Sophomore quarterback Jack Wurzer completed 24 of 32 passes for a school-record 403 yards and four touchdowns to lead Adrian to a come-from-behind 34-31 victory over visiting Alma in MIAA action on Saturday.
Adrian, which trailed three times, took the lead for good with 12 minutes and 46 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter when Wurzer found Wilson for 61-yard catch-and-run along with the home team sideline into the end zone. The Bulldogs led 27-24.
The Bulldogs got an insurance score late in the game on a long drive that ended with a 30-yard TD strike from Wurzer to Scott. Adrian marched down the field in 11 plays that covered 80 yards and ate up 7:18 on the clock.
Saturday @AdrianBulldogs QB Jack Wurzer threw 4 passing TDs and with 403 yds passing. A new single game mark for @AdrianCollege
Check out the highlights from @AdrianCollegeTV👇👇#D3FB #GoDawgs @D3Football @LenaweeSports @Jack_Wurz @AdrianCollegeFB
pic.twitter.com/3otI5yqUg2— Gabriel Schray (@schrayguy) October 21, 2019
The see-saw affair began with the first Wurzer-to-Scott connection of 8 yards at the 6:05 mark, capping a 16-play, 83-yard drive in 8:13.
Alma tied it 7-7 thanks to a 72-yard interception return for a TD by Kretzschmar to open the second-quarter scoring just 42 seconds in.
The Scots took its first lead of the afternoon with a Zach Clements 20-yard field goal at 5:41 left in the first half to go up 10-7 at the break. They got the three points after a Bulldog fumble at the home 40.
Adrian opened the second-half scoring at 10:01 of the third quarter when Wurzer plunged into the end zone on a quarterback sneak from a yard out, completing on another sustained drive that consumed 4:59, 10 plays and 91 yards. The Bulldogs reclaimed the lead, 14-10.
FINAL: @AdrianCollegeFB bests @AlmaScotsFB 34-31. A tight game down to the wire here @AdrianCollege @AdrianBulldogs @AdrianCollegeTV @ACSportsNet #GDTBAB #Adrian #GoDawgs pic.twitter.com/Puk0noyz8L
— Gabriel Schray (@schrayguy) October 20, 2019
Alma went up 17-14 about six minutes later as Ippel had a 1-yard TD plunge of his own. It was set up by a blocked punt at the hands of Dontae Burks that put the ball at the Adrian 18.
But the Bulldogs regrouped and scored on their ensuing possession in quick fashion. Wilson caught a 47-yard TD pass from Wurzer as Adrian went back on top, 20-17, after a 3-play, 65-yard drive in 94 seconds.
The Scots took their last lead on the next time holding the ball and started the scoring in the final frame. At the 14:49 mark, Jarrett Bright grabbed a 7-yard TD pass from Chase Hinkle for an Alma 24-20 advantage.
BULLDOG RECAP (HIGHLIGHTS) BY ADRIAN COLLEGE TV:
On Saturday @AdrianCollegeFB won a thriller against @AlmaScots in @MIAA1888 action. Check out the highlights in this #ACTV recap 👇👇#D3FB #GoDawgs #DawgsUnleashed #GDTBAB @AdrianBulldogs @AdrianCollege @ACSportsNet @WLENRadio1039fm @WVACAdrian pic.twitter.com/aDEvXF2NpU
— Adrian College TV (@AdrianCollegeTV) October 21, 2019
After the Bulldogs scored 14 unanswered points to take control, Alma tried a comeback of its own that fell short. Ippel had a 4-yard rushing TD with just 92 seconds remaining to account for the final score of 34-31.
The Adrian defense had a huge stop early in the second quarter. After a Bulldog punt traveled just 5 yards to the Adrian 16-yard line, Alma had a short field to work in a 7-7 game. Austin Spratlin was tackled for a 1-yard loss at the Adrian 8 by Brandon Kwiatkowski and the ‘Dogs had the turnover on downs.
The Bulldogs dominated the statistical scoreboard: first downs (27-17), total offense (518-221) and passing yards (403-102).
BULLDOG HYPE VIDEO BY ADRIAN COLLEGE TV:
Check out this cool promo for the @AdrianBulldogs Football team
Homecoming comes to @AdrianCollege in Adrian, Michigan this Saturday#GDTBAB #D3FB #GoDawgs #AdrianCollege @d3football pic.twitter.com/JofQquWlUO
— Midwest Sports Network (@MWSNsports) September 20, 2019
Adrian has won 12 of the last 13 meetings against Alma, which still leads the all-time series 48-32-1 that began in 1911. Alma came into the contest with the second-best rushing attack in the MIAA (234.0 ypg), but the Bulldogs’ defense held the Scots to a season-low 119 in MIAA play.
Mike McGee previously held the Bulldogs’ single-game passing yards record with 386 at Kalamazoo College on Oct. 3, 2009. Wurzer’s 24 completions are a career best and the fifth-highest total in school history.
The Scots see their four-game win streak snapped and fall from a three-way tie for first place in the MIAA. Wurzer strengthens his lead in the MIAA with 264.3 passing yards average. Mason Opple has the second-best figure at 173.2 ypg. Wilson leads the conference with 112.8 receiving yards per game.
UP NEXT, BULLDOGS / BRITS BROADCAST INFO:
MIAA Regular Season Contest
Adrian College Bulldogs @ Albion College Britons
Date: Saturday, October 26th | Time: 1:00 pm ET
Location: Britons Athletic Complex – Albion, Michigan
TV: Adrian College TV | Radio: 107.9 WVAC-FM, 103.9 WLEN-FM
This article was written using a press release and information generated by Adrian College’s sports information department. It is nearly entirely a repost of the original press release. For more college sports, follow us on Twitter @MWSNsports or like our page on Facebook.
