/seasons/2023/contrib/20230916cif2d7

Strong second half leads Albion in home opener

ALBION – The last time Travis Rundle was on the Albion College football field, he torched Hope College for a 30-point win under center. In his first game as head coach on that very field, Rundle's Britons used a strong second half to defeat Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, 48-19.

A career-high three touchdown day from Phillip Jones-Price led the ground game. The fifth year senior rushed for 71 yards on 15 attempts.

Junior quarterback Luke Lovell completed 18 of 34 passes for 288 yards and a touchdown. Kye Bristow led the receiving corps with seven catches, totaling a career-best 92 yards.

Defensively, Camden Orlando added to the career days, recording 10 tackles. Running back turned linebacker Donovan Wright added seven tackles for the Brits.

Receiving the opening kickoff, Albion took the ball downfield for an opening drive touchdown. A deep pass to Bristow put the Brits inside the RHIT 3-yard line. Three plays later, Jones-Price found the end zone for the first time, leading 6-0 early on.

Midway through the first half, Rose-Hulman evened the score at six, following a 96-yard TD off a slant. Both teams failed to convert the PAT, knotted at six all-around.

The Briton defense forced a three and out, as RHIT punted. The Engineers punted right to Devin Fridley-Bell, who broke through the defense and raced into the end zone for a 69-yard touchdown, giving Albion the lead. That lead was short-lived, as the visitors tied the score before the end of the first period.

Albion was faced with their first deficit of the season when RHIT took a 19-13 advantage early in the second quarter. That score would be the last for the Engineers for the remaining 40 minutes and 10 seconds, as Albion would score an unanswered 35 points.

On the ensuing possession, Jones-Price ran for a 14-yard TD, giving the Britons a 20-19 lead at the half.

The Brits forced the Engineers into another three and out to start the new half, as Albion put together a long drive to extend its lead to 27-19. On the next possession, Rose-Hulman went for it on 4th and 1 from the Briton 33. Senior captain Brandon Camfield came up with a huge stop, as the visitors turned the ball over on downs. Albion used the turnover to its advantage when recently Tik Tok famous James Bloomfield bulldozed his way into the end zone for a 3-yard TD.

Just before the end of the third, Dilon Denison hauled in a 14-yard touchdown pass, boosting the lead to 41-19. Albion's final score came from sophomore Tayshaun Nichols in the fourth quarter.

Albion's defense held tough, as Rose-Hulman converted just three of 18 third downs.

The Britons improve to 1-0 on the young season with one game left in non-conference play. Next weekend, Albion hosts UW-Stevens Point for a noon kickoff.

 

Marissa Smego // Sports Information Director

Dec. 15: All times Eastern
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Cortland 38, at North Central (Ill.) 37
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