Alma, Mich. - Behind three touchdowns from junior RB Nick Sullivan (Flushing, Mich./Flint Powers Catholic) , the Alma College football team doubled up the visiting Rockford University Regents, rolling to a 42-21 victory in their first home game of the season. The Scots improved to 2-1 with with win, while Rockford suffered its first loss, dropping to 2-1.
In front of a crowd of nearly 2,000, the Scots jumped out to a 21-0 lead in the first quarter. After holding the Regents to a three-and-out on their opening possession, the Scots received great field position, starting their opening drive on Rockford's 35-yard line. Four plays later, Sullivan scored his first touchdown of the night from one yard out and added the two-point conversion to put Alma up, 8-0, less than four minutes into the game. The Scots held Rockford on their its next drive, then went 68 yards in five plays, capped by a 45-yard touchdown pass from sophomore QB Dylan Zaborowski (Jackson, Mich./Michigan Center) to sophomore WR Daniel Hugan (Ann Arbor, Mich./Ann Arbor Huron) to give the Scots a 15-0 lead halfway through the first quarter.
Alma held the Rockford offense in check again before marching 70 yards in four plays to go up by three scores. Zaborowski hit two big passes on the drive - a 25-yard pass to senior WR Sean McDonald (Gladwin, Mich./Gladwin) and a 40-yard connection with Hugan. Sullivan finished the five with a five-yard touchdown run, scoring with 4:27 left in the opening stanza to make the score 21-0. Sullivan finished the night with 75 yards and three scores on 15 carries, while Hugan led the receiving corps with 125 yards and a score on seven catches.
The Regents got on the board midway through the second quarter when quarterback Adam O'Malley scampered in from two yards to make it 21-7. The score was set up after O'Malley connected with wide receiver Joe Breeden for a 71-yard reception to move the ball to the Scots' three-yard line.
Sullivan added another score before the half, ending a five-play, 52-yard drive with a one-yard run to make the score 28-7.
In the second half, Rockford pulled within 14 when Tre Hatchett scored on a one-yard run after getting the ball on the Alma 39-yard line. The Scots' were held to a loss of seven yards on their next drive, but a career-long punt by sophomore Edward Inglsbee (Waterford, MIch./Kettering) pinned the Regents inside their own 20-yard line. Rockford began to move the ball, but the Alma defense came up huge, with senior DL Terry Calagon (Jackson, Mich./Northwest) forcing O'Malley to fumble, and sophomore DL Cameron Lee (Lansing, Mich./Waverly) scopped the ball up and rumbled 28 yards for the score to put the Scots up 35-14.
Rockford would add another score early in the fourth quarter before senior WR Erik Hines(Menominee, Mich./Menominee) found the end zone, catching a three-yard TD pass from Zaborowski. Zaborowski finished the night completing 20- of his 29 passes for 229 yards and two scores.
The Scots held the Regents' offense to just 260 yards after Rockford entered the game with an average of 440 yards per game. Sophomore LB Zac Peterson (Holt, Mich./Holt) led Alma with 16 tackles and contributed to 2.5 sacks as O'Malley was sacked eight times. Calagon also contributed 13 tackles and 4.5 tackles for loss, including 2.5 sacks. Alma posted 332 yards of total offense, including 229 through the air, on the fifth-ranked defense in NCAA Division III.
Alma has the week off before returning home to open MIAA play, hosting the Trine Thunder. Kickoff for the Scots' annual homecoming contest is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. at Bahlke Field on the campus of Alma College.
NOTES
- Alma is now 2-0 in home night games and has outscored its opponents 73-28 in those contests.
- The Scots are 25-16 in home openers since 1975.
- Erik Hines extended his reception streak to 23 games with four catches for 24 yards and a score.
- Dylan Zaborowski completed a career-high 20 passes. He also completed passes at a career-high .689 rate.
- Daniel Hugan recorded his fourth career 100-yard receiving game with his seven catches for 125 yards. His previous three took place as a freshmen with Olivet in 2013. In addition, Hugan has scored a touchdown in each of the Scots' first three games.
- Sean McDonald tied a career-high with three catches for a career-high 36 yards.
- Nick Sullivan's three-TD performance is the second time this season he has scored three times in a game. Sullivan has a team-high six scores.
- Terry Calagon tied a career high with 13 tackles while posting a career-high 2.5 sacks. He also recorded a career-high 3.5 tackles for loss to become the Scots' leading in career tackles for loss with 36.5, surpassing Sam Young's 33.5.
- Zac Peterson's 16 tackles and 3.5 tackles for loss were both career-highs. Peterson has record 5.5 sacks in his last two outings.
- Cameron Lee's fumble recovery for a touchdown marked the first scoring play of his career.
- Kevin Essenmacher's eight tackles were a career-best. Essenmacher also recorded his first career sack.
- Derek Ellis notched a career-high eight stops.
- Trevor Camanse's seven tackles were the best of his career, while Lazaro Chavez's seven stops was a personal best.
- Edward Inglsbee's punt for 54 yards marked a career long.
- Ryan Maguire tied a career high with four extra point kicks.
QUOTES
Head Coach Greg Pscodna
On the win...
"I thought we got out to a great start. I thought the kids executed very well in the first half. In the second half, we've just got to mature and get better. We came out and gave up some big plays and turnovers and we were very sluggish. We took control again when we had the fumble returned for a touchdown. They got the momentum in the second half and then we got it back when that happened.
On Nick Sullivan...
"I think Nick Sullivan did a great job. He'll be the first to credit that the offensive line did a good job. We are getting to the point where we have some run and pass options and we get the ball to Nick and he does a great job. We've just got to keep working to get better and more consistent.
On the crowd ...
"I thought that was key. I thought it was great - the kids were fired up and the band did a tremendous job. It's great to look back and see people on the fences and all around the field and having a good time. I think that carries over to the kids."
On the team after three games ...
"I think we're getting better. We had a tough game last week, but this was a nice bounce back game. If anything, the kids got a little confidence and know we can score points and play some defense. Every MIAA game is going to be tough because everybody's good in the MIAA. There's some offenses scoring a ton of points and some defenses not giving up a lot. Every Saturday's going to be a battle. I hope we get some bounces to go our way and you never know what can happen."