Homecoming 2014 brought Adrian College to Bahlke Field to take on the Alma College Football team in a MIAA tilt. On a beautiful weather day for football, the Bulldogs defeated the hometown Scots by a margin of 31-0 in front over 2,000 mostly pro-Alma fans.

With the loss, Alma fell to 2-3 overall on the season and 0-2 in the MIAA, while Adrian improved to 4-1 in the league and 1-1 in the league.

Adrian took the opening kickoff and marked 57 yards on 15 plays and took 7:15 off of the clock before taking a 3-0 lead on a Cameron Cook 41-yard field goal.

After an Alma punt, Adrian again drove the field but missed an opportunity to add to their lead when Cook had a 32-yard field goal attempt hit the upright no good. Meanwhile, the Scots offense was having a tough time getting anything going against a stingy Bulldogs defense.

The first time Alma had the ball in opposing territory happened when Scots So. DB Cody Coleman (Livonia/Stevenson) intercepted Adrian QB Aaron Tenney at the Alma 40-yard line. The Scots then proceeded to drive to the Bulldogs' 46-yard line before stalling.

Following an Alma punt, Adrian drove 77 yards on 11 plays and increased their lead to 10-0 when Tenney plunged one yard for a touchdown with 1:58 remaining in the half. The game would then go into the halftime break with Adrian holding the 10 point advantage.

The second half kickoff foretold a tough second half for the home team. Adrian kicked off to Alma Sr. DB Kolbi Shumaker (Boyne City/Boyne City), who unfortunately had the ball hit off of him and out of bounds at the two-yard line.

The tough field position was only made worse when Alma QB Dylan Zaborowski (Jackson/Michigan Center) fumbled on the eight-yard line, giving Adrian the ball.

Three plays later, Adrian Harris ran three yards for an Adrian touchdown and the visitors had a 17-0 lead with 13:23 to go in the third quarter.

The score would remain at 17-0 the rest of the quarter, as neither team mounted much of an offensive challenge.

During an Alma punt midway through the fourth frame, Adrian returned it to the Scots 28-yard line and the Bulldogs started possession after unsportsmanlike penalties on each team. Adrian did not take long to take advantage of the field position as Emmanuel Stewart scampered 28 yards for a score and a 24-0 advantage.

On the next drive, Zaborowski was intercepted by the Adrian defense and they returned it five yards to the Alma 12-yard line. Three plays later, Dylan Dunn pushed forward for a two-yard score and the Bulldogs led 31-0 with 6:44 left in the game.

Neither team mounted anythng offensively the rest of the way, and Adrian walked off the field with the 31-point league victory.

Offensively, Adrian had 280 total yards, while Alma was limited to just 134, and the Bulldogs had 19 first downs to six for the Scots. Time of possession favored the Bulldogs 37:18 to 22:42, while Alma had 58 yards rushing and 76 yards passing. But the big issue for the Scots was their 14 penalties for 158 yards.

Individually, Zaborovski completed eight of 20 passes for 76 yards with the one interception, while he also led all Alma rushers with 16 yards on six attempts. Fr. RB Tommie Dawson (Detroit/Redford Union) added 16 yards as well on six carries, while Brandon Harper had 15 yards on six rushes. Receiving leader was Sr. WR Erik Hines (Menominee/Menominee) with 40 yards on four catches.

On defense, Sr. LB Sam Young (Lowell/Lowell) led the team with 15 total tackles, a quarterback sack and two tackles for loss. Sr. LB Eric Strickler (Lapeer/Lapeer East) added 10 total tackles, while Sr. DB Brandon Wegenke (DeWitt/DeWitt) contributed eight total tackles, a forced fumble and a pass breakup.

Up next for Alma is Kalamazoo College next Saturday afternoon on the road. Kickoff is scheduled to begin at 2:00 p.m.