Posted: Mar 21, 2021

20th Ranked Football Loses to 25th Ranked Olivet Nazarene in NAIA Game of the Week for First Loss of the Season

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – The 20^th ranked Roosevelt University football team lost to 25^th ranked Olivet Nazarene University by the score of 26-7 in the "NAIA Game of the Week" on Saturday, March 20 at Morris Field in a battle of two of the top teams in the Mid-States Football Association Midwest League.

The Lakers fell behind on the first play from scrimmage as the Tigers intercepted a Jack Sheehan (SR/St. Petersburg, Fla.) pass and returned it 37 yards for the score. RU blocked the ensuing extra point and then put together a 16-play, 75 yard scoring drive that took 8:53 off the clock. Ke'von Johnson (JR/Joliet, Ill.) capped off the drive with a three-yard touchdown run to give the Lakers a 7-6 lead. Unfortunately, that would be the only score for Roosevelt in the game, while its defense held the Tigers to just 12 points until late in the fourth quarter. Olivet Nazarene tacked on two touchdowns and a safety in the final six minutes of the game to give the Lakers their first loss of the season.

GAME DETAILS

Score: Olivet Nazarene 6 6 0 14 26
Roosevelt 7 0 0 0 7

Records: Roosevelt 3-1, 1-1 (MSFA) // Olivet Nazarene 6-0, 4-0 (MSFA)

Location: Morris Field | Arlington Heights, Ill.

OFFENSIVE NUMBERS

Ke'von Johnson gained 161 yards & a touchdown on 32 carries
Jack Sheehan was 13-of-26 for 115 yards with 3 interceptions
Blaize Cobb-Griffin (JR/Sidell, Ill.) made 5 catches for 59 yards

DEFENSIVE NUMBERS

Corties Draper (FR/Elmwood Park, Ill.) made 9 tackles, including 6 solo & 1 for a loss
Ernest Potts (JR/Portage, Mich.) had 7 tackles with 5 of them solo
Collin Schmutzler (FR/Lockport, Ill.), KeVon Robinson (SO/Oak Brook, Ill.), Chris Mosley (JR/Willowbrook, Ill.), & Bennie Harris (FR/Danville, Ill.) all had 6 tackles each

NEWS & NOTES

The Lakers had 214 total yards of offense to the Tigers 312 yards
RU had 14 first downs, while ONU had 19
The Lakers won the time of possession battle, holding the ball for 31:14 compared to the Tigers 28:46
Olivet Nazarene posted seven sacks in the contest
The Lakers blocked two ONU extra points & a field goal attempt
Roosevelt entered the game ranked 20^th in the NAIA Top 25 Poll, while Olivet Nazarene was 25^th
Ke'von Johnson came into the game 2^nd in the NAIA in rushing yards per game (154.0)
Click here to view the current MSFA Midwest League standings

NEXT UP

The Lakers host Trinity International University at 7pm on Saturday, March 27 at Morris Field in another MSFA Midwest League game. No spectators are not allowed in attendance, but fans can watch the game live on the Lakers Sports Network.