Box Score BOURBONNAIS, Ill.--The first road game of 2023 did not go as planned for the Lawrence Tech football team as the Blue Devils couldn't overcome a slow start and five turnovers as host Olivet Nazarene won 34-14 in a Mid-States Football Association crossover match-up on Saturday afternoon at Ward Field. Lawrence Tech falls to 1-3 on the season while the Tigers improve to 2-2. (This afternoon was a non-conference game.)
How it Happened
- The Tigers jumped out to a 20-0 halftime lead and eventually moved ahead 34-0 with 14 minutes and 34 seconds left in the fourth quarter when Titus Maunakea caught an 11-yard touchdown pass from Brandon Odam, capping a nine-play, 62-yard drive in 3:59.
- D'Vaun Bentley put LTU on the scoreboard 20 seconds later when he raced 70 yards on the second play of the drive into the end zone.
- After an interception by Ze'Veon McDonald that put the ball on the ONU 32, the Blue Devils' last TD came seven plays later on the legs of CJ Davidson who found the end zone from 2 yards out at the 11:56 mark to go in the game.
- ONU had the edge in total yards (394-273), time of possession (34:57-25:03) and first downs (23-17).
- The Tigers scored 13 points off LTU's turnovers.
Lawrence Tech Highlights
- Bentley finished with a season-high 72 yards on the ground on just three attempts.
- Davidson rushed 13 times for 65 yards.
- Jalen Wallace led the team with three receptions and 46 yards.
- Matt Plaga (6 solo) and Andrew Perkins III (8 solo) paced the defense with 10 and nine total tackles, respectively.
- Punter Carter Dixon averaged 46.3 yards on six attempts that included three tries inside the 20-yard line and a long of 54 yards.
ONU Highlights
- Aaron Bennett had a game-high 75 yards rushing on 10 carries.
- Brian Jenkins led all receivers with 10 catches for 99 yards.
- John Harman topped all defenders with eight tackles and 12 total, including two sacks for 10 yards.
Beyond the Boxscore
- Olivet Nazarene now leads the all-time series 2-0 as the schools were meeting for the first time since 2019
- LTU quarterbacks Alex Osman and Kaleb Garner combined to complete 16 passes to 10 different receivers, which is a season high.
- Davidson added to his all-time school rushing record to 886 yards.
- In his 20-game career, Wallace increased his totals to 80 receptions and 964 yards.
- Bentley's 70-yard TD run today was the longest of his career.
- The Tigers broke a two-game losing streak.
Lawrence Tech stays on the road for a second straight week next Saturday when they square off against No. 5-ranked and preseason league favorite Marian University in a MSFA Mideast League game in Indianapolis, Ind.
