ALMA FOOTBALL GOES ON THE ROAD AND DEFEATS OLIVET 28-25
A sign of a good college football team is the ability to go on the road and take on a league rival in a hostile environment and come away with a victory. That is exactly what the 2008 Alma Football team did on Saturday, when they traveled to Olivet and defeated the Comets by a score of 28-25.
The victory improved the Scots’ MIAA record to 2-1 and 4-3 overall on the season., while Olivet dropped to 0-4 in league play and 1-7 in 2008.
The teams played a scoreless first quarter that saw the only scoring threat of the frame end when QB Mackenzie McGrady (Portland, MI) was picked off by Olivet CB Joe Cleveland in the end zone.
Olivet struck first in the second quarter when they drove 80 yards on 12 plays, taking a 7-0 on a 13-yard touchdown run by RB Mike Martin. Alma tied the game at 7-7, as RB Jon Reed (Eaton Rapids, MI) scampered seven yards for a score, capping a 58-yard, ten-play drive. On its next possession, the Comets marched on a 11-play, 47-yard drive that ended with a 40-yard field goal by K Kyle Zabel. The Scots concluded the first half scoring on its next drive when McGrady found WR Matt Brown (Midland, MI) for a six-yard touchdown and a 14-10 halftime advantage.
Alma extended the lead to 21-10 midway through the third frame when McGrady ran ten yards for a touchdown, capping a 83-yard, ten-play scoring drive. Olivet ended the quarter at the Alma 18-yard line but had two previous possessions end with an interception and a sack respectively.
Just 46 seconds into the final quarter, the Comets completed their drive with a five-yard touchdown run by RB Sean Misko, to narrow the Alma lead to 21-17. After a Alma punt, Olivet took possession of the ball at its own 25-yard line, but on the first play QB Nick McCleary was intercepted by Alma DL Brad Collins (Auburn, MI), giving the Scots the ball at the Comets’ 21-yard line. Three plays later, McGrady found WR Andrew Schaar (DeWitt, MI) on an 18-yard touchdown throw and catch, giving Alma a 28-17 advantage with 12:15 left in the game. Olivet didn’t quit though, and on its next possession, they drove 73 yards on seven plays and cut the lead to 28-25 when Martin ran one-yard for a score and then a successful two-point conversion from McCleary to TE Nathaniel Woodson.
The game was finally put away for good when Alma DB Travis Martin (Fennville, MI) intercepted a McCleary pass in the Scots’ end zone with 2:29 remaining in the contest. Alma was able to run out the clock and finish off a hard-fought league victory.
It was not a vintage Scots Gun offensive performance, but Alma did what was needed and finished the game with 357 total yards on the day. McGrady completed 19 of 36 passes for 210 yards, with two touchdowns and one interception and added 49 yards rushing for the Scots. RB Tyler Periard (Birch Run, MI) led the Scots on the ground with 79 yards on 15 carries and Schaar led the receiving corps with six catches for 73 yards and a touchdown.
The defense was solid and came up huge when needed at the different points of the game. Alma was led by LB Zach Comer (Alma, MI), who recorded 11 tackles (nine solo) and three tackles for loss. Martin and DB Bart Blystone (Mt. Pleasant, MI) each added seven tackles, while DL Jamie Young (Saginaw, MI) had six tackles (one for loss) and a sack on the day. Alma intercepted Olivet QB McCleary three times on the day, with Martin, Collins and DB James Lang (Coleman, MI) each grabbing one a piece.
The Scots next play second-place Adrian College (3-0 MIAA, 6-1 overall) next Saturday when they host the Bulldogs at 1:00 p.m. at Bahlke Field.
Posted: Sat, October 25th, 2008 at 4:46PM
