ALMA FOOTBALL TEAM DEFEATS ALBION 34-22
The Alma Scots Football Team completed its 2008 home schedule on Saturday with a 34-22 win over Albion College at Bahlke Field. The victory improved the Scots to 5-4 on the year (3-2 MIAA), while the Britons finished the year with an overall mark of 4-6 and 3-3 in league play.
Alma finishes up the 2008 season next Saturday, November 22, when they travel to Hope College to take on the Flying Dutchmen. The game was originally scheduled for November 8, but was postponed because of a Norovirus outbreak on the Hope campus. The game may not have league implications, but the schools’ rivalry should make for a great atmosphere.
Against Albion, Alma QB Mackenzie McGrady broke the single-game MIAA record for total offense on Saturday, with 576 total yards. He was 43 of 59 passing for 468 yards with five touchdowns and one interception in the Scots' 34-22 victory. McGrady also rushed for 113 yards on 16 attempts.
The old MIAA total yards record was held by another Alma QB, Bill Nietzke, who accounted for 555 yards of total offense against Hope College in 1996.
In addition, McGrady tied the MIAA record for completions Saturday with 43, also held by Nietzke in the '96 Hope game and is poised for strong consideration for MIAA Offensive Player of the Week honors.
After stopping Albion on three plays, the Scots took all of nine seconds to take a 7-0 lead when McGrady hit WR Matt Brown on a 52-yard touchdown pass on the Scots’ first play from scrimmage. Alma added another touchdown halfway through the first quarter when McGrady connected with WR Andrew Schaar on a seven-yard touchdown strike and a 14-0 advantage.
Early in the second quarter, Albion made the game a 14-6 contest when QB Alex Harris connected with WR Dave Wunderlich on a 53-yard touchdown strike. After a missed Britons extra point, Alma increased its lead to 20-6 when WR Corey Wangler was on the receiving end of a McGrady four-yard touchdown throw. Albion was not done in the first half and narrowed the gap to 20-13 at halftime when Harris connected with WR Aaron Baker on a 35-yard score.
Alma increased its lead to 27-13 when McGrady hit Brown on a four-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter. Albion made it an a 11 point game when K Mychal Galla booted a 20-yard field goal and decreased the deficit to 27-16.
Less than one minute into the fourth quarter, McGrady completed the Scots’ scoring when he hit Schaar for a 31-yard touchdown strike and a 34-16 advantage. The Britons added a very late (32 seconds left in the game) Harris to Wunderlich touchdown pass for the final score of 34-22.
Posted: Sat, November 15th, 2008 at 6:49PM
