Game Notes (PDF)
Alma, Mich. - After two straight weeks on the road to open the 2015 season, the Alma College football team will finally get to play in front of a home crowd on Saturday (Sept. 19) night, hosting the Rockford University Regents. The game is designated as Community Day, with special events for families taking place prior to the game. It is also designated as a "Bahlke Field Blackout," with fans encouraged to wear black to the game to support the Scots in their second-ever night contest.
Alma comes into the contest after suffering its first loss of the season, dropping a 49-14 decision at Illinois Wesleyan. The Scots played even with the Titans in the first half and were tied at 14-14 with just over a minute to go before halftime, but a late second quarter score by Illinois Wesleyan, which finds itself just outside of the top 25 teams in NCAA Division III, gave the Titans the lead for good.
"I was disappointed that we let them (Illinois Wesleyan) score right before the half," Pscodna said, reflecting on last week's loss. "We battled in the first half to the the game up, and they were able to score with a couple of big plays. That took the wind out of our sails. We didn't execute in the second half and gave up a couple of big run plays late in the game. The game was a lot closer than the final score was."
Rockford enters the game undefeated after dispatching Lawrence (Wis.), 52-17 in the season opener and then coming from behind to defeat Ripon (Wis.), 14-13, last week. The Regents are sporting the nation's fifth-ranked defense, holding opponents to 153 yards per game, including only 60.5 yards through the air. That will provide a good test for the Scots, which have posted an average of 328.0 yards in total offense so far this season, including over 200 yards per game on the ground.
"Their defense is one of the top five in the country," Pscodna said. "They are very big up front, they are very athletic in the secondary and they run very well, so it's going to be a big chore for us offensively to get on the board early and put some pressure on them."
Helping to apply that pressure will be sophomore quarterback Dylan Zaborowski (Jackson, Mich./Michigan Center) who has scored a touchdown in three consecutive games, dating back to a year ago. Zaborowski has yet to throw a touchdown pass, but he leads the team in total offense, averaging 128 yards per game. Sophomore wide receiver Daniel Hugan (Ann Arbor, Mich./Ann Arbor Huron) has also scored in each of the Scots' first two games, with both scores coming on the ground. Human leads the team in receiving with 99 yards on 10 catches. The Scots enter the game seeking their first touchdown through the air after scoring all eight TDs by rushing the ball.
Junior Nick Sullivan (Flushing, Mich./Flint Powers Catholic) is the lead back in the Scots' rushing attack. After a breakout performance at Finlandia in the season opener, Sullivan mustered only 15 yards at Illinois Wesleyan. But he will be key if the Scots are to win their second straight night contest at Bahlke Field.
"We have to establish the running game early with Nick and he does a great job," Pscodna said. "He's got some speed and toughness, but we also have to block up front with him. It will be a challenge because Rockford has some big defensive lineman that will be hard for us to move, so we will have to find ways to find holes for Nick, because once we get him in the clear, as we've seen, he can move."
The game may come down to special teams, which may tip the advantage in the Scots' favor. Senior Erik Hines (Menominee, Mich./Menominee) and Hugan rank second and third in the MIAA in kick returns, giving Alma the top tandem in the league as Alma looks to establish a good starting field position.
Defensively, the Scots are allowing 381 yards a game, but that includes 172 yards given up on two plays in the latter stages of the game at Illinois Wesleyan. Rockford is averaging 440 yards in total offense as it comes to Alma, led by freshman quarterback Adam O'Malley, who has completed 19 of his 33 passes for 360 yards and three TDs while also rushing for over 100 yards and a score. Freshman running back Chance Manning leads the Regents' ground game, averaging over 100 yards a game on the ground and nearly six yards every time he touches the ball. Receiver Mar Sean Vercher is the primary weapon through the air, with the sophomore catching seven passes for 145 yards and a score.
"We will have to be aggressive against them," Pscodna said. "We've got to go back to playing football the way we did against Finlandia and not give up the big play. They are big up front, so it will be a task to control the line of scrimmage. Their quarterback and running back are very athletic, so we have got to contain them and be good tacklers. We can't afford to miss tackles and assignments, so that's going to be key for us this week."
Saturday's contest against Rockford is a renewal of a series that began in 2008, and Alma has never lost to the Regents, going 4-0 in the previous four meetings. The teams have not played since 2011, and Rockford's last visit to Bahlke Field was in 2010. The Scots will also look to improve their record in home openers, sporting a 24-16 mark since 1975.
To prepare for the game, the Alma College Bookstore will be selling black football t-shirts for $5 each beginning Friday (Sept. 18) afternoon. If they are still available, they will also be for sale at the game.
"To play under the lights is special," Pscodna said. "Not many Division III teams do that, so whenever we can, it's a totally different atmosphere. Our team looks forward to it and I think our fans do too."
Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Bahlke Field on the Alma College campus. The game will also be broadcast live on the radio, with Collin Hinman calling the game on WMLM 1520 AM.
