Adrian College football returns home unblemished and ready to begin MIAA play this week as the 3-0 Bulldogs will take on Olivet in front of their homecoming crowd.
Siena Heights is back on the road in search of its first win against Defiance.
Olivet at Adrian, 3 p.m.
Adrian is 3-0 for the first time since 2014 and first year head coach Joe Palka is leading the Bulldogs into MIAA play with a matchup against Olivet.
On the field, Northwood graduate transfer Jake Kelbert has led the Bulldogs as one of the nation's top dual-threat quarterbacks with 487 yards passing, three touchdowns and two interceptions while rushing for 268 yards and seven touchdowns.
Junior transfer from Concordia Ann Arbor Shondel Hardnett leads the rushing attack with 309 yards and three touchdowns and junior Lawrence Tech transfer Jalen Wallace has 19 receptions for 203 yards and a touchdown.
The defensive unit is allowing 20.3 points per game with eight turnovers and eight sacks, all three are near the top of the MIAA through non-conference play.
The Comets come in with a record of 1-2 after beating Wooster in Week 2, 27-23, and falling to Rochester, 28-21, and Hanover, 56-14.
Olivet's 35.7 points per game allowed is the most in the MIAA while the offense's 20.7 points per game is at the bottom.
Junior quarterback Thomas Faust got the start in the first two games, but the latest game against Hanover it was another junior in Charlie Grant. Another junior Dontal Wright is the lead back with 201 yards and a touchdown on the season.
Olivet and Adrian have gone back and forth in recent years with the Comets winning last season, in 2021 and in 2019 while the Bulldogs picked up wins in 2020 and 2022.
AC wins opener: Adrian College football battles back, pulls away from Elmhurst in Joe Palka's debut
Siena Heights at Defiance, 1 p.m.
There is no way around it, the Saints are off to their worst start in program history at 0-4 with the latest loss at St. Francis (Ind.), 32-10.
Junior Elijah Taylor and redshirt freshman Braylen Himmelein split time last week with nearly identical stats except Taylor threw a touchdown and two picks while Himmelein didn't have a touchdown or pick.
Defiance is coming off its first win of the season, 38-20, after losses to St. Francis (Ind.), 64-36, and Concordia Ann Arbor, 34-10.
Defiance is led by a dual-threat quarterback in Jehlani Warren, which is fifth in the Mid-States Football League with 85 yards rushing per game and throwing for 633 yards.
This will be SHU's first matchup with Defiance after the Yellow Jackets moved from NCAA Division III to the NAIA.
This article originally appeared on The Daily Telegram: Adrian College begins MIAA play while Siena Heights gets first matchup with Defiance
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