On Saturday afternoon, the Alma College Football team took part in the MIAA-NACC Challenge when they traveled to Chicago to take on Concordia University Chicago. The visiting Scots played a solid game and were able to come away victorious by a score of 24-21.

With the victory, Alma is now 2-1 in 2014, while the hometown Cougars fell to 0-2 on the season. The MIAA is 5-1 on the day with one more game remaining this evening.

Each team punted on their first possessions, and the Cougars were forced to kick it way on their second drive as well. On Alma's second time with the ball, the Scots earned two first downs before Fr. QB Dylan Zaborowski (Jackson/Michigan Center) was intercepted on the Cougars 33-yard line.

Concordia University then took advantage of the miscue and engineered a scoring drive to take a lead. They drove 67 yards on six plays and scored on a eight-yard run by RB Brent O'Halloran to take a 7-0 lead.

Following punts by both squads, the Scots were finally able to get on the board as they marched 68 yards on 12 plays, culminated by a one-yard scoring plunge by Zaborowski at the 8:33 mark of the second quarter.

The extra point attempt by Fr. K Ryan Maguire (Grand Haven/Grand Haven) was blocked and the Cougars picked it up and ran the length of the field for an apparent two points. However, a personal foul penalty negated the return and Alma trailed 7-6.

On the following drive, Alma Jr. DB Justin Thelen (Westphalia/Pewamo-Westphalia) intercepted a pass at the CC 29-yard line and returned it 16 yards. Two plays later, Fr. RB Tommie Dawson (Detroit/Redford Union) ran eight yards for a touchdown. After a missed extra point by Maguire, Alma was ahead 12-7 with 7:02 remaining in the half.

Concordia's next drive ended in disaster as QB Ryan Fischbach had the ball get away from him out of the end zone for a Alma safety. So, with 6:15 left in the half, the Scots had a traditional 14-7 lead achieved in a very non-traditional manner.

The Scots took the ensuing kickoff and put together an impressive offensive possession. They drove 10 plays and 65 yards and made it a 21-7 contest when Dawson ran one-yard for a TD and Maguire booted the extra point.

The Cougars were unable to mount a drive before the end of the half and the two teams went into the break with Alma holding the 14 point advantage.

In the third quarter, each team punted on their first drives and then disaster struck the Scots offense. On third and 12 from their own 14-yard line, Zaborowski attempted a pass that was intercepted by DB Tyson Burch, who scampered 33 yards for a score. After the extra point, Alma's lead had been cut to 21-14.

Niether team was able to sustain anything offensively until midway into the fourth quarter. At that point, Alma put their foot down and took control of the contest. The Scots put together a drive of 60 yards on nine plays in 6:17 of clock. The impressive possession ended with a 27-yard field goal by Maguire that put the Scots ahead 24-14 with just 3:17 remaining in the game.

The Cougars did not quit however, and cut their deficit to three, at 24-21, with just 1:17 left on the clock. But, the Alma "hands" team was successful in recovering the ensuing onside kick, and the visitors were able to run out the clock and walk of the field with the three point win.

Dawson paced the Scots with 103 rushing on 32 workmanlike carries with two touchdowns, while Zaborowski added 56 yards on seven carries and a score. In the air, Zaborowski completed 11 of 24 attempts for 140 yards and the three interceptions. Sr. WR Tyler Watters (Williamston/Williamston) led Scots receivers with 50 yards on two catches.

Defensively, Alma had several players stand out based on their performances. Jr. LB Gavin Smith (Westphalia/Pewamo-Westphalia) had a team-high 12 tackles, including one for loss, while Sr. LB Sam Young (Lowell/Lowell) also notched 12 tackles and had 1.5 for loss.

Jr. LB Terry Calagon (Jackson/East Jackson) recorded nine total tackles with a half sack and 3.5 for loss. Jr. DL Troy Gahm (Gaylord/Gaylord) had 1.5 sacks to go with a pass break-up and five total tackles, while Jr. DE Austin Little (Defiance, OH/Timora) and Sr. DL Charlie Kempf (Grass Lake/Chelsea) each had a sack.

After a bye week, Alma will begin MIAA action at Trine University in Angola, Ind. on October 4. The Thunder's homecoming is scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m.