Nov. 10, 2007
Stats
ADRIAN, Mich. - The collective group of Bulldog seniors showed why they will be missed next season providing leadership when the odds don't look so good. Adrian College trailed 21-3 in the early stages of the third quarter on Saturday against the Scots of Alma College. The story had a fairy-tail ending however as the black and gold scored the game's next 27 straight points in a 30-21 triumph in the regular season finale.
John Vance intercepted a Mike McGee pass and rumbled 82 yards for a score with 12:49 left in the third to give Alma a 21-3 lead and set the stage for the dramatic comeback. Adrian responded on their next possession using 10 plays and covering 58 yards as Tim Bruce carried into the end zone over left tackle from two yards with 8:30 left in the third making it 21-10.
Adrian successfully tried an onside kick which was touched by Alma at the Adrian 38-yard line and the Bulldogs quickly gained momentum. The drive stalled after three plays but Adrian would get the ball back after Christon Calley intercepted a Mackenzie McGrady at the Adrian 26-yard line. The Bulldogs struck quickly to get within four points as Troy Niblock found Joseph Beehler up the seam for a 72-yard touchdown pass with 3:34 left in the third.
Alma began to lose their composure at that point as they were faced with a fourth-and-one at their own 39-yard line. McGrady was looking to the sideline for a play as the center snapped the ball past the quarterback and the ball was recovered by running back Kyle Ryan at the Alma 18-yard line. Niblock carried the ball three times with the last run covering nine yards and a score to put Adrian ahead 24-21 with 18 seconds to go in the third.
Alma attempted another fourth down play on their next drive from the Adrian 33-yard line but Tyler Foor pulled down McGrady for a loss of one yard with 11:23 remaining in the game. Bruce added his second rushing touchdown of the afternoon from six yards around left end diving at the pylon to give Adrian a 30-21 lead with 7:07 to play. The extra point failed and Adrian led by nine and finished off the scoring.
Alma's final scoring threat came on their next possession moving the ball to the Adrian 24-yard line but on fourth-and-eight McGrady found Jeremy Stephens for just seven yards to the Adrian 17-yard line and short of the first down. Niblock had a career day on the ground with 201 yards on 40 carries tying his own record for carries set last week at Albion. Niblock ran and threw for a score and finished the season with 1,108 rushing yards and 12 rushing touchdowns. The Bulldogs ran for 224 yards as a team and threw for 122 yards. The Adrian defense held the potent Alma offense to 155 passing yards and 71 rushing yards. Alma was just 4-of-14 on third down and 2-of-6 on fourth down. Kyle Dunaj led the Adrian defense with 10 tackles and finished the year ranked first on the team with 99 tackles.
Adrian won their final three games of the season to finish 7-3 overall and 4-3 in the MIAA.
