ALMA, MICH. -- The Trine University football team fell to 0-2 in Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association play following a 23-14 loss against Alma (Mich.) College at Bahlke Field in Alma, Mich.
Alma (4-1, 2-0 MIAA) scored the first points of the game with a 29-yard field goal with just over six minutes remaining in the first quarter to lead, 3-0. Trine (3-2, 0-2 MIAA) answered on its ensuing possession with a 10-play, 73-yard scoring drive that included a 41-yard pass from senior Brent Hays (Fishers, Ind./Fishers) to freshman Kyran Pearson (Elkhart, Ind./Elkhart Central) and ended in a two-yard plunge by freshman quarterback Alex Price (Reading, Mich./Reading) that gave the Thunder a 7-3 lead with 38 seconds to go to end the scoring in the first quarter.
After forcing an Alma punt, the Trine offense continued to roll on its next drive gaining yarding in chunks of 22, 16, 14 and 11 yards that led to another short TD run by Price, this time from a yard out that extended the margin to 14-3 with 8:15 left in the half. Price's second rushing TD turned out to be the only points of the quarter as Trine took a 14-3 lead into the locker rooms.
The Scots received the opening kickoff of the second half and drove 11 plays and 67 yards to score on a nine-yard TD pass play to narrow the gap to four points, 14-10, at the 9:49 minute mark of the third quarter. On Trine's possession following the Alma score, the Scots got excellent field position after a Trine fumble on a quarterback scramble that gave Alma the ball at the Thunder 15-yard line. Four plays later, Alma found the endzone to take the lead on a two-yard TD run, making the score 17-14 in favor of the home team with 5:35 remaining in the third period and maintained that margin after three quarters of play.
Early in the fourth quarter, Alma continued the scoring streak with another touchdown that came on a 17-yard TD toss at the 14:55 mark. The extra point attempt was blocked, but the Scots increased their lead to 23-14. Those would turn out to be the only points of the final quarter as Alma rallied with 20 unanswered points to come away with a 23-14 win.
Hays was the leading passer for Trine with 111 yards on nine-of-15 completions. Junior Dylan Dowling (Alexandria, Ind./Alexandria) was the leading Trine rusher with 66 yards on six carries. Price scored both the Thunder touchdowns and finished with 23 yards. Senior Jacob Chesney (Kirklin, Ind./Sheridan) caught a team-high five passes for 51 yards.
Defensively, sophomore Damian Bowker (Kendallville, Ind./East Noble) led Trine with a game-high 11 tackles (six solo and five assists).
Trine will host Olivet (Mich.) College next Saturday (Oct. 19) in a MIAA game at Fred Zollner Athletic Stadium in Angola, Ind. The game is set to begin at 1 p.m.