Saturday afternoon brought the Scots football team up against yet another top 25 opponent as they took on host Wisconsin-Oshkosh. Alma was defeated by the #9 Titans 56-3 to fall to 0-4 in non-league play, while Oshkosh improved to 3-0 on the season.

Wisconsin-Oshkosh received the opening kickoff but the Scots defense held them to zero yards and a three and out. After a punt giving Alma the ball, Sr. QB Jarrett Leister (St. Louis, Mich./Mt. Pleasant) was tackled for a five-yard loss on third down. He fumbled the ball and the Titans recovered at the Scots 40-yard line.

On the first play after the fumble, Oshkosh QB Nick Olla hit WR Caleb Voss on a 40-yard touchdown pass and a 7-0 advantage. After the two teams exchanged punts, Alma Jr. LB Sam Young (Lowell, Mich./Lowell) intercepted Olla, giving the Scots the ball at the UWO 34-yard line.

Alma only generated six yards on the next drive, but Sr. K Jack Pryde (Royal Oak, Mich./Royal Oak) put Alma on the board with a career-high 45-yard field goal, cutting the deficit to 7-3 late in the first quarter.

However, the game began to go downhill from there for the Scots. Oshkosh scored 21 points in the second quarter on rushing touchdowns of five and two yards by RB Cole Myhra and a one-yard plunge by RB Jake Dostalek.

The final score came with just 29 seconds left in the half and gave the Titans a 28-3 halftime lead and took some wind from the Scots' sails.

The second half didn't fare much better for the visitors. On Alma's first possession, Leister was intercepted by UWO's Beau Steffens and the Titans had the ball on the Scots' 15-yard line. Three plays later, Olla hooked up with Voss on a 21-yard scoring toss to make it 35-3 and the rout was beginning.

Two more scores by Oshkosh in the third quarter - one on a pass and one on the ground - gave the Titans a commanding 49-3 advantage heading into the final quarter of the game. The final UWO touchdown came on a 55-yard touchdown strike from back-up QB Dylann Rauch to WR Ethan Steinhoff to make the final tally 56-3.

After the Scots' field goal, Alma only had the ball in Oshkosh territory on two occasions the rest of the afternoon and one of them started in the zone because of a fumble recovery. For the game UWO had 555 yards of total offense to Alma's 75, including a 209-8 advantage on the ground. In the air, the Titans had 346 yards, while the Scots accounted for 67.

Leister completed six of 19 passes for 48 yards with one interception, while So. QB Derek Talaga (South Lyon, Mich./South Lyon) was three of six for 19 yards and a pick in relief. Jr. WR Tyler Watters (Williamston, Mich./Williamston) led Alma with four catches for 38 yards, while Jr. WR Erik Hines (Menominee, Mich./Menominee) added two grabs for 21 yards. Leister led Alma on the ground with 11 yards on nine carries, with a long of 12 yards.

Defensively, So. LB Terry Calagon (Jackson, Mich./East Jackson) led the way for the Scots with eight total tackles, two quarterback sacks and one forced fumble. So. LB Gavin Smith (Westphalia, Mich./Pewoma-Westphalia) also had eight tackles with one for loss, while Young finished with seven tackles, 1.5 for loss and the first quarter interception. Jr. DB Adam Nelson (St. Clair Shores, Mich./U of D Jesuit) had an interception in the loss, his third of the season.

The Scots will begin MIAA action next Saturday at Bahlke Field for Homecoming 2013, when they take on undefeated Olivet College. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.