ALBION -- Welcoming friends, family and alumni home for the first time in two years, the Albion College football team surely gave the fans something to celebrate, rallying for a 38-17 win over Olivet College. Albion erased an early 14-0 deficit and held the Comets to just three points over the final 51 minutes of the game.
The Britons keep their playoff hopes alive with another win, improving to 6-1 overall, 2-1 in the MIAA.
KEY STATS
Senior quarterback Jack Bush was 13 of 20 for 220 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Eight different Briton receivers hauled in passes, led by Brendan Teal with 55 yards.
The run game pair of Phillip Jones-Price and Jacob Clark were a dominant 1-2 punch in the backfield. Jones-Price led the way with 90 yards, as Clark tacked on 78 and two touchdowns -- one receiving and one with his legs.
Defensively, Mitch Arendsen had a phenomenal day, registering 11 total tackles -- five for loss. The senior recorded three and a half sacks as well for Albion. In total, Arendsen accounted for 37 yards lost by the Comet offense. Jeremiah Major added 10 tackles and a pick while Levi Ladd contributed nine tackles.
HOW IT HAPPENED
After Albion's first drive ended in an interception in the red zone -- along with a touchdown called back -- the Comets drew first blood. On the first play from scrimmage on the new drive, Olivet scored an 89-yard catch and run TD for an early 7-0 lead.
The next Comet possession quickly led to another touchdown, as the Brits found themselves in an early 14-0 hole.
Facing deficits before this season, Albion did anything but panic and rallied back to even the score at 14 by the end of the first quarter. Andy Durand swung the momentum in favor of the hosts with a 63-yard punt return for a TD. It was the sophomore's second punt return for a touchdown of the season, trimming the Olivet lead in half.
Kolby Canfield knotted the game at 14 with a 28-yard TD reception from Bush. A Jackson Cooney PAT was good, as the teams ended the first quarter locked at 14.
Albion extended their lead when Clark's 30-yard catch and run resulted in a TD midway through the second. Olivet nailed a 26-yard field goal in the waning seconds of the half -- aided by an Albion penalty -- to bring the score to 21-17 at the break.
Early in the third, Noah Anderson came up in a big way on Homecoming. The junior forced an Olivet fumble at their own 16. The loose ball was jumped on by John Wester Jr., giving Albion incredible field position to tack onto their lead. After a 15-yard pass to Justin Thomas set the Brits up at the 1, Clark stormed into the end zone, boosting the lead to 28-17.
Cooney later inflated the lead with a 19-yard field goal. The Brits capped off the scoring with a Thomas touchdown -- the MIAA's current leader (10) and Albion's all-time leader (39).
QUOTES FROM THE COACH
"They played very resilient today," said head coach Dustin Beurer -- who earned his first Homecoming win as a head coach. "For six games we've been a resilient bunch, for one we weren't. It doesn't always have to be pretty but we're going to take the W."
"I'm really proud offensive line-wise … Jarron Masuga moved from D-line to O-line, little did I know today would be his first start. I'm really proud of him and Scott Roskopp. Roskopp moved to the other side of the line and did an incredible job today."
Albion racked up 411 yards of total offense, their second consecutive game with 400-plus offensive yards. The Brits have now won four straight over the Comets.
The Britons will be back on their home turf next week when they host Trine University, currently undefeated in conference action. Kick off is currently scheduled for 1 p.m.