Alma, MI – Alma College Football closed its regular season in dramatic fashion on Saturday, knocking off No. 24 Adrian, 35–34, in one of the most memorable games of the Scots' recent championship run. The victory secured Alma's third outright MIAA title in the last four seasons.
The Scots struck first, marching down the field on the opening drive before Eddie Williams powered in from five yards out. Jace Heck's PAT made it 7–0, the lone score of the first quarter. Early in the second, Alma doubled its lead with a nine-play, 74-yard series capped by a three-yard touchdown pass from Carter St. John to Miles Haggart.
Adrian surged back into the game, scoring with 4:11 left in the half, then capitalized on an interception and a kickoff fumble to suddenly take a 21–14 lead into halftime.
The Bulldogs kept rolling to open the second half, connecting on a 70-yard touchdown strike to push their advantage to 28–14. Alma responded instantly, just three plays later, St. John hit Zach Poff in stride for a 69-yard touchdown to pull within 28–21. Both defenses tightened as the quarter wore on, but Adrian added a late 24-yard score to make it 34–21 heading into the fourth.
Adrian appeared poised to put the game away early in the final quarter, driving deep into Alma territory. Instead, momentum flipped when Xavier Urquhart punched the ball loose on third down and Carson Berkompas recovered the fumble. The Scots took full advantage, covering 77 yards in six plays and cutting the deficit to 34–28 on a nine-yard Williams touchdown.
The Bulldogs again moved into the red zone, but for the second straight drive, a fumble halted their progress, this time on fourth down. Alma cashed in immediately. Four plays later, St. John delivered a 17-yard touchdown pass to Williams, and Heck's extra point put the Scots back in front, 35–34.
With under two minutes remaining, Adrian pushed to the Alma 34-yard line before Brock Beaudrie sealed the championship with an interception on fourth-and-nine. The Scots knelt out the final seconds and celebrated yet another MIAA crown.
St. John finished 16-of-28 for 229 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions. Williams turned in one of the signature performances of his storied career, piling up 227 rushing yards, 63 receiving yards, and three total touchdowns. Poff led the receiving corps with two catches for 81 yards and a score.
Defensively, Preston Marlatt, Ja'martae Hogan, and Jett King each recorded eight tackles.
Alma closes the regular season at 8–2 overall and a perfect 7–0 in the MIAA. The Scots now await their NCAA Division III Tournament placement, with the selection show scheduled for Sunday at 5 p.m. EST.
