KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Alma College football team earned its first win of the spring 2021 season with a 13-0 shutout at Kalamazoo College on Saturday. The Scots improve to 1-1 on the year while the Hornets drop to 0-2.

Alma's defense forced five interceptions. Jack Kretzschmar had two, while Moswen Kirksey, Drew Humm, and Odin Soffredine each had one. Garrett Pratt and Patrick Hite also earned a sack in the game.

On the offensive side, Brendan Hamilton ran for over 100 yards and scored the only touchdown of the day while averaging over five yards per carry. Vernonell Smith Jr. also picked up 78 yards rushing on 10 carries. Joey Fosmore made six completions and racked up 46 passing yards.

After the Alma defense forced Kalamazoo to turn the ball over on downs on the opening drive, the Scots marched down the field. A Smith Jr. 17-yard carry brought them just outside the red zone. Hamilton then took the ball from the 21 yard line and found the end zone to put the Scots up 7-0.

The Scots defense continued to dominate, forcing Kalamazoo to turn the ball over on their next five possessions. With less than a minute to go in the half, the Scots traveled over 50 yards thanks to some runs by Hamilton and Smith Jr. and two completions from Fosmore to give Zach Clements and 42-yard field goal attempt. Clement put the ball through the uprights as time expired to give Alma a 10-0 lead heading into halftime.

Alma continued to stifle the Hornets throughout the second half. Late in the third quarter, Kalamazoo was inside the Scots 10 yard line but Drew Humm came away with the interception at the four yard line and brought it all the way out to midfield.

On the following possession, Alma pounded the rock until they set Clements up for a 22-yard chip shot that made it 13-0. Kalamazoo had multiple opportunities in the Alma red zone late in the game but the Scots forced four-straight incompletions on one drive and then Kirksey picked off the ball inside the Alma five-yard line to keep the shutout intact.

Garrett Pratt led the team with eight tackles. Austin Flowers posted two pass breakups in the game.

Alma will look to build off the win when it heads to Trine University on Saturday, April 3rd for a 1 p.m. kickoff.