Oct. 3, 2009

Final Stats

KALAMAZOO, Mich. - The week after a heartbreaking loss the Bulldog football team took out their anger on Kalamazoo College in the MIAA opener for both teams on Saturday afternoon. The weather outside was frightful and so was the Adrian offense throughout the 62-15 win for the Bulldogs. Adrian set single game school records for total offense (637 yards) and passing yards (443) in a contest that showed that Adrian's offense could hang with anyone. Kalamazoo came into the game with the top passing offense in Division III averaging 440 yards per game. The Adrian defense limited the Hornets to 228 passing yards and pitched a shutout in the second half. Kalamazoo quarterback Brandon Luczak was held to 215 passing yards and did not play much in the second half.

The team was clicking on all cylinders as the offense scored a touchdown in 6-of-8 possessions in the first half. One poor snap over the punter's head and a dropped touchdown in the end zone to end the first half were the only times Adrian did not stick it in the end zone.

Senior wideout Joe Beehler got things going for the Bulldogs with a 17-yard touchdown catch on a fade route in the back of the end zone on Adrian's first drive. Kalamazoo answered with a field goal of 25 yards by Travis Braun with 8:56 left in the first quarter as AC led 7-3.

Stevie Freeman extended the lead to 14-3 with 4:25 left in the first on a 26-yard scoring reception from Mike McGee capping off an 11-play, 68-yard drive. McGee was 6-of-9 for 92 yards on the first two drives for the Bulldogs. Adrian forced a punt on Kalamazoo's next possession and got the ball on their own 34 with under two minutes left in the first.

Senior Jackson Hanks got his first rushing touchdown of the season with 13:06 left in the second from four yards out to give AC a 21-3 lead. The Hornets quickly responded with a three-play drive capped off with a 60-yard touchdown pass from Luczak to Mikael Lott. The extra point attempt failed and the score was 21-9. Kalamazoo kept the momentum as they forced a three-and-out and Kevin Allaer had the long snap sail over his head to the four-yard line. Allaer kicked the ball out the back of the end zone, but illegal touching was called and the Hornets took over at the AC four-yard line. Dimeko Price caught a four-yard touchdown pass and the extra point kick was blocked by Spencer Whittington making it 21-15 in favor of the Bulldogs.

Adrian came right back to steal away momentum driving 63 yards in 11 plays as Hanks found the end zone again but this time it was a three-yard shovel pass to paydirt making it 28-15 with 7:04 left until halftime. Kalamazoo was forced to punt and after a 14-yard boot, Adrian took over at their own 40 yard-line.

McGee found Eric Suttie on a 22-yard completion to the seven yard-line on third down and nine and then ran it in from seven yards for his first rushing touchdown of the season. Adrian's lead built to 34-15 but they were not done. After another Hornet punt, McGee and Suttie hooked up for a 65-yard touchdown making it the longest scoring play of the season with 1:17 left in the first half. The 41 points in the first half marked one of the best scoring outburst in school history.

Adrian held Kalamazoo off the board in the second half and put 21 points on the board themselves. Jeff Makowski had a 41-yard interception return for a touchdown in the third quarter and Jared Edwards had a 32-yard touchdown run making it 55-15 after three quarters. Jeremy Southworth finished the scoring with 42 seconds left on a 16-yard touchdown run. The 62 points are the most scored against Kalamazoo in the all-time series.

McGee had a day for the record books completing 27-of-39 passes for 386 yards and four touchdowns. He tied a single game record with 27 completions and set a single game record with 386 passing yards set in 1999 by Joe Davis. He had a career-high four touchdowns which was one shy of the single game record.

The Bulldogs' quarterbacks completed passes to 13 different receivers as Beehler established a career-high with eight catches for 86 yards. Suttie set a career-high with 123 yards on five catches. Justin Hemm also had six grabs for 66 yards. Edwards led the rushing attack with 72 yards on 10 carries.

The Bulldog defense recorded three interceptions on the day as Chris Cook and Sederick Dunbar joined Makowski. The team also had three sacks on the afternoon. Danny Taylor and Bronson Gonzales led the defense with seven tackles. John Parvin had a good day in the secondary with six tackles.

The Bulldogs dominated the time of possession with 37:09 compared to 22:51 for the Hornets. AC was 10-of-17 on third down while Kalamazoo was 3-of-15. Adrian churned out 35 first downs and averaged 6.8 yards per play.