ALMA, Mich.-- The Trine football team fought back from a two-touchdown deficit in the second half to defeat Alma, 21-20 in the MIAA-opener Saturday afternoon at Bahlke Stadium.
The Thunder faced deficits of 14 and 13 points in the second half, but were able to fight back to earn the victory behind two rushing touchdowns and several big defensive stops. Taylor Masiewicz's (Belmont, Mich./Rockford) seven-yard rushing TD with 6:13 remaining in the fourth quarter proved to be the game-winning score. The Trine defense stood tall to hold Alma to two field goal attempts in the fourth quarter, both of which were missed. The Thunder improved to 3-1 overall and opened MIAA play 1-0. The Scots fell to 2-2 overall, 0-1 in the MIAA.
Masiewicz completed 14-of-25 passes for 177 yards and added 31 yards on the ground. Lamar Carswell (Toledo, Ohio/St. Francis de Sales) rushed for a team-high 115 yards on 27 carries and scored a touchdown. Carswell has now topped 100 yards in three of his first four career games.
The Thunder were able to overcome three turnovers due in large part to a strong defensive performance in key situations. Trine held the Scots to 4-of-14 (29 percent) on third down and stuffed both Alma attempts on fourth down. The Thunder also forced two fumbles and were able to recover one.
Michael Spears (Kendallville, Ind./East Noble) and Taylor James (LaPorte, Ind./LaPorte) paced the defense with 13 tackles apiece.
After a Nick Sullivan TD run gave Alma a 20-7 lead with 8:14 to play in the third quarter, Trine scored 14-unanswered points to earn the victory.
Carswell capped a quick five-play, 40-yard scoring drive with an 11-yard TD scamper. The PAT cut the deficit to 20-14 with 53 seconds remaining in the third quarter. The touchdown was Carswell's fifth of the season.
Mitchell Fair (Oviedo, Fla./Hagerty) made his first of two huge third-down stops on Alma's ensuing possession. Fair stuffed a rushing attempt on third and goal to force a 25-yard field goal attempt, which the Scots missed to keep Trine within a one-score deficit.
Trine immediately marched right down the field to take the lead. Masiewicz completed 4-of-5 passes for 54 yards and rushed for 21 yards on a 12-play, 80-yard drive. His seven-yard TD rush capped off the march. Mark Haydock (Fort Wayne, Ind./Snider) converted Trine's 102nd-consecutive successful PAT kick to make the score 21-20 with 6:13 to play.
On the ensuing drive, Trine's defense rose to the occasion once again. Fair sniffed out and stuffed a double-reverse on third down to bring up a 38-yard field goal attempt. The attempt sailed wide, and the Thunder were able to run out the clock to earn the victory.
Trine had to overcome a slow start as the offense came up empty on all its possessions until late in the third quarter. The defense rose to the occasion for the first time as Jacob Boswell (Kokomo, Ind./Western) and Kai Kekoa Sasan (Harvest, Ala./Sparkman) combined for an early stop on fourth and goal on Alma's first drive.
The Scots struck on their next possession as Sullivan broke through the defense for a 50-yard touchdown to give Alma a 7-0 lead. Sullivan for all three Scot touchdowns on the afternoon. He totaled 182 yards and two TDs on the ground, while scoring another touchdown and totaling 38 yards receiving.
The Trine defense also held Alma without points after a blocked punt set the Scots up deep inside Thunder territory. The defense forced a three-and-out, and the first of three Scot missed field goals sailed wide.
Dylan Zaborowksi found Sullivan out of the backfield for a 25-yard touchdown strike to put Alma up 14-0 with 11:01 remaining in the third quarter. Zaborowski completed 15-of-34 passes for 204 yards and the score.
On the ensuing kickoff, freshman Jeffery Barnett (Fremont, Ohio/Fremont-Ross) took the kick back 92 yards to paydirt to get the Thunder on board and give the team a much-needed momentum boost. It was the first TD of the freshman's collegiate career. It marked the first time a Thunder player had returned a kick for a touchdown since JaVontae Hence accomplished the feat on Oct. 17, 2012 at Hope.
Alma answered however, as Sullivan's seven-yard TD gave the Scots a 20-7 lead. The extra point was missed. Alma missed three field goals and one extra-point in the game.
Trine will host Olivet next Saturday, Oct. 10 for Homecoming in Fred Zollner Athletic Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m. For a full list of Homecoming events, visit THIS PAGE.