The Alma College Football team begain the 2012 season on Saturday afternoon when they hosted Heidelberg University at Bahlke Field. The visiting Student Princes ruined the debut of new Scots Head Coach Greg Pscodna with a 45-0 victory over the Scots. Alma will travel to Illinois Wesleyan next Saturday afternoon in search of their first win of the season.

"That's a good football team we played today," said Pscodna. "They are a top-25 team and they play in the toughest conference in the nation so I give them credit. They had a great plan and they've got a lot of good athletes and football players and hopefully that's something we can build our program around and move forward."

Alma won the toss and elected to defer and Heidelberg took the opening drive and marched 55 yards on seven plays, taking a 7-0 lead on a one-yard run by RB Cartel Brooks. After an Alma fumble, the Berg made the score 14-0 and then increased their lead to 21-0 on its next drive on another touchdown run by Brooks. The Berg finished the first quarter scoring when QB Michael Mees connected on his second touchdown throw to make it 28-0 after the first 15 minutes.

The Student Princes scored on their first three possessions of the second quarter opening up a 45-0 lead with less than 2:00 minutes remaining in the frame. The Berg managed points in each of their seven drives to start the game before being stopped by the Scots with four seconds left in the half.

The two teams played a scoreless second half as Heidelberg played several players and the Scots were not able to capitalize when they moved into scoring position. The game ended with the score 45-0 and the Berg outgained the Scots by a margin of 421 to 231, although Alma had time of possession of more than 37 minutes in the game.

Jr. WR Garrett Cook (Genesee, Mich./Genesee) led Alma with 23 yards rushing, followed by Fr. RB Shannon Geren (Edon, Ohio/Edon), who had 22 yards. Jr. QB Jarrett Leister (St. Louis, Mich./Mt. Pleasant) completed 10 of 18 passes for 129 yards with an interception, while Jr. QB Robert Feeman (Clawson, Mich./Clawson) finished five of 11 for 43 yards and an interception before leaving with a shoulder injury.

Defensively, Alma was led by Sr. LB Donald Morin (Shepherd, Mich./Vestaburg), who had 10 total tackles. Jr. DB Austin McClelland (Oakland, Mich./Rochester Adams) and Fr. LB Gavin Smith (Westphalia, Mich./Pewamo-Westphalia) each had eight tackles. Jr. DL Austin Smith (Jackson, Mich./Lumen Christi) had a sack, two tackles for loss, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.

The Scots continue the 2012 season next Saturday when they travel to Bloomington, Ill., to take on Illinois Wesleyan, beginning at 2:00 p.m. EDT.