Lakers Fall to Olivet Nazarene 14-7 to Close Out the 2021 Football Season

BOURBONNAIS, Ill. – The Roosevelt University football team closed out its season with a 14-7 loss to Olivet Nazarene University in a MSFA Midwest League game on Saturday, November 13 at Ward Field in Bourbonnais, Ill.  The Lakers finished the season with an overall record of 4-6 and a league record of 3-4.

Both teams struggled offensively in the opening quarter with neither team able to put points on the board.  The Tigers had the best chance to score driving down to the RU 19-yard line, but the Lakers forced and recovered a fumble to stop the threat.

In the second quarter, the Lakers drove into the red zone and got down to the ONU eight-yard line.  However, the Tigers stopped Ke'von Johnson for a five-yard loss and then intercepted a Jack Sheehan pass in the end zone to keep the game scoreless.

The Lakers defense held the Tigers again on the next possession to give Roosevelt the ball back.  This time the Tigers defense held the Lakers to a three-and-out to force a punt, which Olivet Nazarene blocked and returned 19 yards for the first score of the game and a 7-0 lead.

Roosevelt finally got on the board, scoring on its first drive of the third quarter.  Sheehan connected on a 52-yard pass play to Jayden McFadden to move the Lakers to the ONU 31-yard line.  Later in the drive, the Lakers were forced with fourth and nine from the Tigers 20-yard line.  RU elected to go for it and Sheehan hit Denzel Tolliver for a touchdown to tie the game at 7-7 with 8:59 left in the third quarter.

Olivet Nazarene started its next drive with great field position from its own 48-yard line.  The Tigers took full advantage and scored on a one-yard run on fourth down to cap off the eight-play, 52-yard drive to take a 14-7 lead.

The Lakers threatened to score early in the fourth quarter, driving down to the Tigers eight-yard line.  However, on third down and six, Sheehan had his pass intercepted to end the chance.  Unfortunately, the Lakers were unable to generate another scoring drive, losing the regular season finale 14-7.

GAME DETAILS

Score:   Roosevelt                            0              0              7              0              7
                Olivet Nazarene                0              7              7              -              14

Records: Roosevelt 4-6, 3-4 (MSFA) // Olivet Nazarene 7-3, 5-2 (MSFA)

Location: Ward Field | Bourbonnais, Ill.

KEY STATS

• Jack Sheehan went 23-for-49 for 264 yards with a TD & three interceptions
• Jayden McFadden had 121 yards on 10 catches
• Blaize Griffin totaled 105 yards on eight receptions
• Ke'von Johnson rushed for 80 yards on 26 carries
• Clarence Davis & Caleb Smith both registered eight tackles each
• Ernest Potts tallied seven tackles
• Corties Draper had six tackles
• The Lakers outgained the Tigers in total offense 350 yards to 185 yards
• RU held a 19 to 10 advantage in first downs
• ONU held a 32:23 to 27:37 time of possession advantage

NEWS & NOTES

• Olivet Nazarene was receiving votes in the latest NAIA Top 25 Poll
• The Lakers are now 0-2 versus the Tigers in the all-time series
• Click here to view the final MSFA Midwest League standings
• The loss ended the collegiate careers of RU seniors William Bauman, Omar Beltran, Rhavion Booker, Kaylin Brookshire, Shawn Cephus, Tyler Haase, Khaliq Hammond, Levi Holden, Bret Lopez, Chris Mosley, William Pass, Tommy Piekarz, Raine Potts, Jack Sheehan, Denzel Tolliver, Matt Varga, Tiron Washington, & Isaiah Wellman