Alma, MI – The Adrian College football team resumed its schedule on good footing on a beautiful Saturday afternoon with a convincing 21-6 road victory over host Alma in Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association action.
Adrian never trailed while outgaining Alma 318 to 254 yards in total offense. The Bulldogs also had more first downs (21) than the Scots (14). After the teams played to a scoreless first quarter, Adrian got on the scoreboard to start the second after its longest scoring drive of the season. Wurzer found Palus for a 29-yard TD pass with 2 minutes and 49 seconds remaining, capping a 99-yard drive in 10 plays in 4:29. Adrian led 7-0 at halftime.
Alma took advantage of a turnover for its points of the afternoon, forcing a strip-sack of QB Jack Wurzer at the Adrian 33. Despite the excellent field position, the Scots could only get a field goal of 42 yards from Zach Clements to close the gap to 7-3 with 48 seconds left in the third quarter.
On the ensuing possession, Adrian quickly countered with another long drive engineered by Wurzer who atoned for his fumble with a 2-yard TD plunge. The Bulldogs went up 14-3 with 11:53 showing on the fourth-quarter clock.
Clements kicked a 27-yard field goal with 8:29 left to make the score 14-6 in Adrian’s favor.
The Adrian defense set up an insurance touchdown for the offense to complete the scoring. Freshman Bryce Tullis returned an interception 14 yards to the Alma 15 where Wurzer and Co. took over. On the first play from scrimmage, Moses ran it into the end zone to make it 21-6 with 5:34 left in the game.
Both Adrian and Alma were picked for fourth place to finish in the 2020-21 MIAA football preseason coaches’ poll, receiving 12 points apiece.
Adrian has won 13 of the last 14 meetings against Alma, which still leads the all-time series 48-33-1 that began in 1911.
Records: Adrian Bulldogs 2-2 overall (1-0 MIAA); Alma Scots, 0-1 overall (0-1 MIAA)
Next Saturday, the Bulldogs will travel to Angola, Indiana, to play Trine University in a MIAA meeting. The game is scheduled to start at 1 p.m.
*Photo courtesy of Adrian College via Mike Dickie*