DEFIANCE, Ohio - The Kalamazoo College football team improved to 3-0 with a 42-23 win at Defiance College on Saturday.
After trailing 10-7 at halftime, Kalamazoo outscored Defiance 28-7 in the third quarter and 7-6 in the fourth to claim the win.
Andrew Widger got the Hornets started with a 65-yard touchdown reception from Josh Nichols midway through the first quarter. A Defiance field goal and touchdown put the Yellow Jackets up 10-7 late in the first, a score that would stand until halftime.
Nichols scored on a 1-yard run early in the third quarter, then completed touchdown passes to Sheldon Riley and Lance Taylor to give the Hornets a 28-10 lead late in the third. Defiance scored, but the touchdown was matched by Kalamazoo as Jonah Spates caught a touchdown pass to put the Hornets up 35-17 at the end of three.
Defiance scored again early in the fourth, making it a 12-point game (35-23) before Kalamazoo sealed the deal with Taylor's second touchdown reception giving the Hornets a 42-23 lead with 8:39 left.
Kalamazoo put up 480 yards of total offense compared to 493 by Defiance.
Josh Nichols was 27-of-43 passing for 377 yards with five touchdowns and two interceptions.
Lance Taylor led the Hornet receivers with 125 yards on eight catches with two touchdowns. Jonah Spates had 60 yards on five catches. Bubba Wilson had four catches for 27 yards. Andrew Widger (79 yards) and Sheldon Riley (27 yards) each had three catches.
Jon Brunette led the Hornets on the ground with 42 yards on 11 carries. Conner Bell had 31 yards on six carries.
Carson Deines led the defense with nine total tackles. Payton Fleming had eight with two tackles for loss. Jake Robertson and Bryce Balabuch each had seven tackles. Balabuch and Kevin Nguyen each had a sack.
Kalamazoo (3-0) is on the road again next week, traveling to Alfred University in New York.