The Alma College Football team kicked off the month of November by welcoming Lakeland College (WI) to Bahlke Field on cold, sunny and brisk Saturday afternoon.

The Scots were down for a majority of the game, but managed to score with just 26 seconds remaining to cut the deficit to three. However, Lakeland would recover the Alma onside kick attempt to escape Bahlke Field with the 20-17 victory.

The Scots drop their fifth-straight contest to fall to 2-6 on the year, while the Muskies improve to 5-3 overall with the win.

The first five possessions saw both teams struggle to move the ball in the chilly November air. Alma would put the first points on the board, when Fr. K Ryan Maguire (Grand Haven/Grand Haven) connected on a 30-yard field goal to cap a 10-play, 36-yard drive to give the Scots the 3-0 lead with 1:22 left in the quarter.

Lakeland started the second quarter with a punt, but back-to-back incompletions by Fr. QB Dylan Zaborowski (Jackson/Michigan Center) would give the Muskies the ball back on downs.

Alma stopped Lakeland during the next drive on a third and three, but a personal foul penalty kept the drive alive and gave the visitors a first and ten in the red zone. The Muskies then capped an 11-play, 73-yard drive when RB Kendrick Burks ran for a two-yard touchdown. The extra point by K Rhen Riehl gave Lakeland the 7-3 lead with just under eight minutes to play in the half.

The Scots answered right back, collecting three first downs on their next possession. On first and 10 from the Lakeland 28-yard line, Zaborowski found Sr. WR Tyler Watters (Williamston/Williamston) across the middle for a touchdown. The Maguire extra put Alma back ahead at 10-7 with 4:25 left in the second quarter.

Neither team would be able to manufacture any points the remainder of the frame, and the Scots went into the halftime break ahead by three points at 10-7.

In the third quarter following an Alma punt, Lakeland took possession at their own 37-yard line. After a first down run by Burks, QB A.J Veloz would air it out to WR Michael Esiobu for a 52-yard touchdown. Following the extra point, the Muskies had a 14-10 advantage just 3:20 into the second half.

On the next Alma possession, Zaborowski threw an interception that gave Lakeland the ball back at the Scots' 23-yard line. But, the Scots defense would respond in a big way. On fourth down from Alma's three-yard line, the Muskies were stopped cold, turning the ball over on downs.

The Scots offense was not able to generate any momentum however, and they were forced to punt from deep in their own end zone. But, again, the Alma defense was strong on this day and Lakeland did not take advantage of good field position.

Each team would exchanges punts before Burks collected his second touchdown of the afternoon with just 31 seconds remaining the third frame, as he took the handoff from Veloz and ran 36 yards for the score. Lakeland missed the extra point, and the scoreboard read 20-10 heading into the fourth quarter.

The final 15 minutes saw three punts before Jr. LB Terry Calagon (Jackson/East Jackson) came up with a huge fumble recovery, giving the Scots the ball back at their own 44-yard line with just over three minutes remaining in the contest.

Alma would give the ball right back on the next possession, when Zaborowski threw his second interception of the day at the Lakeland two yard line.

The Scots defense once again held and forced a punt with just 31 seconds left in the game. A short Muskies punt into the heavy wind gave the ball to the Scots at the Lakeland 17-yard line. On the very first play, Zaborowski found a streaking Jr. WR Erik Hines (Menominee/Menominee) for a touchdown, and following the extra point, Alma was down just three points at 20-17 with 26 seconds remaining.

The Scots then attempted an onside kick, but the Muskies recovered at the Alma 44-yard line to seal the 20-17 road victory.

For the game, Lakeland had 307 yards of offense compared to Alma's 278 with a 20-18 advantage in first downs. The Scots forced three fumbles on the afternoon and held the Muskies to -25 return yards.

Zaborowski completed 18 of his 41 attempts for 214 yards, with two touchdowns and two interceptions. On the ground, he added 25 yards on 11 rushes.

Hines led the Scots with a game-high eight catches for 95 yards and touchdown. Watters chipped in with six catches for 77 yards and a score.

Calagon had a huge day for the Alma defense, leading the squad with nine tackles, two sacks, two fumble recoveries and two tackles for loss.

The Scots stay at home next Saturday, November 8, to take on Albion College at 1:00 p.m.