By Mitch Blankespoor
OLIVET, Mich. – Coming into its final game of the 2013 season with a 5-4 record, the Kalamazoo College football team needed a single win to notch the program's best record since 2003. In the way was Olivet College. Despite leading by two touchdowns twice in the game, K found itself down 37-36 with under a minute to play. After a big kickoff return, sophomore quarterback Justin Danzy drove the Hornet offense 55 yards in six plays setting up a game-winning field goal attempt. Freshman place kicker Jacob Hardy split the uprights giving K a thrilling 39-37 victory.
"It was a pretty even game and an exciting one to watch for those in attendance," Kalamazoo Head Coach Jaime Zorbo said. "I am proud of our guys and the way they persevered through some adversity in the game and found a way to win. It was clear they never stopped believing."
Kalamazoo took a 14-0 lead midway through the second quarter when Danzy found wide receiver KJ Shultz in the back of the end zone for a seven yard touchdown. Olivet, which came into the game at 6-3, responded with a four yard touchdown run from quarterback Braden Black. After a Kalamazoo punt, Black engineered a 13 play, 65 yard drive ending in touchdown on fourth and goal. Olivet Head Coach Dan Pifer then surprised everyone with a fake extra point in which star wide receiver Kyle Bryson ran it in to give the Comets their first lead at 15-14.
Danzy drove the Hornets into field goal range, but the 31-yard attempt from Hardy sailed wide right.
"We didn't make too many adjustments at halftime," Zorbo said. "We knew they [Olivet] were going to go to the edges and try to win those jump balls. We mixed in some coverages to try and help the corners. We just had to clean some things up."
Kalamazoo regained the lead midway through the third quarter when Danzy connected with junior wide receiver Alex Dietrich for an eight yard touchdown. After a successful two-point conversion, Kalamazoo led 22-15.
Then the offenses took over the game. Black, who threw to Bryson 19 of his 30 passing attempts, went to a different receiver, Jason Barbosa, catching the Hornet defense off guard. Barbosa caught Black's pass in stride and scampered 54 yards down the sideline for a Comet touchdown.
The Hornet response was loud and clear. On second and 16, Danzy rolled out and found senior wide receiver Josh Wise downfield past the Comet secondary. Wise did the rest of the work finishing off a 68 yard touchdown pass.
After Olivet fumbled the kickoff, Danzy showed his running ability to the 1,162 people in attendance squirting through a hole on the right side and running into the end zone from 31 yards out.
Trailing by two scores again, the Comets once again took the lead when Black found Bryson for one of his 19 receptions to put Olivet within a single point with under a minute to play. Pifer elected turn down the game-tying extra point and go for the win. Black again found Bryson in the corner of the end zone, giving Olivet its second one-point advantage of the game.
Sophomore running back Elijah Hamilton-Wray set up Kalamazoo at its own 43 yard line. After two completions, the Hornets were called for a holding penalty setting up second and 20 from the Olivet 40 yard line. To make matters worse, K had to burn its last timeout to avoid a ten second runoff due to the holding penalty.
With 20 seconds remaining, Danzy found Hamilton-Wray over the middle for a 38-yard completion down to the Olivet two yard line. After a spike to stop the clock, Hardy put through the winning field goal.
"I was praying for a good snap and hold," Zorbo said. "I knew Jacob [Hardy] would put it in. He has been consistent from that range all year."
Olivet outgained Kalamazoo 512-482 for the game but was limited by three turnovers. Danzy finished the day 27 of 42 for 384 yards and five touchdowns (one rushing). Defensively, sophomore Dylan Zerki finished with 14 tackles while senior Ian Good and sophomore Hartlee Lucas each finished with 11 tackles.
Two Olivet offensive records were broken in the game. Black broke his own record passing for 422 yards while Bryson broke the record for reception yards in a game with 263.
"We knew [Kyle] Bryson was a darn good receiver coming in," Zorbo said. "He won every jump ball and in my opinion is one of the best receivers in the league. He showed that tonight."
Kalamazoo concludes its 2013 season with a 6-4 record, K's best since 2003. The Hornets also finished in a tie for second place in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) with a 4-2 record.
"We believe very firmly what we are trying to do here at Kalamazoo College," Zorbo said. "It's a great feeling that the work this team has put in is starting to pay off. Ending the season on a three-game winning streak feels pretty good."