KALAMAZOO, Mich. – For the first time since 2015, the No. 22 Albion College football team starts the year off 5-0, after defeating Kalamazoo College, 48-6. The defense came up big to set the tone early on, helping the Britons pick up a win in their first conference game of the season.
Pounding out 518 yards of total offense, the Britons were led by Jack Bush. Bush was 21 of 27 for 231 yards and a pair of touchdowns in his first game back from injury. Mark Tocco had his fourth 100-plus yard game of the season, hauling in seven catches for 101 yards. Following Saturday's games, he now leads the MIAA with 103.2 YPG.
Senior Jeremiah Major was a key part of a disruptive offense, registering eight total tackles, three sacks and forcing a fumble.
Jackson Cooney was a perfect 6 for 6 in PATs.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Receiving the ball to start, the Britons scored first with a 25 yard Jackson Cooney field goal. After the kickoff, the Brits forced a Kalamazoo fumble on the second play from scrimmage. Conner Smith forced the fumble and it was recovered by Stephen Douglas at the Hornet 37.
Two plays later, Phillip Jones-Price scampered through some good blocks for a 37-yard TD run and a 10-0 Albion lead.
On the ensuing possession, the Britons forced another fumble – this one by Major. Smith recovered for Albion at the Kalamazoo 21, setting up the offense in great field position yet again. A 4-yard TD by fifth year Ryan Roberts boosted the Albion lead to 17-0 with 6:46 remaining in the first quarter.
Albion's defense continued to sparkle, forcing another Hornet three and out. On a fourth and goal, Ryan Nolan hauled in a 4-yard touchdown pass to cap off a 12 play, 73 yard drive. The visitors had a dominant 24-0 lead at the end of the opening period.
With Kalamazoo threatening early in the second quarter, Smith grabbed a tipped pass at the Albion 5, giving the ball back to the Britons with one of three Albion interceptions on the day. It was followed up by a 10 play, 86 yard drive that culminated in a 19-yard touchdown from Bush to Andy Durand. Durand met Kalamazoo defenders inside the five, but muscled his way into the end zone to add to the sizable advantage.
With less than two minutes before the half, Roberts found the end zone for a second time, giving the Brits a 38-0 lead at the break.
After the two teams played to a scoreless third quarter, freshman Logan Grwinski sailed a 28-yard field goal through the uprights, inflating the Albion lead to 41-0 early in the fourth.
Kalamazoo answered at the other end with their only points of the day. Freshman Alex Olenik had his signature moment, blocking the PAT to keep the score at 41-6. Albion's final touchdown came off a 10-yard run by Eric Meldrum late in the fourth quarter.
EXTRA YARDAGE
Cashing in on Kalamazoo miscues, the Brits scored 28 points off turnovers.
Albion forced the Hornets into seven turnovers on the day (3 INT, 2 FR, 2 DOWNS).
The Britons were whistled for 12 penalties, costing the visitors 130 yards and five first downs.
Up front, Albion was able to silence the run game, allowing just 82 yards on the ground by Kalamazoo.
QUOTES FROM THE COACH
Beurer on the versatility of the defense: "Josh Wuensch stepped up again … Deondric Sanders got back in the starting lineup and he played a great game out there … It was good to see Kalil Brown get in the turnover category … We were able to move Jerry [Major] around a little bit and he ended up with three sacks in the first half."
Beurer on looking ahead to next week: "It's a rivalry game, it's Homecoming, it'll probably add a little fuel to their fire … We can't put it on a pedestal … It's another team in the way of what we want to accomplish and we've got to go accomplish that."
UP NEXT
Beurer was certainly correct, Albion will host its rival, Hope College, on Oct. 8 for a noon kickoff on Homecoming.