Greenville, Ill. – For the second straight season, the Olivet Nazarene University football program was extended an invitation to play in the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) Victory Bowl. This year the Tigers were invited to play in Greenville, Ill. against the Grenville University Panthers. The Panthers entered the game with an 8-2 record and riding a six-game winning streak. Olivet entered the game with a 5-5 record and riding the momentum of an 84-7 victory over Trinity International a week ago.

From the beginning of the game, it was clear to see that Olivet wanted to ensure themselves their third straight winning season. The Tigers demonstrated this desire by dominating the Panthers in all three phases of the game. On the offensive side of the ball, ONU was led by Victory Bowl Offensive Player of the Game, running back, Jared Honey (SO/Cumming, Ga.). Honey had 60 yards rushing on eight carries with one touchdown, and he had 112 yards receiving off of three receptions, including two touchdown receptions. One of Honey's receiving touchdowns came on a school-record 97-yard touchdown pass from Jordan Lawton (SR/Lakewood, Calif.).

Special teams also got in on the scoring and record-setting aspect of the game. ONU returner, Jayvion Daniels (SO/Lima, Ohio), had four punt returns for 173 yards and two touchdowns. One of Jayvion's touchdown returns was for a school-record 91 yards. Additionally, his 173 total yards set a new ONU single-game record for punt return yards in a game. Daniels also added 42 kick return yards to his return yard total for the game. The special teams also blocked a field goal attempt by the panthers, resulting in a Montrell Campbell (SO/Madison, Ala.) 72-yard scoop and score.

Finally, the Tiger defense held the Greenville offense in check throughout most of the game. Coming into the game, the Panthers averaged 364.1 yards of total offense per game and scored and an average of 29.1 points per game. The ONU defense held Greenville to 273 total yards, including negative 16 yards rushing. The Tigers' defensive efforts were helped by Patryk Ryczek (JR/Inverness, Ill.) and Gerald Blackmon (FR/Joliet, Ill.), each pulling in an interception. Jason Freeman (SO/Zion, Ill.) also helped thwart the Panther passing attack by producing two sacks in the game.

As the final gun sounded for the game, the Tigers came out the victors, defeating the Panthers by a score of 69-8. The victory marks the third season in a row that ONU has finished the season with a winning record, the first time the Tigers have accomplished this feat since 2000. Head Coach Eric Hehman also becomes the first coach since Mike Conway to accomplish the task. Conway had four consecutive winning seasons from 1996-1999.

GAME VITALS:

Score: Olivet Nazarene – 69 | Greenville (NCAA) - 8

Records: Olivet Nazarene University 6-5 | Greenville 8-3

Location: Greenville University | Greenville, Ill. | Francis Field | 2019 NCCAA Victory Bowl

STAT TRACKER:

• Jared Honey: Eight carriers for 60 yards, three receptions for 112 yards, three total touchdowns, Victory Bowl Offensive Player of the Game
• Jayvion Daniels: Four punt returns for 173 yards, two touchdowns, one kick return for 42 yards
• Jason Freeman: Two sacks, seven total tackles (six solo, one assist)
• LaShaun Rule (JR/South Holland, Ill.): 16 carries for 75 yards and two touchdowns
• Jordan Lawton: 15 for 20 passing with 290 yards and three touchdowns
• Patryk Ryczek: One interception, four total tackles (three solo, one assist)
• Gerald Blackmon: One interception, two total tackles (two solo)

WHAT'S NEXT?:

• The Tigers scored 38.3 points per game. This total is a new season record.
• Additional special team records were set this weekend. Bryce DeGuira (SO/Nashville, Tenn.) set the season record for extra points made in a season with 53. This is also a team single-season record.
• The win is the second straight Victory Bowl Championship for the Tigers.