By Graham Couch
For JoeInsider.com
OLIVET — If turnovers had been Constantine’s bugaboo all season, there might have been more reason to be upset.
This, however, was a bizarre anomaly. Poorly timed and inexcusable. But unusual.
The Falcons turned the ball over six times in losing 28-14 at Olivet Friday night.
That’s how, despite 447 yards of total offense and 31 minutes with the football, Constantine only found the end zone twice.
“They came out stripping the ball and we didn’t cover it up enough,” Constantine sophomore quarterback Matt Hasbrouck said. “But we just don’t have that problem.”
He’s not overstating it. Coach Shawn Griffith said the Falcons had three turnovers total through the first seven games. Now it’s nine through eight.
Full game stats can be found on the Scoreboard page.
“I would say we moved the ball at will,” Griffith said. “You can’t turn the ball over that many times. We know that. And especially against a great football team, which we knew coming in they were.
“You don’t beat bad teams turning it over six times. You’re certainly not going to have a chance to beat a good team.”
The loss leaves Constantine 5-3 overall and in the Kalamazoo Valley Association, needing a win next week at home against Battle Creek Pennfield to secure a playoff berth.
Olivet (7-1) is a win away from its first ever share of the KVA title, its athletic director said.
The circumstances for both teams would be different without Constantine’s frequent fumbles — and one interception.
Two of those fumbles came inside the Olivet 5-yard line, another just as the Falcons reached the red zone. Another was returned for a long touchdown, ending a substantial drive.
The last fumble was fitting of this weird night. Constantine survived a long fourth down with a heave by Hasbrouck toward the goal line. After the catch, his teammate fumbled reaching for a first down he already had.
Junior Justin Hull led the Falcons with 95 yards rushing on 10 carries, before turning his knee and leaving the game for good. Senior Andres Montoya rushed for 88 yards on 18 attempts.
Hasbrouck rushed for 36 yards and touchdown, and completed 7 of 8 passes for 105 yards and touchdown just before the half. Hull caught that 13-yard pass.
Montoya led all receivers with three catches for 51 yards. Luhk Mullendore caught three for 49.
Nic West paced the defense with eight tackles. Spencer Tefft had seven.
“To assure us a trip to the playoffs we need to get six (wins),” Griffith said. “Could we squeak into the playoffs? Sure. But you don’t ever want to squeak in.”