SCOTS FOOTBALL DROPS 45-24 DECISION TO ADRIAN
The Alma Scots 2008 Football Team hosted Adrian College on a beautiful, sunny fall afternoon in Mid-Michigan on Saturday. However, Adrian spoiled the day as they scored 35 unanswered points and came away with a 45-24 victory over the Scots at Bahlke Field.The loss dropped Alma to 2-2 in MIAA play and 4-4 overall, while the Bulldogs improved to 4-0 in the league and 7-1 on the season.
Alma led 7-3 after one quarter of action as WR Jeremy Stephens (Maple Rapids, MI) caught an eight-yard touchdown pass from QB Mackenzie McGrady (Portland, MI) for a Scots 7-0 lead. Adrian K Justin Warner finished of the scoring in the first frame when he booted a 24-yard field goal.
Adrian outscored Alma 21-3 in the second quarter and took command of the game heading into halftime. After Alma K Dan Seals (Ithaca, MI) gave Alma a 10-3 lead less than one minute into the quarter, the Bulldogs responded midway in the frame when QB Troy Niblock capped a seven-play, 70-yard drive with a two-yard run for a score to tie the game at 10-10. After an Alma punt on its next possession, the Bulldogs struck fast with a 77-yard touchdown pass from QB Mike McGee to WR Joseph Beehler on the very first play of their next drive, giving Adrian a 17-10 lead.
Adrian closed out the first half scoring by driving 46 yards in five plays and taking 2:36 off the game clock after another Alma punt. The Bulldogs went ahead by a score of 24-10 when Niblock scampered 13 yards for a touchdown and gave Adrian their halftime margin.
The third quarter was not much better for the Scots as Adrian scored the only two touchdowns of the frame and led 38-10 heading into the fourth quarter. Just three plays into the first drive of the third quarter, Bulldogs RB Jared Edwards ran 40 yards for a touchdown and a 31-10 advantage.
Alma had its chance to close the gap on their next possession as they drove to the Adrian one-yard line but was stopped cold on a fourth-and-one attempt, giving the ball back the Bulldogs. Adrian then drove down to the Alma 31-yard line, but the Scots returned the favor and denied them on a similar fourth-and-one situation. The third quarter scoring was closed out shortly after that possession as Alma drove to the Adrian 30-yard line, but McGrady was stripped of the ball, and after a 69-yard return by FS Brad Smaglia, the Bulldogs were on the Scots’ one-yard line. On the next play, RB Myke Johnson scored a touchdown and it was 38-10.
The Scots made the score 38-17 a little past midway in the final frame when Stephens caught a seven-yard touchdown pass from McGrady, to cap a seven-play, 82-yard drive. After an unsuccessful onside kick, Adrian needed just one play to make it a 45-17 game when Johnson ran 49 yards for a score. The game’s scoring ended with 4:13 remaining when WR Andrew Schaar (DeWitt, MI) connected with McGrady on a 15-yard touchdown strke to make the final score 45-24.
McGrady finished the day having completed 24 of 38 passes for 266 yards, but he was sacked six times on the day. RB Tyler Periard (Birch Run, MI) led the Scots with 76 yards rushing on 16 attempts, while Stephens led all receivers with seven catches for 61 yards and two scores.
Defensively, DB Travis Martin (Fennville, MI) led all Scots tacklers with eight total (six solo). LB Zach Comer (Alma, MI) was next with six solo stops and one for a loss. DB A.J. Rahar (Haslett, MI) contributed three tackles and two passes broken up.
Alma travels to Hope College next Saturday afternoon to take on the Flying Dutchmen in another MIAA tilt that will begin at 1:00 p.m. The Scots will conclude its 2008 season on Saturday, November 15, when they host Albion College in the MIAA season-finale.
Posted: Sat, November 1st, 2008 at 4:02PM
