Sept. 22, 2007

Final Stats

ADRIAN, Mich. -- The home opener for the Adrian College football squad kept people on the edge of their seats as the Bulldogs needed overtime to defeat Huntingdon College (Ala.) by the final score of 36-29. The first quarter featured a number of big plays by both teams but it was Adrian who jumped out to a 13-0 lead midway through the opening quarter.

Mike McGee kept the ball from his quarterback spot and carried four yards for a touchdown on the first possession of the game for the Bulldogs giving them a 7-0 lead. Patrick Reagan put the Bulldogs ahead 13-0 at the 6:30 mark as he hauled in a 55-yard pass from Troy Niblock but the conversion failed as AC had to kick a long PAT after a 15-yard penalty. The Hawks fought back and scored the game's next 14 points to take a one-point lead at the end of the first quarter. Will Grindle caught a 22-yard pass from backup quarterback Justin Ridgeway with 4:03 left in the first and Steven Laye caught a 23-yard pass in the corner of the north end zone with 29 seconds to go in the first.

McGee ran into the end zone for the second time with 10:19 left until halftime giving the Bulldogs a 19-14 lead capping off a 12-play, 35-yard drive. Broderick Smith put Huntingdon ahead 22-19 at halftime on a 14-yard strike from Ridgeway with 2:13 before intermission.

Smith was not done as he corraled a 35-yard TD with 9:20 to go in the third quarter to give the Hawks a 29-19 lead. The rest of the scoring went Adrian's way as the Bulldogs scored 10 points in the fourth quarter and seven more in overtime to improve to 3-0 overall. Desmond Upshaw and McGee hooked up on a 27-yard seam route with 9:00 left in regulation and Zach Scoville booted a 22-yard field goal with 4:22 on the clock to tie the game at 29-29.

Reagan's second receiving TD on the first possession in overtime was a 22-yard pass from McGee and then the Adrian defense held firm as Huntingdon moved the ball just two yards and on fourth down and eight yards to go a pass from Ridgeway intended for Laye fell to the turf. Adrian outgained their opponent from the south, 379-305, in total offense. McGee was 12-of-23 passing for two touchdowns and carried the ball eight times for just one yard.

Reagan had three catches for 105 yards and two scores. Ward Ritter had a big defensive game leading the team with 11 tackles and three and a half tackles for loss. Ritter also had two sacks for a loss of nine yards. Chris Elsey also had a strong showing with 10 tackles and one pass breakup.