ALMA FOOTBALL DROPS SEASON FINALE 45-27 AT HOPE
The Alma College Football team concluded its 2008 season on Saturday, when they traveled to Hope College, to make up a postponed November 8 game due to a Norovirus on the Hope campus. The Scots ended up on the wrong end of a 45-27 score as the Flying Dutchmen spoiled Alma’s chance at a winning record for the season.
Alma finished the year with an overall record of 5-5 (3-3 MIAA). The Scots tied for third place in the league with Hope and Albion College, who each ended with identical 3-3 MIAA records.
Hope got on the board first when Adam Loveless scored on a one-yard run on Hope’s first possession of the game, capping a five-play, 55-yard drive. Alma countered on its next possession when QB Mackenzie McGrady ran three yards for a score just 4:00 later. After a blocked extra point attempt by K Dan Seals, Hope led 7-6.
The Flying Dutchmen increased their lead to 14-6 when Tim Elzinga ran 35 yards for a touchdown with 5:00 remaining in the first quarter. Hope concluded the first quarter scoring when Steve Hazekamp booted a 31-yard field goal for a 17-6 lead heading into the second quarter.
Alma’s deficit grew to 24-6 a little bit over the midway mark of the second quarter when Scott Snyder caught a five-yard touchdown pass from Jake Manning. Two minutes later, the Scots cut the lead to the halftime score of 24-14 when McGrady connected with WR Jeremy Stephens on a 14-yard touchdown strike and a two-point conversion.
The only scoring of the third quarter was by Hope when Hazekamp kicked a 23-yard field goal six minutes into the frame for a 27-14 Flying Dutchmen lead.
During the fourth quarter, Loveless ran for a one-yard score and a two-point conversion to give Hope a 35-14 advantage with 7:57 remaining in the game. Alma cut the lead to 35-21 when McGrady hit WR Matt Brown on a 35-yard touchdown pass just 19 seconds later.
With 4:11 left in the game, Hazekamp booted a 29-yard field goal that capped a 41-yard, five-play drive and gave Hope a 38-21 lead. Less than a minute later, McGrady finished off a 66-yard, four-play set by running one-yard for a touchdown and a Hope advantage of 38-27.
With 56 seconds remaining in the game, Elzinga scored again, this time from 24 yards out, and the Flying Dutchmen had their 45-27 triumph on the last day of MIAA football for 2008.
For the game, McGrady finished with 25 completions on 44 attempts for 295 yards and two touchdowns, with WR Andrew Schaar leading all recievers with 11 catches for 101 yards. RB Tyler Periard led all rushers with 34 yards on eight attempts.
Defensively, Alma was paced by DB Travis Martin, who had 13 tackles (12 solo), one tackle for loss and an interception. DL Brad Collins had seven total tackles, 3.5 for loss, and LB Zach Comer finished with six tackles and one sack on the day.
Posted: Sat, November 22nd, 2008 at 4:26PM
