KALAMAZOO, Mich. - The Kalamazoo College football team remained undefeated with a 31-30 win over Adrian College in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association opener at Angell Field on Saturday. The Hornets are 4-0 for the first time since 2003.
Jared Pittman scored on a 2-yard run to cap a 13-play, 67-yard drive on Kalamazoo's opening possession.
Adrian responded with a 79-yard touchdown pass on its first play from scrimmage.
The Bulldogs pulled ahead 14-7 early in the second quarter, but Kalamazoo evened the score on its next possession when VanFaussien connected with Ethan Kubik on a 9-yard score.
Adrian led 21-14 with 5:07 left in the second, but Kalamazoo tied it up again with six seconds remaining on a 2-yard touchdown pass from VanFaussien to Dylan Padget to make it a 21-21 game at halftime.
Adrian kicked a 24-yard field goal five minutes into the third quarter, but Kalamazoo again evened things up with Greg Kearns' 40-yard field goal with 4:10 left in the quarter.
Adrian made it 30-24 with a touchdown early in the fourth quarter, but missed the extra point.
Ten minutes passed without any additional scoring before Adrian attempted a 27-yard field goal with 2:52 remaining only to have it blocked by Kalamazoo's Ethan Kubik.
The Hornets took over and drove 87 yards on 13 plays as VanFaussien connected with Sam Matthews from three yards out to tie the score at 30-30. Greg Kearns' extra point put Kalamazoo up by one with 39 seconds remaining.
Adrian advanced to its own 41-yard line where the Bulldogs threw an incompletion on fourth down to seal the win for the Hornets.
Adrian put up 538 yards of total offense compared to 355 for Kalamazoo, but the Hornets maintained possession for 32:18 compared to 27:42 for the Bulldogs.
Zach VanFaussien was 24-of-40 passing for 240 yards with three touchdowns. The quarterback also rushed for 96 yards on 20 carries.
Ethan Kubik led the Hornet receivers with 86 yards on seven catches. Dylan Padget (49 yards) and Anthony Giovanni (48 yards) each have five catches. Sam Matthews had three catches for 37 yards.
Greg Kearns finished 4-for-4 on extra points along with the 40-yard field goal.
Jakob Frederick led the Hornet defense with 11 total tackles. Alex Stockwell finished with eight including a tackle for loss. Jacob Chantres and Joe Piet were each in on quarterback sacks while Jake Osen and Taylor Jackson each had an interception.
Kalamazoo returns to action next Saturday, Oct. 6 with a trip to MIAA newcomer Finlandia University.