A blocked extra point with just eight seconds remaining in the game resulted in the Alma College Football team losing a 27-26 decision against MIAA rival Albion College on Saturday. With the tough loss, the Scots dropped to 0-2 in the MIAA and 1-5 overall, while Albion is now 2-0 in the league and 2-3 on the 2011 season.
As has been a pattern in 2011, the Scots' offense was slow to get going in the first half, and the visitors found themselves down 7-3 at the halfway point. Albion opened the scoring in the first quarter, when they connected on a 70-yard touchdown pass at the 6:11 mark.
The Scots finished the first half scoring, when Alma ended a 13-play, 84-yard drive with a 21-yard field goal by So. K Michael Reeves (Lisle, Mich./Lisle)with just seven seconds gone into the second quarter.
In the second half, the Britons used a long kickoff return to get in position to make it a 10-3 advantage just 1:30 into the third quarter. After Alma drove to the Albion five-yard line on the next possession, they were stopped and forced to give it back to the Britons on downs. The Alma defense held and after a bad snap of a punt that went out of the end zone, the Scots were down just 10-5.
After a free kick, Alma responded with a 51-yard, five-play drive that resulted in a Jr. RB Ed Mason (Grand Rapids, Mich./Creston) touchdown from one yard out. After a two-point conversion from So. QB Jarrett Leister (St. Louis, Mich./Mt. Pleasant) to Fr. WR Tyler Watters (Williamston, Mich./Williamston), the Scots led 13-10.
Barak Henderson had 10 receptions for 160 yards and two touchdowns against Albion on Saturday
Albion took a 17-13 lead five minutes later, but the Scots had the answer, as they drove 76 yards on 12 plays, taking a the 20-17 advantage as Leister found Sr. WR Barak Henderson (Hot Springs, Ark./Oscoda, Tex.) on a six-yard touchdown pass.
With 8:17 left in the game, Albion tied the game at 20-20 on a 35-yard field goal. Subsequently, the Scots drove down the field on the next possession. However, an errant pass resulted in a 70-yard interception return for a touchdown by Albion's Chris Greenwood, giving the home team a seven-point advantage.
With just 4:41 to go in the game, the Scots had a chance to even it up or even win the game. With methodical precision, they drove down the field and scored when Leister hit Henderson on a two-yard TD strike with just eight seconds to go in the game.
However, with the game at 27-26, the extra point was blocked and the Scots walked off the field with a very tough one-point loss.
Alma will host Trine University next Saturday afternoon for Homecoming 2011. The game at Bahlke Field will begin at 1:30 p.m.
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