Alma, Mich. - The Alma College football team dropped a 41-6 decision to No. 25 Trine University in a rain-soaked affair on Saturday (Nov. 4) at Bahlke Field. The Thunder (9-0 overall, 5-0 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association) scored 35 unanswered points in the second half to secure a share of its first MIAA championship.

The weather played a significant factor in the first half, as the Scots (4-5, 1-4 MIAA) and Thunder played through the rain to a 6-6 tie at the break. In the second half, the weather cleared up and Trine took charge, scoring three times in a five-minute span to pull away. 

Senior Dylan Zaborowski (Jackson, Mich./Michigan Center) scored Alma's only touchdown and ran the ball 24 times for a team-high 84 yards. He also completed 11 of 26 passes for 128 yards. 

Lamar Carswell paced the Thunder with 217 yards and four touchdowns, scoring on runs of 1-, 28-, 74- and 44-yards. Evan Wyse also rushed for 107 yards and scored once while also going 6-for-11 for 125 yards and a TD. 

Senior Zac Peterson (Holt, Mich./Holt) led Alma with 7 tackles while freshman John Martinez (Alvin, Texas/Alvin) tallied a game-high three tackles for loss. 

The Scots honored 21 seniors prior to the game as Alma played its final home game of the 2017 season.

How It Happened

• Alma took the opening kickoff and marched 67 yards in 16 plays, with Dylan Zaborowski capping off the 8:40 drive with a three-yard run. The Scots attempted a quick two-point conversion, but Mason Ippel missed the pass attempt.
• The Scots forced Trine into a turnover on downs after a goal-line stand on its first drive and took over on the one-yard line. Alma was unable to get a first down and a short punt set the Thunder up with the ball at the Alma 25-yard line. Four plays later, Lamar Carswell scored to tie the game at 6-6. 
• Trine opened the second half with the ball and took a 13-6 lead after Carswell scampered for 28 yards.
• The Scots took their first possession of the second deep into Trine territory, but the Thunder forced a fumble and recovered on its own 28-yard line. Two plays later, Carwell scored on a 74-yard run.
• Trine successfully converted on onside kick on the ensuing kickoff and went ahead by a 27-6 margin with 7:57 to play in the third quarter after Evan Wyse found Essa Kellah for a 49-yard catch-and-run for the score.
• The Thunder added a pair of scores in the fourth quarter to go up 41-6, then forced a fumble as Alma was driving in the red zone to take possession and seal the victory. 

Notables

• The Scots' opening drive was their most time consuming drive this season. In addition, the 16 plays during that drive marked a season-high for most plays in a drive.
• Alma scored first for the first time since September 30, snapping a four-game streak where its opponent had put points on the scoreboard first.
• Dylan Zaborowski became the sixth player in Alma College history to run for 2,000 career yards with his 84 yards rushing. Zaborowski has 2,079 career rushing yards, fifth-best in school history. 
• The 2017 squad became the seventh team in program history to rush for 2,000 yards in a season, and stands at 2,048 yards with one game remaining. 

Up Next

Alma will wrap up the 2017 campaign on Saturday, Nov. 11, traveling to Adrian College. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Docking Stadium in Adrian, Mich.