On a Saturday afternoon that felt more like early January than mid November, the Alma College Football team traveled south to Olivet to take on the Comets in the final game of the 2014 season.

The Scots committed seven turnovers and that proved to be too costly for the visitors, as the Comets took advantage en route to a 34-21 victory over Alma.

With the loss, Alma finished the 2014 season with an overall record of 2-8 and 0-6 in the MIAA, while Olivet concluded the campaign at 3-3 in the league and 6-4 for the 2014 season.

The first quarter started out a bit slow for both teams as Olivet punted in their first three possessions and the Scots had a punt and two interceptions by Alma Fr. QB Dylan Zaborowski (Jackson/Michigan Center) in their first three times with the ball.

Finally, the Comets broke through on their fourth possession as they drove 60 yards on seven plays and took a 6-0 lead on a touchdown pass from QB Braden Black to WR Jason Barbosa at the 3:42 mark of the frame - the extra point was no good.

The Scots then took just two plays to respond. Zaborowski found Sr. WR Tyler Watters (Williamston/Williamston) on a 61-yard touchdown strike, and after an extra point by Fr. K Ryan Maguire (Grand Haven/Grand Haven), Alma had a 7-6 lead.

On the Comets' next drive, that went into the second quarter, Black hit Kyle Bryson for a 13 yard touchdown pass and a 13-6 lead with 13:16 left in the half. Again, Alma answered. Zaborowski completed a 72-yard, 10-play drive by running six yards for a score and a 14-13 advantage.

Olivet showed their resolve on the their next drive. They used 6:24 of clock to drive 66 yards on 12 plays and took a 20-14 lead when Black connected with Bryson for a nine-yard touchdown. Perhaps the turning point of the game would then occur on Alma's next possession.

The Scots drove down to the Olivet 25-yard line and faced a fourth and seven. Zaborowski was rushed out of the pocket and threw an ill-advised pass that was intercepted by Olivet's Chance Nightengale, who returned it 75 yards to the Alma six-yard line with just 1:20 left in the half.

The Comets took advantage of the turnover and two plays later made it a 27-14 game when RB Damorria Lilly rushed three yards for a touchdown with 16 ticks of the clock left in the first half. Olivet would then take the 13 point lead into the break.

Alma punted on their first drive of the second half but Fr. DB Charlie Warber (Spring Lake/Spring Lake) intercepted Black on Olivet's second play and returned it to the home team's 22-yard line. Four plays later, Zaborowski connected again with Watters for a touchdown, this time from 11 yards out and the Scots had cut their deficit to 27-21 with 10:28 left in the third quarter.

However, that was the end of the good news for Alma offensively on this afternoon. The Scots' final two drives of the quarter ended with a fumble and an interception and the two teams headed into the final frame still at 27-21.

After another Alma fumble, this time by Fr. RB Tommie Dawson (Detroit/Redford Union), Olivet had the ball on the Scots' 12-yard line. Three plays later, Black ran two yards for a touchdown and the Comets had a 34-21 advantage at the 10:35 mark of the frame.

The Scots did have one more scoring opportunity, but it was again stopped short by a turnover that gave the ball back to the Comets with just 3:41 left in the game. Olivet then was able to run out the clock and the home team walked off the field with 13-point victory.

Offensively, Alma had 24 first downs and 364 total yards, while Olivet finished with 22 first downs and 338 yards of total offense. The Comets did have an advantage in time of possession by a mark of 37:26 to 22:34, but it was Alma's seven turnovers to Olivet's three that proved to be the difference.

Zaborowski finished 17 of 29 for 229 yards with two touchdowns and four interceptions, while Jr. QB Derek Talaga (South Lyon/South Lyon) finished with four completions on eight attempts for 36 yards. Dawson was Alma's leading rusher with 55 yards on 12 carries, while Watters paced all receivers with 11 catches for 167 yards and two scores in his final collegiate contest.

Defensively, Sr. LB Sam Young (Lowell/Lowell) had a team-high 10 tackles, including one for loss. Three other players - Jr. LB Terry Calagon (Jackson/East Jackson), Sr. DB Adam Nelson (St. Clair Shores/U of D Jesuit), Sr. LB Eric Strickler (Lapeer/Lapeer East) - each had nine total tackles. Calagon also had a sack, while Strickler had two tackles for loss.