The Spartans take aim at a second straight road trip opportunity and meeting against a Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association foe Saturday, September 8.
Game details: Kickoff at Alma College's Bahlke Field is 6 p.m. … Live audio, statistics and video are available via links at www.muspartans.com, the Internet home of Manchester University athletics … It's the seventh installment all time of the intersectional series. Alma leads 4-2 all-time, but the Black and Gold turned in a heart-stopping 33-31 decision at AC last fall.
Spartan Shorts: Several positives did come to the forefront for MU despite its season-opening 55-7 loss at the hands of D3Football.com top 20-ranked Trine University August 30. Senior special teams standout and defensive back Dillon Nelson (Fairland, Ind.) earned Week One Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Special Teams Player of the Week accolades. Nelson punted the ball six times for a total of 233 yards in the season opener. His longest of the night went for 51 yards, another landed inside the 20-yard line and three more were fair caught. Nelson's 38.8-yards-per-kick average ranks third in the league. He's among several individuals among the league's statistical first five through one week. Senior Lucas Lorian (Reelsville, Ind.), in his transplanted role as defensive back, was one of eight individuals to be part of the sack equation (No. 5 – one); sophomore defensive back Nick Tillmann (Lawrenceburg, Ind.) is tied for third in tackles per game (12); junior running back Donovan Henderson, Jr. (Hollywood, Fla.) is third in rushing yards per game (90); and freshman wide receiver Harrington Greer (South Bend, Ind.) was just off the pace with a touchdown reception that has him tied for sixth-best amongst conference wideouts … Manchester University concludes its preseason schedule with Saturday's clash with the Scots. They begin the 2018 league and home portion of their campaign Saturday, September 15, with a 6 p.m. kickoff against Defiance College of Ohio at Burt Field. Several definitions exist for a community. They range from a group of people living in the same place to individuals who have a feeling of fellowship. MU's football program and athletic department look to the latter in a broader sense that evening, as the spotlight focuses on North Manchester sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals in being together to cheer on the Spartans while also focusing on the fight against brain tumors. Festivities begin at 5 p.m. with free admission for North Manchester residents. They include face painting and a bouncy house for children around the grounds to Burt Field; an ice cream social for the first 500 in attendance courtesy of Chartwells; and a table where people can visit with local brain tumor survivor Elizabeth Schilling as well as get more information on how they can add to the battle against others around the area and world afflicted with this malady. Ms. Schilling will share her story as part of halftime, and there will be stations around the field to donate to the American Brain Tumor Association and towards the annual Liz's Unexpected Journey 5K which raises awareness and funding for the ABTA. All individuals in attendance are asked to wear gray in support of the ABTA.