On an unusually warm mid-October late afternoon, the Alma College football team traveled to the southern part of the state to take on defending MIAA champion Adrian College on their home turf.

The Bulldogs got the best of the Scots on this Saturday and rode out a 41-6 victory that dropped Alma to 0-2 in the league and 0-6 overall this season. Adrian is now 2-0 in the MIAA and 5-1 in 2013.

Adrian won the toss and deferred to the Scots, who went three plays and punt on their first drive. On their first play from scrimmage, the Bulldogs completed a 50-yard pass that gave them the ball on the Alma. Two plays later, RB Dae'Von Robinson ran six yards for a touchdown and Adrian had an early 7-0 advantage.

On the Scots' next drive, the visitors earned three first downs, two by penalty, and had the ball on the Adrian 24-yard line. However, So. QB Derek Talaga (South Lyon, Mich./South Lyon), playing for injured starter Sr. QB Jarrett Leister (St. Louis, Mich./Mt. Pleasant) was sacked and fumbled on the play, ending the scoring threat.

Adrian then proceeded to drive into Alma territory but was stopped on fourth down at the Scots' 20-yard line. On what would become a familiar refrain from the Scots, they were forced to punt after one first down and Adrian looked to take advantage.

On a drive that wove into the second quarter, the Bulldogs went 70 yards on 11 plays and took 4:49 off of the clock before QB Aaron Tenney hit WR Tyler Bruce on a 23-yard TD and a 14-0 lead. So. QB Brent Luplow (Clare, Mich./Clare) then took over under center for the Scots but the visitors were forced to punt again after three plays.

The Bulldogs then increased their lead to 21-0 as Tenney connected with WR Nathan Hartline on a 76-yard touchdown pass that culminated a short three-play scoring drive. Alma then embarked on their own very good drive and got the ball down to the Adrian 19-yard line.

But they came up a yard short on fourth and three, turning the ball over as So. RB Grant Wilson (Redford Township, Mich./Lee Thurston) could not get the final yard on his push at the line of scrimmage.

After forcing an Adrian punt on their next drive, Alma drove to the Bulldogs' one-yard line and faced a fourth and one from that spot. However, Sr. RB Jon Bricker (Yale, Mich./Yale) was stopped cold at the one and ended yet another Scots scoring threat. But, Alma's defense was solid and the Scots got the ball back in the final minute of the half with the possibility of getting on the board.

However, Talaga, back at quarterback, was intercepted by Adrian Sr. LB Deontae Bridgeman who then ran 56 yards to the house for a defensive touchdown. Even though a two-point pass attempt failed, Adrian went into halftime with a formidable 27-0 advantage.

The third quarter can be best described as offensively challenged or defensively outstanding depending on which sideline you were standing on at any given point. The two teams combined for eight punts (four a piece) before an Adrian fumble (recovered by Alma So. LB Dakota Gogolowski (LeRoy, Mich./Reed City) gave the Scots the ball on the Bulldogs' 37-yard line with 27 seconds remaining in the quarter.

Alma drove 33 yards on 11 plays down to the four-yard line but a Luplow fourth down pass attempt was incomplete and the Scots again came up empty in the red zone. The Scots' stellar defense continued and after a short punt, Alma had the ball at the Adrian 40-yard line. This time the Scots took advantage of their field position.

Wilson plunged one-yard for a touchdown, capping a 10-play, 40-yard drive for the Scots. After a blocked extra point, Adrian still led 27-6 but Alma had life. The ensuing onside kick attempt failed however, and the Bulldogs ultimately put the game away.

Adrian took the ball and methodically drove 44 yards on seven plays and took a 34-6 advantage as Sr. RB Kyle Smock rushed over right guard for a one-yard touchdown with 3:13 left in the game. After a short punt by Alma gave the hosts the ball on the visitor 40-yard line, Adrian So. QB Drew Collins scampered the distance on just one play and the Bulldogs had the final margin of victory lead at 41-6.

In a fitting end to the contest, the game ended with Alma on the Adrian four-yard line on a drive engineered by Luplow. Another opportunity inside the 20-yard line that the young Scots could not convert into points and as a result, Alma walked off the field with the loss.

On the afternoon, Luplow completed eight of 24 passes for 88 yards, while Talaga finished nine of 18 for 77 yards and one interception. Jr. WR Tyler Watters (Williamston, Mich./Williamston) led all receivers with nine catches for 105 yards, while Jr. WR Erik Hines (Menominee, Mich./Menominee) added five receptions for 57 yards. Wilson led all Scots rushers with 79 yards on 24 carries and a touchdown.

Defensively, Jr. LB Sam Young (Lowell, Mich./Lowell) had 10 total tackles, including 2.5 quarterback sacks, 3.5 tackles for loss and two quarterback hurries. Sr. DL Frank Furnari (DeWitt, Mich./DeWitt) finished with eight total tackles and one pass break-up, while So. DE Austin Little (Defiance, OH/Timora) added six total tackles, 1.5 sacks and 2.5 tackles for loss.

Next week, the Scots return to the friendly confines of Bahlke Field when they host MIAA rival Hope College. Kickoff against the Flying Dutchmen is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.