The Alma Football season opened the season on Saturday afternoon when they traveled to Ohio to take on Heidelberg University. On a hot and humid day, the Scots dropped a heartbreaking 34-28 overtime thriller to the Student Princes to fall to 0-1 on the season.
"Our kids played really, really hard in tough conditions and I am proud of them," said Alma Head Coach Jim Cole. "We were a little undermanned, but our kids really showed they wanted it and it was just a couple of mistakes at the end that kept that from happening."
The first half of the game started slow for both offenses, as each team committed multiple turnovers as they both tried to find their groove. Heidelberg finally scored with 6:34 left in the half when WR Brad Jones caught a 29-yard touchdown pass from QB Michael Mees.
Heidelberg increased their lead to 14-0 four minutes into the second half, when FB Aaron Kapelka caught a five-yard TD pass from Mees, to cap a nine-play, 59-yard drive. The score remained that way until the 3:48 mark of the quarter.
The Scots finally got on the board as So. QB Jarrett Leister (Mt. Pleasant/Mich./Mt. Pleasant) plunged one-yard for a touchdown to finish a six-play, 67-yard march, making the score 14-7.
The Berg answered just 46 seconds later when RB Germany Woods sprinted 66 yards down the field for a touchdown and after a missed extra point, the home team led 20-7. Alma capped a fast and furious last four minutes of the third quarter, when they drove 76 yards on six plays and made the score 20-14 when Leister scampered five yards for another touchdown with 24 seconds remaining.
The Flying Princes maintained their six-point lead for the first ten minutes of the fourth quarter, but Alma managed to take their first lead of the game with 5:09 remaining. The Scots took the 21-20 advantage when Leister connected with Sr. WR Barak Henderson (Dallas, Tex./Oscoda) on a 41-yard touchdown pass.
Heidelberg answered on their next drive when Mees connected with WR CJ Powell on a 51-yard TD strike with 3:20 left, and after a two-point conversion, the home team led 28-21. The Scots tied the game at 28-28 on their next possession, when Leister capped a four-play, 80-yard drive by rushing three yards for his third touchdown of the game.
In the overtime period, the Scots had the first possession and drove to the Berg eight-yard line before Leister was intercepted in the end zone, giving the ball to Heidelberg. Earlier in the drive, Alma had a touchdown nullifed by a holding penalty. The Berg ended the game in their possession as Mees connected with Powell on a 21-yard touchdown to come away with the hard-fought 34-28 victory.
The two teams ended up combining for over 1,000 yards of total offense, and the Scots were led by Leister, who completed 16 of 38 passes for 298 yards and a touchdown, while adding 55 net rushing yards and his three touchdowns. Jr. RB Ed Mason (Grand Rapids, Mich./Creston) added 90 yards rushing on 14 carries, while Henderson finished with 148 receiving yards on three catches.
Defensively, Sr. LB Anthony Sabatella (St. Claire Shores/De La Salle) led the Scots with 17 total tackles, including three tackles for loss and a quarterback sack. Sr. LB Conrad Bovee (Ithaca, Mich./Ithaca) added 13 tackles, with one for a loss, one forced fumble and three quarterback hurries.
The Scots will play their first home game next Saturday, when Illinois Wesleyan comes to Bahlke Field. Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m.
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