ADRIAN, Mich. -- Football is back for Adrian College as the Bulldogs opened the season at home against Elmhurst University on Saturday afternoon. Adrian started slow, but ended up coming away with a 55-20 victory over the Blue Jays to start the season 1-0.

Elmhurst jumped out to a 20-0 lead to start the game after a few early Bulldog mistakes. Elmhurst scored on a pick-6 to start the game followed by running back a blocked field goal, and scoring again of a fumble on the kickoff. Adrian went on to call timeout and regroup and put up a pair of touchdowns before the end of the first quarter. Shondel Hardnett rushed in for a touchdown to put Adrian on the board which was followed by a 13-yard touchdown run by Jake Kelbert to make it 20-14 after the first. In the second quarter, Kelbert found Caid Fox for a 26-yard touchdown pass to tie the game after a missed extra point. With 5:43 to go in the half, Ethan Abberger rushed in for nine yards to lead 27-20 at the half.

In the third quarter, Kelbert scored his second touchdown of the game on another 13-yard rush to extend the lead to 34-20. Kelbert struck again for his third rushing touchdown of the game after a 12-yard run to extend the lead, once again. Noah Heide checked in at quarterback later in the period and threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to Jalen Wallace which was followed 35 seconds later byu a 37-yard rushing touchdown by Tyson Hill to pull ahead 55-20.

Adrian finished the game with 286 yards rushing with 121 coming from Hardnett and 106 from Kelbert. Kelbert also threw for 182 yard on 16 attempts. Wallace led the Bulldogs with 111 yard receiving on eight receptions and a touchdown. On defense, Trey Brueggemann led the Bulldogs with seven total tackles and two tackles for loss. Ryan Morgan finished the game with six tackles and a pass breakup. Maddox Woods forced a fumble for Adrian which was recovered by Zach Carter. Jack Boike was 7-for-8 on extra points for the Bulldogs.

Adrian will turn around and host another home game on Saturday, September 14 when they face Madonna University under the lights at 7:00 PM.

CLICK HERE to listen to Head Coach, Joe Palka's, post game interview