Alma, Mich. — The Alma College football team fell 33-10 to Olivet College on Saturday, Oct 2. which marked the beginning of conference play and Alma's first loss off the season.

"We faced a very good Olivet team and, unfortunately, we lost the time of possession battle and they capitalized on that," said Head Coach Jason Couch. "It was tough for our defense to stay on the field as long as they did."

Alma's Gage Nelson was the star of the first quarter. The junior defensive back from Standish Sterling Central High School intercepted Olivet's quarterback twice — one time denying the Comets near Alma's red zone and the second time putting the Scots in good field position to score. However, first quarter ended with Olivet in the lead, 7-0.

Alma put points on the board at the beginning of the second quarter with a 34-yard field goal from Joshua Hernandez to make it 7-3. Olivet gained field position on the ensuing drive, but Alma's Brady Douma saved a touchdown with an end-zone interception — his fifth of the season. However, the Comets were able to find an opening in the Alma end zone and went into halftime with a 14-3 lead.

Alma continued to tally interceptions in the second half, when first-year defensive back Connor Douma picked off the Comets' quarterback at the Scots' one-yard line. The Scots found the end zone when Trent Devereaux hit Nathan Goralski with a 4-yard pass, marking Goralski's third touchdown of the year.

In addition to the four picks, Alma forced three fumbles on the Comets and registered 69 total tackles. Odin Soffredine and Austin Flowers led the Scots in tackles with 12 each.  

Coach Couch said the Scots would work hard to improve in advance of next Saturday's showdown on the road against MIAA foe Kalamazoo College. 

"It's a matter of finding ways to get the ball in our game-changer's hands and we need to do a better job offensively. Our defense is playing well — we just have to make sure we aren't putting them in tough situations," he said. "We have to improve and continue to build off the good things but then learn from what hasn't been working."

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