ADRIAN, Mich. - The weather did not help matters on Saturday afternoon but nonetheless both Adrian College and Trine University played a tradition MIAA slugfest at Performance Stadium in a critical matchup for both league undefeateds heading into the game. Adrian made the big plays when it mattered the most and in the end claimed a hard-fought 10-3 win over the rival Thunder.

Trine falls to 4-3 overall and 2-1 in the MIAA while Adrian has won five straight after a season-opening three-point loss to Carthage, posting a 5-1 record and 3-0 mark in the conference with three more league games left. Adrian will travel next week to Olivet College.

All of Adrian's scoring took place in the second quarter as Dustin Salliotte booted a 22-yard field goal and Taylor Copacia took a one-yard quarterback sneak to paydirt. Salliotte's field goal capped off a nine-play, 62-yard drive and gave AC a 3-0 lead with 9:26 left in the second. Copacia's plunge came with 2:26 left until halftime and capped off a nine-play, 60-yard drive which lasted 4:55.

Adrian controlled the ball mightily in the first half holding a major edge in time of possession. Adrian ran 44 plays in the first half and totaled 250 yards. Trine ran just 16 plays and gained 70 yards while going 0-for-4 on third down. The Thunder did not get on the board until 1:52 left in the game as Tyler Keck kicked a 22-yard field goal capping off a 12-play, 80-yard drive for the visitors. The Thunder tried to onside kick but the ball went just nine yards and trickled out of bounds sealing the win for Adrian. It was Adrian's second straight win over Trine and they improved to 6-4 in the all-time series.

The Bulldogs finished the game with 313 yards including 230 on the ground. Junior Danny Cobb rushed for a team-high 130 yards and 22 carries (5.9 ypr). Junior Kyle Smock added 35 yards on eight carries. Trine's Michael Inge carried 13 times for 54 yards to lead the Thunder. Copacia completed 8-of-15 passes for 83 yards and was intercepted twice by Trine's Blaek Combs. Ryan Hargraves completed 11-of-18 passes for 116 yards for the Thunder. Trine finished the game with just 199 yards on 46 plays (4.3 ypp).

The Bulldogs went 7-for-15 on third down while Trine ended up 4-for-12. Myron Puryear led the Thunder with nine tackles joined by Michael Spears and Caleb Nitz. Juwan King led the Bulldogs with eight stops including a sack and two tackles for loss. Adrian's defense accounted for seven tackles for a loss of 21 yards including three sacks.