The Alma College Football team continued the MIAA season Saturday on a cold mid-October afternoon when they traveled to Kalamazoo College. After an early lead, the Scots ultimately lost to the Hornets by a score of 45-24 in front of a homecoming crowd in Kzoo.

With the defeat, Alma is now 2-4 on the season and 0-3 in the MIAA, while Kalamazoo notched their first win of the season to improve to 1-5 and are now 1-1 in the league.

Alma took the opening drive of the game and drove 59 yards on eight plays, culminating in a 23-yard field goal by Fr. K Ryan Maguire (Grand Haven/Grand Haven) to give the visitors a 3-0 lead. Kzoo responded with their own impressive drive by marching 75 yards on 11 plays, taking a 7-3 lead on a Aaron McGuire six-yard touchdown pass to Alex Dietrich.

The game continued its frenetic pace on Alma's next possession as well. On the second play, Fr. QB Dylan Zaborowski (Jackson/Michigan Center) connected with Fr. WR Daniel Kroupa (Melbourne, FL/Eau Gallie) on a 71-yard touchdown completion. After a Maguire extra point, the Scots led by a score of 10-7.

The game settled down at that point for a short bit as both teams punted and the Hornets missed a field goal attempt. On the first play after the missed kick, Zaborowski found Fr. TE Zachary Huver (Lowell/Lowell) on a 79-yard touchdown bomb and the Scots extended their advantage to 17-7 with 2:26 remaining in the first quarter.

On the ensuing kickoff, Kalamazoo KR Elijah Hamilton-Wray scampered 96 yards for a return touchdown, and just like that, the Hornets cut Alma's lead to 17-14. After another Scots punt, Kalamazoo went ahead 21-17 when McGuire hit Collin Feilla for 19 yards and a score at the 13:29 mark of the second quarter.

After a Alma fumble gave the Hornets the ball on the Scots' 39-yard line, the home team took just four plays to extend their lead to 28-17 when McGuire completed a pass to Alex Dietrich for 28 yards and a touchdown. They would add a field goal with 8:34 left in the half to increase the advantage to 31-17.

Before the end of the half, Alma would cut into their deficit when Zaborowski connected with Sr. WR Tyler Watters (Williamston/Williamston) for a 10-yard touchdown with just 37 seconds left in the half. Kalamazoo would then head into the break leading 31-24.

Unfortunately for the Scots, they would not be able to put any more points on the scoreboard as the second half settled down considerably in terms of offensive production for both teams. The Hornets made it a 38-24 game when McGuire hit Cameron Shegos for 7 yards and a score midway in the third quarter.

The final score of the contest came on the first play of the fourth quarter when Zaborowski's pass attempt was intercepted by BJ Smith and returned 58 yards for a touchdown. That gave Kalamazoo the 45-24 final margin of victory as the home team secured their first win of the 2014 season.

Zaborowski finished the game with 15 completions on 38 attempts for 300 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions. Huver had two catches for 120 yards and the score, while Kroupa finished with two catches for 91 yards and a touchdown. Sr. WR Erik Hines (Menominee/Menominee) finished with a team-high six catches for 51 yards.

On the ground, Fr. RB Tommie Dawson (Detroit/Redford Union) led the way for Alma with 70 yards on 12 carries, while So. RB Michael Riojas (Mesick/Mesick) added 42 yards on nine rushes.

On defense, Jr. LB Terry Calagon (Jackson/East Jackson) and Sr. LB Sam Young (Lowell/Lowell) each had a team-high 13 total tackles with Calagon having one for a loss and Young recording a sack and three for a loss. In addition, Jr. LB Gavin Smith (Westphalia-Pewamo-Westphalia) had 11 tackles with a half sack. Sr. LB Eric Strickler (Lapeer/Lapeer East) recorded a half sack, while Jr. DL Troy Gahm (Gaylord/Gaylord) notched a sack as well.

As a team, Alma had 16 first downs and 435 yards of total offense, while Kalamazoo countered with 21 first downs and 382 yards of total offense. A big stat in the game were turnovers, where Alma had five - two interceptions and three fumbles - and the Hornets had zero.

The Scots will now have three consecutive home games, starting with the Hope College Flying Dutch coming to town next Saturday afternoon. Kickoff at Bahlke Field is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. Home dates with Lakeland College (WI) and Albion College will follow the game against Hope.