The Alma College Football team hit the road on Saturday afternoon to take on Heidelberg University in the 2014 season opener for both teams. The Student Princes jumped on the Scots early en route to a 72-7 victory and have now beaten Alma in five consecutive season opening contests.

After the two teams exchanged punts in the first quarter, Heidelberg RB Cartel Brooks ran 88 yards for a touchdown to give the Berg a 7-0 lead at the 8:28 mark. After an interception by Jr. starting QB Brent Luplow (Clare/Clare) gave the Berg good field position, they took advantage of it. Brooks capped a seven-play, 38-yard drive with a 10-yard score and a 14-0 lead.

The Student Princes made it 21-0 after Luplow was picked off again, giving the home team the ball on the Scots' 12-yard line. Two plays later, Berg QB Michael Mees hit WR Donteea Dye for a 12-yard score and Alma's deficit was three touchdowns at the end of the first frame.

In the second quarter, Alma's defense stopped one Heidelberg series when Sr. DB Adam Nelson (St. Clair Shores/U of D Jesuit) recorded his first interception of the season early in the frame. However, the Student Princes did score three touchdowns and a field goal during the 15 minutes.

RB Cameron Vocke ran 21 yards for a score with 12:25 left in the half, Dye caught a 29-yard pass for a score from Mees at 9:31 and Brooks ran 77 yards for a touchdown with 7:15 remaining. The Berg also kicked a field goal as time ran out heading into halftime.

Alma's best drive of the half came later in the second quarter as they used 15 plays to drive 74 yards, but came up short on fourth and goal from the two-yard line. Fr. QB Dylan Zaborowski (Jackson/Michigan Center), playing in his first collegiate game, was stopped on the play as the Scots were kept out of the end zone.

In the third quarter, Heidelberg kicked a field goal to make it 48-0 and then RB Bryan Lacey ran one yard for a touchdown and a 55-0 advantage at the 6:46 mark. However, the Scots answered with their first scoring drive of the season as the team marched 80 yards on 14 plays and notched a touchdown with Zaborowski scampered eight yards for a score.

The final frame saw the Student Princes score touchdowns on drives of 75 yards and 61 yards and then they added a 46-yard field goal with 1:51 remaining to close out the 72-7 advantage.

Statistically, Heidelberg had 31 first downs to Alma's 13 and outgained the Scots by a margin of 696 yards to 195 yards. In the air, the Scots had 105 yards, while the Berg had 304. On the ground, the Student Princes finished with 392 yards to the Scots' 90.

Individually, Luplow completed seven of 15 passes for 60 yards with no touchdowns and four interceptions, while Zaborowski was five of eight for 45 yards. Jr. QB Derek Talaga (South Lyon/South Lyon) misfired on his only attempt in the game.

Jr. RB Robert Gibson (Royal Oak/Royal Oak) had 41 yards rushing on 11 carries, while Fr. RB Tommie Dawson (Detroit/Redford Union) was next with 37 yards on 10 rushes. Sr. WR Tyler Watters (Williamston/Williamston) led all receivers with 55 yards on six catches.

Up next for Alma is North Park University (IL) at Bahlke Field next Saturday evening. The first night football game in school history is scheduled to begin at 7:00 p.m.