tackles.

COACHES COMMENT: "I'm so proud of our players and our coaches for preparing and executing a game plan for four full quarters," said Calvin head football coach Trent Figg. "This was a big one for us. I thought it was a step forward for our guys. We just never wavered throughout the game. These guys are starting to grow up a little bit. I'm so proud the way they responded to adversity. They continued to battle and believed in each other. They executed our game plan all game long."

NEXT UP: Calvin will host the University of Olivet next Saturday at 1 p.m. in its home finale.