Alma College

 
ALMA, Mich. – The Alma College football program witnessed its senior defensive leader, Jett King, write his name in the record books on Saturday opposite the ninth ranked Hope Flying Dutchmen, providing a silver lining during a 38-3 defeat.
 
The Basics:

• Score
  • #9 Hope – 38
  • Alma – 3

• Records
  • Alma (2-5, 2-2 Michigan)
  • #9 Hope (7-0, 4-0 Michigan)

• Location
  • Alma, Michigan – Bahlke Field

• Series History
  • Flying Dutchmen Lead 62-34-4 (36%)

• Winning Streak
  • Flying Dutchmen (W1) / Scots' Last Win: September 27, 2025 (29-26, OT)

 
How It Happened:
Defense was the story through the opening 11 minutes of the game as the Scots and Flying Dutchmen punted on each of their first two possessions before Jace Heck broke the scoring seal with a 47-yard field goal to give Alma the first lead, 3-0. It was short-lived however, as Hope quarterback Alex Thole found Trevor Griffiths on a deep post for a 76-yard touchdown on the first play of the ensuing drive as the visitors went in front, 7-3.
 
Three-and-out for Alma on the first possession of the second quarter and then another one-play scoring strike from Thole to Kaden DeHorn (22 yards) saw the momentum land squarely on the Hope sidelines, but a blocked extra point by King seemed to provide a slimmer of life. That assumption looked to be accurate on the ensuing kickoff as Jaylen Maddox made a 98-yard house call, but for the second straight week, his return touchdown was nullified by a holding penalty. The Maroon and Teal's offense did not seem to be rattled by the outcome, moving the ball with ease down to the Flying Dutchmen's three before missing a field goal and giving the ball back to HC at their own 20. Hope made their field goal try at the other end of the field to enter the locker rooms ahead 16-3.
 
The Orange and White clad visitors from Holland opened the second half with a ten-play, 55-yard drive that looked as if it would break the game open, troubles with the center-to-signal caller exchange doomed those chances as a high shotgun snap caused a fumble, which was then recovered by Zayne Moore. Alma could not capitalize as they only gained two yards in the following three plays while Hope added touchdowns via a three-yard catch by Will Deyoung as well as a one-yard run by Brody Schuiterman to make it 28-3 Flying Dutchmen after three quarters.
 
AJ Martel busted through for a 30-yard rushing score and Avery Umphrey hit his second kick of the day in the final frame to wind up with the final decision of 38-3.
 
Scots' Top Performers:
King put forth an incredible individual effort despite the scoreboard, racking up the seventh-most tackles in Scots football history with a career-best 18 (four solo), one of those being a half-TFL, in addition to a blocked PAT, tying with Anthony Sabatella (twice in 2011) and current co-Defensive Coordinator Scotty Cole on the single game list.
 
The pass rush got consistent pressure with six quarterback hurries, but the only one that was able to get Thole on the ground was Keegan Bey, logging his team-leading fourth-and-a-half sack with another half-TFL thrown in amongst his seven total takedowns. Andrew Bradley and Jeb Brown were the other players to collect half-tackles for loss whereas Moore was responsible for the contest's lone turnover.
 
Tyler Herzog completed 14-of-20 (70%) of his passes and led the rushing attack with 52 yards, most of it coming on a 33-yard scramble that was the Scots' longest play from scrimmage. TJ Seiler was the primary target with a tied for game-high five receptions, followed by Braylon McDonald's four out of the backfield.
 
Jacob Kluk continues to prove day-in and day-out why he is one of the best punters in the nation, pinning the Flying Dutchmen inside their redzone on four of his eight punts, averaging 45,2 yards per boot with a long of 52. Maddox has provided a lethal threat in the kickoff return department, going for an average of 21.3 yards per return even with his 98-yard score and a 28-yarder negated by flags. Heck nailed a new career-long in his first try of the afternoon, blasting a 47-yard attempt through the uprights.
 
Next:
A 1 p.m. Halloween showdown is next at Albion with the Scots looking to treat themselves to a sweet victory.
 

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