Early Deficit Swallows Britons
ANGOLA, Ind. – Trine University scored twice in the first three minutes as quarterback Ryan Hargraves got loose for an 83-yard run and Myron Puryear returned a fumble 79 yards and that proved to be the difference as the Thunder defeated Albion College, 27-22, in Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association action.
Albion's game plan was successful – Clinton Orr rushed for 110 yards and two touchdowns and Darrin Williams rushed for 93 yards – but the Thunder turned two of the Britons' three turnovers into touchdowns.
Hargraves broke his long touchdown run on the second play of the game. Albion was in position to get its first points of the day after Orr returned the kickoff to the Trine 26 and quarterback Dominic Bona hooked up with Williams on a 6-yard play to set up third-and-3 from the Trine 19. Williams fumbled on the third down play and Puryear took the ball down for a Thunder touchdown.
Albion scored on its second possession as Orr ran in from 28 yards out.
The Briton defense forced Trine to punt, setting the offense up near midfield. Four rushes by Williams and a 10-yard pass from Bona to Sage Alward gave the Britons a first down at the Trine 19. Albion faced a third-and-7 when Bona was picked off near the goal line.
Trine methodically moved the ball 98 yards – on 13 plays – for a 4-yard touchdown run by Michael Inge and a 21-6 lead.
Albion provided an immediate answer as Orr ripped off an 11-yard run and he hauled in a 16-yard pass from Bona as the Britons moved to the Trine 33. Orr eventually went the final 18 yards for the score and Albion trailed 24-12 at halftime.
Albion received the second half kickoff and Williams' 26-yard gain got the Britons to the Trine 39. The Britons were able to overcome a holding penalty as Bona rushed for 10 yards and Orr got 11 on consecutive plays. The drive bogged down inside the five, however, and Albion settled for a Jimmy Nieman field goal.
Albion kept Trine in bad field position in the third quarter as the Thunder started drives at its 13 and 9. The Briton offense took possession near midfield late in the quarter and a face mask penalty on a short pass to Cody Crawford moved the ball to the Trine 34. Bona foundBrian Spencer on fourth down to keep the drive alive and Williams scored from 10 yards out with 12:52 to play.
The kickoff return dashed Albion's comeback as Puryear ripped off a 36-yard effort to get the ball to the Trine offense near midfield. Trine gained a couple of first downs and it settled for 30-yard field goal from Tyler Keck that completed the scoring.
Albion moved the ball near midfield on its final two possessions, but it never got into Trine territory.
Hargraves completed 11-of-15 passes for 166 yards and he rushed for 83.
Brett McCarty led the Albion defense with 2 ½ tackles for loss, including a 9-yard sack.
