Kalamazoo, Mich. - The Alma College football team won its third straight game Saturday (Oct. 1) afternoon, defeating Kalamazoo College by a 56-26 margin at Angell Field in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association opener for both teams.
Senior Nick Sullivan (Flushing, Mich./Flint Powers) scored a career-high four times, while junior quarterback Dylan Zaborowski (Jackson, Mich./Michigan Center) threw a career-high four touchdown passes as Alma (3-1 overall, 1-0 MIAA) picked up its third straight road win. JuniorDanny Hugan II (Ann Arbor, Mich./Ann Arbor Huron) also added a career-high three TD catches.
Sullivan posted his third consecutive 100-yard rushing game in the win, toting the ball 27 times for 138 yards, while junior Danny Hugan II (Ann Arbor, Mich./Ann Arbor Huron) notched his second second straight game with 100 or more yards receiving, catching seven passes for 153 yards. Zaborowski passed for at least three touchdown passes against the Hornets for the third time in his career, completing 16 of his 28 passes for 277 yards.
The Scots held Kalamazoo (2-2, 0-1 MIAA) to a three-and-out on the opening drive before Sullivan took the ball 35 yards to the end zone on Alma's opening play. The play was set up after Chase Hinkle (Concord, Mich/Concord) returned a punt 30 yards to give the Scots' first possession deep into Kalamazoo territory.
After the Hornets responded with a touchdown of their own, the Scots scored three straight times to open up a 28-7 advantage. Hugan put Alma up 14-7 with a 32-yard touchdown catch from Zaborowski, then Sullivan scored for the second time, rushing in from two yards out to give the Scots a 21-7 lead. Hugan added another score early in the second quarter when he caught a 40-yard TD pass from Zaborowski.
Kalamazoo pulled within 11 points at 28-17 with 4:20 remaining in the half and got the ball back on its own 40 after forcing the Scots to punt, but senior Justin Thelen (Westphalia, Mich./Pewamo-Westphalia) picked off Hornets QB Alex White and returned it 44 yards, setting up first-and-goal for Alma on the Kalamazoo five yard line. Two plays later, Sullivan scored again, this time from one yard out to give the Scots a 35-17 advantage at the half.
The Scots increased their lead to 42-17 lead early in the third quarter to pull away when sophomoreEssa Kellah (Grand Rapids, Mich./Godwin Heights) scored on a 79-yard pass from Zaborowski. Sullivan scored his fourth touchdown of the day mid-way through the fourth quarter on a three-yard run, then Hugan scored for the third time on a 19-yard pass from Zaborowski with 6:08 remaining in the game.
Defensively, the Scots were paced by junior Zac Peterson (Holt, Mich./Holt) and sophomore Dallas Reeser (Ithaca, Mich./Ithaca), who recorded 10 tackles each. Senior Troy Gahm (Gaylord, Mich./Gaylord) tallied three sacks for the second straight game and added a forced fumble, whileDerek Ellis (Laingsburg, Mich./Laingsburg) added a pair of sacks as the Alma defense limited the Hornets to 77 yards on the ground and sacked Alex White eight times and intercepted him twice.
The Scots return to Bahlke Field for the first time since September 3 next weekend, hosting Hope College for the annual Homecoming game at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 8.