by Robert Youngs, Jr.
Looking to get back in the win column, the Kalamazoo College football team fell short in its comeback attempt against Albion in Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association play at a soggy Sprankle-Sprandel Stadium on Saturday.
K traded jabs and empty drives with the host Britons, who were celebrating homecoming, through most of the first half. Albion got two late scores in the second quarter to open a 14-0 lead.
Needing a jolt of energy to get back in the contest, the Hornets got it.
Backed up in its own end at the two-yard line, sophomore defensive lineman Alan Mencer picked up a fumbled Albion handoff and rumbled 98 yards for the Hornets' first score of the afternoon. Kalamazoo missed the extra point.
The scoop and score was the longest in Kalamazoo College history. The previous longest fumble returns were of 85 yards each, first in 1920 by Paul Staake against Michigan State and secondly, in 1962, by Bob Peters against Hope.
Mencer's fumble recovery erased a record that stood for 92 years and was only tied 42 years after it was set.
On Albion's following possession, a roughing the passer penalty kept the Britons offense on the field. The drive resulted in a 39-yard field goal for the home team.
The Hornets weren't done. Linebacker Connor Rzeznik sacked Albion quarterback Dominic Bona on the Britons' fourth offensive possession of the second half. A play later, a bad snap resulted in an illegal kicking penalty, giving K prime field position at the seven.
The rains came again, and it looked like Kalamazoo wouldn't find the end zone. However, on fourth down, Aaron McGuire stepped up and found an open Mikael Lott in the back of the end zone for a Hornet score.
Needing two points to make it a one score game, McGuire found Lott again at the goal line to end the scoring for the contest at 17-14.
Despite Darrin Williams excellent rushing day for the Britons, a Gray Vreeland 44-yard punt looked to give K some hope late in the game, but a personal foul penalty on the last drive sealed the Hornets' fate.
Albion took a knee at the Kalamazoo 20-yard line to end the game.
McGuire kept the Hornets in it with his arm on Saturday, completing 17-of-27 passes for 145 yards and one touchdown. He threw no interceptions, but was sacked three times.
Lott was the main target in the loss, catching seven passes for 63 yards and a long of 19. Josh Wise had five grabs for 50 yards.
Defensively, freshman linebacker Dylan Zerki collected 10 tackles, eight of them solo and one for loss. Blake Simon also pitched in with seven solo tackles and five assists, with one and one-half of a tackle for loss.
Brandon Casto had two pass break-ups for the Hornets secondary and Octavius Sanders had one. Punter Gray Vreeland booted six times for 218 yards and a long of 44, with two inside the 20 yard line.
The setback leaves K at 3-3 overall and 0-2 in MIAA play.
Kalamazoo returns home to Angell Field on Oct. 20 to host Hope for homecoming. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m.