ALMA, Mich. – It was a defensive clinic on Saturday (Oct. 11) as the visiting Bulldog football team took down Alma 31-0 on their homecoming. The Bulldogs limited the Scots to 134 yards of total offense in the win improving to 4-1 overall and 1-1 in the MIAA.

The Bulldogs set the tone early as they took the opening kickoff and drove 57 yards in 15 plays and settled for a 41-yard field goal by freshman Cameron Cook for a 3-0 lead at the 7:45 mark. After 15 minutes the score remained 3-0 in favor of Adrian and it took a little time in the second quarter before the Bulldogs got into the end zone. Adrian took over with 6:15 left until halftime and marched 77 yards in 11 plays before senior quarterback Aaron Tenney carried for a one-yard touchdown run on third and goal for a 10-0 lead with 1:58 left until intermission.

The Bulldogs started to put the game away early in the third quarter as Matt Sullivan forced a fumble of Alma's first drive and recovered it himself at the Alma 8-yard line. Stephen Milarch came into the game at quarterback and completed a seven-yard pass to the Alma 3-yard line to Jeremy Wortham. Adrian Harris then completed the scoring drive with a three-yard touchdown run with 13:23 left in the third quarter for a 17-0 lead.

The Bulldogs carried a 17-point advantage into the fourth quarter and salted away their fourth win. Connor Storms pinned the Scots at their own one-yard line to start the quarter and Adrian forced a three-and-out giving the ball back to Adrian at the Alma 28-yard line. Freshman Emmanuel Stewart wasted no time by rushing 28 yards for a score with 8:35 left in the game for a 24-0 lead.

Alma tossed an interception as senior Charles Fleck picked it off at the Alma 23-yard line and returned it 11 yards to setup the Bulldogs with great field position. Milarch tossed a 13-yard completion to Stephen Thompson on third and 13 to setup a first and goal at the Alma two-yard line. Dylan Dunn then became the fourth Bulldog with a rushing touchdown for the game with a two-yard score on the ground to make it 31-0 with 6:44 to go.

Adrian totaled 19 first downs and 280 yards of offense including 153 on the ground. Stewart carried for 63 yards on 19 carries averaging 3.3 per carry. Harris ran for 55 yards on 17 carries. Tenney finished 8-for-15 through the air for 84 yards. Milarch threw for 43 yards on four completions. Nathan Hartline caught four passes for 47 yards. Stewart also had 54 receiving yards on three grabs.

Senior Juwan King totaled six tackles including three tackles for loss to lead the dominant defense. Wallen Augustin had five tackles and two tackles for loss. The Bulldogs had 12 tackles for a loss of 29 yards on the day. Adrian (4-1, 1-1) will welcome Albion College next Saturday for a 5:00 p.m. kickoff at Docking Stadium.