• Game Notes (PDF)
Alma, Mich. - It's championship week for the Alma College football team. That's how the Scots are preparing for this weekend's game as they head to Albion on Saturday (Nov. 7) to take on the Albion College Britons in a huge rivalry game.
The Scots (5-3 overall, 2-2- MIAA) still have an outside chance at a share of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association title, provided that they win their final two games. Albion, however, can clinch a share of the crown and end Alma's championship hopes with a victory. The Scots roll into Sprankle-Sprandel Stadium with a three-game winning streak, their first since 2007, and have scored an average of 35 points in their last three outings.
"Our number one goal at the outset of every season is to win the MIAA Championship," said Head Coach Greg Pscodna. "We let one slip away against Trine back at Homecoming, and we've played well since. Our kids knew after that game that we were a pretty good football team, and that if we can eliminate a few mistakes we could get on a roll. We've certainly had that the last few weeks."
Albion (7-1 overall, 4-1 MIAA) will be the Scots' biggest test of the 2015 campaign, as the Britons boast one of the top offenses in NCAA Division III, averaging 581 yards and 49 points a game.
"Their key is their quarterback, (senior) Dominic Bona," Pscodna said. "He makes their offense run. He's been their three-year starter, he's seen every defense, he knows when to throw the football and and when to hand it off. They've also got some good running backs and wide receivers. They are a very good football team - a top 20 team."
Bona is 14th in the country in passing yards and has thrown for over 2,300 yards this season with 27 touchdowns and only four interceptions. He also has the ninth-best rushing attack in the country at his disposal, as seniors Mike Czarnecki and Collin Parks both average over 100 yards a game on the ground.
The key will be tackling," Pscodna said, referring to the Alma's defensive effort. "We have to tackle much better than we did last week. Albion has a lot of explosive players that get big plays on missed tackles."
Alma's defense is ranked 11th in the country in passing yards allowed, which should provide stiff opposition to Bona and the Britons' passing attack. No team in the MIAA has made more tackles behind the line of scrimmage than the Scots, who lead the league in sacks and tackles for loss and rank among the top 25 teams in Division III in both categories.
On the other side, Alma's passing offense is ranked second in the MIAA as sophomore quarterback Dylan Zaborowski (Jackson, Mich./Michigan Center) averages 246 yards a game. As one of only two underclassmen starting at quarterback in the MIAA, Zaborowski is on the verge of becoming one of only 16 Alma football players to throw for over 2,000 yards in a season. He has 1,969 yards entering Saturday's game.
Whether it is through the air or on the ground, Alma has scored first in seven of their eight games this season and is outscoring opponents by an impressive 86-28 margin in the first quarter. The Scots are also 5-0 when they score 34 points or more this season.
"It's going to come down to not giving up the big play and which defense is going to make the key third or fourth down stop," Pscodna said. "You almost have have to go in with a bend but don't break defense. Albion moves the ball up and down the field and we just have to keep them out of the end zone."
Saturday's game is the biggest game of the year for the Scots, who have a chance to win six games in a season for the first time since 2006. Alma also has an opportunity to snap a six-game losing streak to the Britons, and post their first win in Albion since 2007. In addition, the Scots have won a league title in every decade, and this week is a chance to put them in a position to extend that streak.
"The team realizes that we have a good football team," Pscodna said. "Albion is a big rival for us, and for us, it's a championship week."
Kickoff is slated for 1:00 p.m. The game can be heard live on the radio on WMLM 1520 AM with Colin Hinman calling the action. On the web, Albion College will have a live webcast of the game, which can be viewed at www.GoAlmaScots.com.
