ANGOLA, Ind. – Visiting Alma College built a big lead in the first half that the Trine University football team was unable to overcome, ending the game with their first loss of the season at 40-21.
Things went against the Thunder from the beginning. The home team began the game with the ball and senior Alex Price started strong with a 27-yard completion to classmate Brandon Kline. He followed up with a nine-yard completion to junior Rodney Johnson moving the drive into enemy territory. Another five-yard completion came next to senior Kale Lawson, but it was ill-fated, ending in a fumble that went to the Scots.
The next three drives, two for Alma and one for Trine, would end in punts. After the second punt for the opposition the Thunder had a quick drive that ended in an interception giving the Scots the ball in Trine territory for the first time. After a modest drive, junior Jacob Jackson harried the quarterback to force an errant throw that sophomore Tucker Hasselman turned into an interception of his own.
The offense started the ensuing drive on their own four-yard line and only made two yards of progress by third down. The team was forced to attempt a pass to get the yard-to-gain and Price took a tick too long in the pocket to give the Scots a sack in the endzone for the first two points of the game.
Alma's offense found its footing after the free kick. A long pass play put them inside the red zone for the first time in the game and they completed a pass to end the drive with a 9-0 lead. It became the pattern for most of the remaining drives in the first half, Trine's offense would sputter and the Scots would find purchase. With 4:40 remaining in the first half the visitors had built a 23-0 lead and were kicking off to the Thunder again.
This time Price was able to drive down the field and set up a first down in Alma territory, just outside the red zone at the 24-yard line. From there he connected with Lawson on the left side of the field for the team's first points of the game, cutting the deficit to 23-7 after a successful extra point conversion. The Scots were content to let the half expire with the lead.
Alma scored a pair of touchdowns to start the second half, the first on a long rushing play following the opening kickoff and the second following another turnover by the Trine offense. The 37-7 lead would be the largest of the contest for the Scots.
Price was able to lead two more scoring drives for the Thunder, both ending in passing touchdowns, cutting the lead to 37-21, in the fourth quarter. The Scots tallied a field goal and then picked off Price for the third time in the game to ice the contest with the 40-21 victory.
Price finished the game with 331 passing yards, going 23-for-42 with three touchdowns and three interceptions. He also led the team with 25 yards on the ground. Classmate Xaine Kirby finished in second with 24 yards on the ground. Lawson led in receiving yards with 80, while Kline finished second with 78.
Defensively senior Keysean Amison led the team with 14 tackles, while Hasselman came in second with 12 and senior Marcques Tagliaferri in third with 10. Jackson finished the game with two sacks to lead the team with juniors Kendall Himes and Jamon Gibson each recording another.
Trine falls to 4-1 overall and 0-1 in Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) play following the loss. They will look to bounce back when they travel to face Adrian College next Saturday, Oct. 8. Opening kickoff is scheduled for 5 p.m.