After a week off from action, the Alma College football team hit the road to take on MIAA rival Kalamazoo College on Saturday afternoon. The Hornets were able to wear down the Scots and came away with a 21-3 victory on a blustery day in southeast Michigan.

With the loss, the Scots are now 0-9 on the season and 0-5 in the MIAA, while Kalamazoo improved to 5-4 in 2013 and 3-2 in the league.

A nice 30-yard opening kickoff return by Jr. WR/KR Tyler Watters (Williamston/Williamston) gave the ball to the Scots on their own 42-yard line to start the game. However, the first drive stalled after one first down but a punt by Fr. P Alex Crocker (Suttons Bay/Suttons Bay) pinned the Hornets down at their own five-yard line.

After the Alma defense stuffed Kzoo on three plays, the Scots got the ball back at the Hornets' 35-yard line after a short punt. Alma took advantage of the field position and earned one first down before stalling at the 21-yard line. The Scots then took a 3-0 lead when Sr. K Jack Pryde (Royal Oak/Royal Oak) kicked a 38-yard field goal with 8:23 left in the first quarter.

After the two teams exchanged punts on their next possessions, Kalamazoo got on the board and did it quickly. On the third play of their next drive, Hornets QB Justin Danzy connected with WR Josh Wise on a 69-yard scoring strike, and after an extra point, Kzoo had a 7-3 advantage with 3:54 remaining in the quarter.

That would be the end of the first half scoring as Alma had three more possessions that included one missed field goal by Pryde, while Kalamazoo had the ball four more times. The Hornets missed a field goal at the end of the half that kept the score 7-3 heading into the locker rooms.

The Hornets received the ball in the second half but went three and out, giving the Scots the ball at their own 29-yard line. A personal foul penalty by Alma set up a third and 19 from the 20-yard line and the next play proved crucial to the outcome.

Scots Sr. QB Jarrett Leister (Mt. Pleasant/St. Louis) was intercepted by Hornets LB Thomas Tabor, who returned the ball 24-yards for a score and just like that, Kzoo had a 14-3 lead. The deficit would prove difficult for Alma to overcome the rest of the way.

The remainder of the third quarter saw Alma have the ball four times and get inside Kzoo territory three times, but they were unable to score. In all, the Scots had two punts, a turnover on downs and a missed 25-yard field goal attempt by Pryde that hit the upright and bounced out. The Hornets took the 11-point lead into the final 15 minutes of the contest.

The fourth quarter wasn't much kinder for the Scots and the Hornets were able to add one more score before time ran out. After three Alma punts in the frame, Kalamazoo marched 77 yards on 10 plays and took 4:19 off the clock. The home team increased their lead to 21-3 when Danzy connected with receiver K.J. Schultz on an eight-yard scoring play with 3:10 remaining in the contest.

One final Alma drive ended at midfield on a missed fourth down attempt and the Hornets took over on downs and ran out the remainder of the clock.

Statisticaly, Alma had 13 first downs to Kalamazoo's 11, but the Hornets had the advantage in total yards by 279-155. The Scots also led time of possession by a margin of 36:29 to 23:31.

Leister completed 16 of 44 pass attempts for 112 yards and an interception, while Watters led the team with six catches for 59 yards. Rushing yards were tough to come by for Alma, but Sr. RB Jon Bricker (Yale/Yale) did lead the club with 18 yards on 19 carries.

Defensively, So. LB Gavin Smith (Westphalia/Pewamo-Westphalia) paced the Scots with 10 total tackles, one tackle for loss and one pass break-up. Jr. DB Adam Nelson (St. Clair Shores/U of D Jesuit) had nine total tackles and an interception, while Jr. LB Sam Young (Lowell/Lowell) finished with six total tackles and a quarterback sack. In addition, So. LB Terry Calagon (Jackson/East Jackson) finished with five total tackles, one tackle for loss and two pass break-ups.

The Scots will conclude the 2013 season next Saturday afternoon when Trine University comes calling to Alma. Kickoff at Bahlke Field is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.