The game was a struggle for both teams in the opening quarter as Adrian led 7-0 after 15 minutes. Alma took their first drive of the game to the Adrian 36-yard line, but senior Austin Fritz recorded a sack on fourth down and seven to stop the Scots' drive. After the teams traded three-and-outs, senior Mike McGee was intercepted on Adrian's second drive at the Alma 45-yard line. The Adrian defense held and the Bulldogs took over at their own 24-yard line with just over eight minutes left in the first quarter.

The Bulldogs marched downfield on a 13-play, 76-yard drive which took 5:12 off the clock and sophomore Justin Hemm caught a 30-yard touchdown pass from McGee on a middle slant route to give Adrian a 7-0 lead at the 2:59 mark of the opening quarter. Adrian held Alma to 48 total yards in the first quarter. The Bulldogs got their first turnover on defense early in the second quarter as junior Keman Jacobs recovered a muffed shotgun snap at the Adrian 47-yard line. The teams once again traded punts and Adrian took possession late in the second quarter at their own 20-yard line with about four and a half minutes until halftime.

Adrian marched 80 yards in eight plays taking 2:51 off the clock as Hemm caught a 40-yard touchdown from McGee on a deep ball which Hemm wrestled away from an Alma defender around the five-yard line before Hemm caught it and carried it into the end zone. Adrian led 14-0 at the 1:43 mark. On the play, McGee set the single-season school record for passing yards (2,302) and touchdowns (19). Alma responded with a much-needed score before halftime as Austin Montgomery took a pass over the middle for 10 yards and raced another 46 yards for a 56-yard touchdown catch from Garret Cook with 44 ticks left making it 14-7 at the break.

Adrian increased their lead to 17-7 in the third quarter as they took their first possession and drove to the Alma 10 before Logan Mitseff connected on a 27-yard field goal at the 9:33 mark capping off a 13-play, 61-yard drive. Alma would not go away as they were aided by a 47-yard pass from Ross Richard to T.J. Morris and a pair of Adrian penalties on one play which placed the ball at the Adrian 8. Richard scrambled left and tucked the ball up running for an eight-yard touchdown diving into the end zone at the 8:49 mark cutting the lead to 17-13 as Heath Laugal's extra point hit the left upright.

The next drive would prove to be the final score of the game and Adrian moved the ball through the air eventually setting up fourth and goal at the one-yard line. Freshman Damon Brown entered the game along with several beefy lineman from both sides of the ball. Brown took the handoff off left tackle and powered into the end zone capping off a nine-play, 63-yard drive which lasted 3:55. The extra point gave Adrian a 24-13 lead with 4:48 left in the third quarter.

The fourth quarter was played without much fanfare for both offenses. Sophomore Mitch Gabriele did set a single-season school record in the fourth for receptions (63) on a drive that stalled at the Alma 24 after a sack of McGee on third and eight. Adrian attempted a fake field goal and Kyle Timmis could find no one open and tossed the ball out of the back of the end zone. The Scots took over with eight minutes to play and facing a fourth down in their own end, they tried a fake punt which was stopped by senior Scott Normandin at the Alma 31 with 6:52 on the clock.

The Bulldogs took over and advanced the ball five yards in three plays before McGee lobbed a ball to the one-yard line which was broken up on fourth down intended for D'ante Thompson. Alma threw an interception on the very next play as junior Jeff Makowski picked it off at the Alma 49 at the 4:58 mark. Adrian possessed the ball for a minute or two and punted to the Alma 3 with 2:15 to go. Alma got the ball to the midfield area but Bryan Garbarino picked off a pass and took it to the Alma 45 sealing the win for Adrian.

The Bulldogs outgained the Scots, 373-254, including a 330-215 edge through the air. McGee finished 28-of-40 for 327 yards and two touchdowns. He set a career record for completion percentage as well as the other passing records he holds at Adrian. Hemm caught 10 passes for 147 yards, which are both career-highs. Gabriele had nine catches for 71 yards snapping a three-game 100-yard streak. Jeremy Southworth set a career-high with 24 carries for 50 yards. Fritz had a big final game with seven tackles and 3.5 tackles for loss including a pair of sacks. Senior Danny Taylor had eight tackles to lead the team. He finished his career with 196 tackles.