OLIVET, MI – Sophomore Austin Jarbo was responsible for 342 yards and three touchdowns, but the Wilmington College football team opened the 2014 season with a 41-24 loss to Olivet Saturday at the Cutler Athletic Center in non-conference action.

Jarbo (Gratis, OH/Preble Shawnee), in his first career start, was 12-of-25 for 192 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions. He added a team-high 150 yards rushing.

The Comets scored on their first three drives to take a 21-0 lead, and appeared to be driving to take a 28-0 lead, before freshman Kevin Carter (Louisville, KY/Pleasure Ridge Park) stepped in. The safety stepped in front of a Braden Black pass at the nine for his first career interception.

Wilmington carried the emotional wave down the field with a six-play, 75-yard drive that was capped with an eight-yard touchdown pass from Jarbo to junior Justin Lee (Middletown, OH/Madison). The defense continued the wave, holding Olivet on a three-and-out. The Fightin' Quakers started another drive, but a penalty slowed down the momentum, and they eventually turned it over on downs.

The teams traded scores with Jarbo and Lee connecting for the second time this season, this time from 11 yards out, and Wilmington trailed 28-12 at the break.

On the opening drive of the second half, the Fightin' Quakers took the fight to Olivet and promptly drove down the field. However, it didn't turn into points as they missed a 30-yard field goal – the second missed field goal of the game. Olivet responded by taking the ball 80 yards for a touchdown.

Sophomore Chase Manica (Shelbyville, OH/Shelby County) scored his first career touchdown with 1:36 left in the third quarter, however, the Comets quickly retaliated 36 seconds later.

Freshman Tyrik Burks (Newport News, VA/Denbign) set Wilmington up for its final score of the game, returning a punt 86 yards down to the two. A couple of negative yards plays later, Jarbo connected with freshman Kal Butts (St. Johns, MI/St. Johns) from seven yards away.

Lee finished with five receptions for a 96 yards and two scores.

Defensively, junior Nick Williams (Cleveland, OH/Fairview) led Wilmington with 13 tackles, while junior Tarrell Starckey (Richmond, VA/Highland Springs) added 11 tackles. Freshman Margust Charles (Lehigh Acres, FL/Lehigh) added five tackles and a sack.

After a week off, Wilmington (0-1) travels to Capital in the Ohio Athletic Conference opener for both teams.