ADRIAN, Mich. – The Bulldog football team came off a battle last week at Hope and got a bit of a breather on Saturday with a 41-6 win over Alma to improve to 5-1 overall and 2-0 in the MIAA. The stadium at Adrian College was dedicated this afternoon and named after current president Dr. Jeff Docking for his contributions to the College and the team christened Docking Stadium with a solid performance in the first half.

Alma took the opening kickoff and gained just two yards before punting to the Bulldogs. Adrian wasted little time in taking the lead as Aaron Tenney launched a 50-yard pass to Nathan Hartline down to the Alma seven-yard line. Dae'Von Robinson carried twice including a six-yard touchdown over the left side of the line with 12:39 left in the first for a 7-0 lead.

Alma's next drive ended on a sack and fumbled forced by Wallen Augustin and Jordan Clark pounced on the ball at the Adrian 48-yard line. The Bulldogs drove to the Alma 27-yard line but on the seventh play of the drive facing fourth-and-10, Tenney's pass to Hartline covered just seven yards.

Adrian began the second quarter with the ball and would wind up scoring 20 points in the frame to put the game in the books. Tenney found Tyler Bruce on a 23-yard touchdown with 13:47 left in the second capping off an 11-play, 70-yard drive which took 4:53 off the clock. Adrian forced a three-and-out and got the ball back at their own 22-yard line. On the third play, Tenney went deep middle to Hartline on a 76-yard strike to make it 21-0 with 11:06 left in the second.

Alma had their best drive to date on their next possession driving down to the Adrian 19-yard line, but on fourth-and-three it was a two-yard run by Grant Wilson with Hunter Juntunen and Charles Fleck making the stop. The Scots again had a golden opportunity to score on their next drive taking it down to the Adrian one-yard line, but were stuffed on two straight runs as A.J. Gill was in on both stops.

The dagger came late in the quarter as Adrian was forced to punt out of their own end zone after the goal-line stand and Alma took over at the Adrian 42-yard line. Derek Talaga went back to pass on the first play with 17 seconds left and Deontae Bridgeman picked it off going 44 yards the other way for his fourth defensive touchdown of the season. The extra point was unsuccessful and Adrian led 27-0 at the break.

The third quarter was hard to gain ground for either team as neither scored. Adrian had just 17 yards of offense while the Scots did slightly better with 26 yards. Both teams combined to go 0-for-8 on third down in the quarter.

Alma stalled on a drive early in the fourth at the Adrian four-yard line on an incomplete pass as quarterback Brent Luplow was hurried by Jack Carter and Nate Cunningham broke up a pass in the end zone intended for Erik Hines. The Scots finally got on the board on their 14th drive of the game as Wilson carried in from one-yard on an option pitch capping off a 10-play, 40-yard drive to make it 27-6.

Adrian had an answer to the score as they covered 44 yards in seven plays after an onside kick attempt by Alma. Kyle Smock ran it over the goal line from one yard with 3:13 left in the game making it 34-6. Alma lost one yard on their next drive and Adrian took over on the Alma 40-yard line. Drew Collins scampered 40 yards on the first play to paydirt to conclude the scoring at 41-6.

Adrian limited the Scots to 234 total yards (2.8 yards per play) including 69 rushing yards on 41 attempts (1.7 ypr). The Bulldogs gained 331 yards as Tenney threw for 230 yards and two scores. Hartline hauled in four catches for 140 yards. Charles Fleck corralled a career-high 15 tackles including two for loss and one pass breakup. Gill had a season-high 11 tackles for his linebacking spot. The Bulldogs travel to Trine next week for a 1 p.m. kickoff.