GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Calvin celebrated Senior Day with an empathic 50-20 victory over the visiting Comets of The University of Olivet Saturday afternoon. The victory assures Calvin football of a winning record in just its second season as a varsity program as the Knights improve to 6-2 overall and 3-2 in the MIAA. With two league games left, the Knights are in sole possesion of fourth place in the eight-team MIAA. The victory is also Calvin's first-ever victory in the month of November.

Calvin rushed for six touchdowns and forced Olivet into four turnovers as the Knights picked up their second straight victory.

Calvin led 21-14 at halftime and 28-14 through three quarters of play. The Knights exploded for 22 fourth quarter points to put the game away.

The Knights rushed for 280 yards and six touchdowns.

Olivet (1-7 overall, 1-4 MIAA) opened the game with a 72-yard touchdown drive capped off by an eight-yard touchdown pass from Charlie Grant to Wade Brashears. The point-after gave Olivet a 7-0 lead.

Calvin countered with a 13-play, 65-yard drive completed by an eight-yard touchdown strike from sophomore Thomas Vaccaro (Franklin, Tenn./Christ Presbyterian) to sophomore Luke Michmerhuizen (Holland, Mich./Holland Christian HS) that helped tie the game at 7.

Olivet grabbed a 14-7 lead early in the second quarter on a lengthy touchdown drive with Grant again going to the air, this time on a 13-yard toss for Rashawn Mersier. Calvin scored the final 14 points of the half. A one-yard touchdown run by sophomore Nick Earles (Greenville, Mich./Greenville HS) helped tie the score at 14. The Earles score was set up by a 43-yard reception by sophomore Hunter Hogan (Ravenna, Mich./Ravenna HS). The Calvin defense helped Calvin take the lead. Sophomore Carson Schurstein (Portage, Mich./Portage Central HS) made a diving interception on a Grant pass at the Calvin 28-yard line with just over two minutes left in the half. The Schnurstein pick was his third interception of the year. Four plays later, Vaccaro dove into the end zone on a one-yard sneak. The extra point by sophomore Logan Nap (Lawton, Mich./Lawton HS) gave the Knights a 21-14 lead they carried into halftime.

Olivet forced Calvin into a three-and-out on the opening drive of the second half but the Knights regained the ball at the Olivet 14-yard line on a fumble recovery by sophomore Caiden Bolduc (Muskegon, Mich./Reeths-Puffer HS). The fumble was forced on a strip sack by senior Marcus Breuker (Hudsonville, Mich./Unity Christian HS).

Calvin quickly moved down to the goal-line but the Knights fumbled the ball back to the Comets on the one-yard line. The Calvin defense stiffened again as the Comets completed a pass out of the end zone but lost the ball on a fumble punched free and recovered by the hard-charging Schnurstein. Earles then took over, carrying the ball six times with the final carry another one-yard touchdown run. The extra point by Nap put the Knights up 28-14 and the momentum remained with the Knights from that point on.

Earles added a three-yard touchdown run to open the fourth quarter. Sophomore Hayden Slegers (Ontario, Ca./Ontario Christian HS) then broke loose for a pair of lengthy touchdown runs, the first a 43-yard burst up the middle and the second a 26-yard run off-tackle to close out the Calvin scoring. The final Slegers touchdown was culminated by a two-point conversion pass by senior holder Tate Dohm (Petoskey, Mich./Petoskey HS) to sophomore tight end Tyler Porte (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian HS).

Calvin's defense finished the contest with four turnovers with Schnurstein recovering a fumble and intercepting a pass. Bolduc and sophomore Trenton TenBrock (Twin Lake, Mich./Whitehall HS) both recovered fumbles. Schnurstein had 10 tackles and broke up one pass. Sophomore Kaden McCullough (Allendale, Mich./Allendale HS) tallied nine tackles including three for loss along with one sack. Sophomore Gage Jones (Ludington, Mich./Ludington HS) came up with eight tackles. Sophomore Jonah Carlson (Rockford, Mich./Rockford HS) had six tackles. Senior Jair Nowlin (Sugarhill, Ga./Lanier HS) had five tackles and broke up one pass. Freshman Reed Vogelar (Caledonia, Mich./Caledonia HS) also had five tackles. Bolduc added two sacks and one pass break-up.

Slegers led the ground game with 93 yards on seven carries and two scores. Earles churned out 84 yards on 22 carries with three scores. Hogan had five carries for 54 yards while hauling in five catches for 73 yards. Michmerhuizen had four catches for 47 yards and a touchdown. Vaccarro was 15 of 28 passing for 160 yards and one score. He also ran for 48 yards and a touchdown.

Olivet was paced by Grant who was 19 of 31 passing for 223 yards and two touchdowns. Jaylan Johnson had 45 rushing yards. Mersier had eight catches for 98 yards and a touchdown. Bacarri Field had 11 tackles for the Comets.

Prior to the game, Calvin honored the five members of its senior class in Marcus Breuker, Peter DeKruyter (Holland, Mich./Zeeland West HS), Tate Dohm, Charlie Garbowski (Troy, Mich./Royal Lak HS) and Jair Nowlin. All five saw the field on Saturday and made an impact.

COACHES COMMENT: "I'm so proud of our guys. They weathered the storm early and fought back. To get win number six is huge for us," said Calvin head football coach Trent Figg. "It was great to honor our seniors today. All five of them have really made their mark on this program and they all contributed today."

NEXT UP: "Calvin will head to rival Hope next Saturday for a time set for 5 p.m. at Ray and Sue Smith Stadium.