November 1, 2003 - Kalamazoo College vs. Alma College
KALAMAZOO - The Kalamazoo College football team let a win slipaway this afternoon at Angell Field as the Hornets fell to Alma, 24-23 in overtime.
Kalamazoo took a 17-10 lead with 3:20 left in the game. Alma fumbled at the Kalamazoo 43-yardline on its ensuing drive and the Hornets recovered with 1:50 left in the game. While attempting to run out the clock the Hornets fumbled and Alma recovered at the Kalamazoo 32 with 1:39 left. Alma proceeded to tie the game at 17-17 with 25 seconds left.
Alma recovered a fumble on the next kickoff and recovered at the Kalamazoo 25-yardline with a chance to win the game in regulation. A penalty pushed the Scots back to the 30. Alma misfired on its next two pass attempts and came up well-short on a 47-yard field goal as time expired.
Alma won the toss for overtime and elected to defend. Each team gets one possession starting at the 25-yardline. Matthew Jarboe had three carries to get the ball to the Alma 9-yardline, before Bryan Gnyp hit Jeff Green on a screen pass that resulted in a touchdown. A bad exchange led to a failed extra-point conversion attempt.
Alma then took over at the 25 and took only two plays to get to the one-yardline and a first-and-goal. Three straight running plays up the middle out of the shotgun resulted in no gain. The Scots ran an option to the right on fourth down and James Edington received the pitch from the quarterback and punched it in for the score. Alma's Jeff LaPorte converted on the extra point, giving Alma the 24-23 victory.
Alma had 301 yards of total offense while Kalamazoo had 235 yards. Each team had three turnovers.
Matthew Jarboe led Kalamazoo with 114 yards rushing on 37 carries with two touchdowns and a lost fumble. Bryan Gnyp had 41 yards on seven carries.
Gnyp was 6-of-13 passing for 78 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Gnyp broke the school record for career yards of total offense (7,384).
Jeff Green had four catches for 49 yards with one touchdown. Andy Graham had two catches for 29 yards.
Jeremy Vanisacker led the Hornets' defense with 14 total tackles, including 1.5 for lost yardage. Kyle Bainbridge had 12 tackles. Mark LaCombe recorded his 18th career interception, setting a new school record for career interceptions. Vanisacker, Nick Toboy, and Anthony Phelps each had a sack.
James Edington led Alma with 44 rushing yards on 10 carries with two touchdowns. Jeremy Droptiny had 14 yards on six carries with a touchdown.
Ryan Palmer started the game at quarterback for the Scots and was 1-for-3 for six yards before being replaced by Josh Brehm. Brehm was 25-of-46 with 260 yards and one interception.
Clayton Sims led nine Alma receivers with eight catches for 73 yards. Tyler Thelen had five catches for 62 yards.
Scott Barriger led the Scots' defense with 13 total tackles. Chris Davis had the Scots' only interception.
Kalamazoo will host Wisconsin Lutheran next Saturday at 1 p.m.
Updated:
11/1/03