ADRIAN, Mich. - The Kalamazoo College football team lost its MIAA opener 30-27 at Adrian on Saturday. The Bulldogs kicked an 18-yard field goal with 2.2 seconds remaining to claim the win.
Adrian took a 7-0 lead midway through the first quarter and held that lead until the 9:57 mark of the second when Anthony Giovanni scored on a 14-yard run.
The Bulldogs went up 14-7 with 1:35 left in the second. Greg Kearns kicked a 28-yard field goal with 52 seconds left making it 14-10, however the Bulldogs would score another touchdown with seven seconds left to take a 21-10 lead into halftime.
Adrian, which never trailed in the game, kicked a field goal early in the third to take its largest lead of the game, 24-10.
Jared Pittman scored on a 3-yard run late in the third to put the Hornets back within seven (24-17).
Adrian kicked another field goal early in the fourth to go up 27-17 with 11:08 remaining.
Kalamazoo responded quickly going 70 yards in two plays highlighted by Sam Matthews' 42-yard touchdown reception from Niko Nickson. Kearns kicked a 32-yard field goal on the Hornets' next possession to tie the score at 27-27 with 8:16 left in the game.
Neither team was able to get much going over the next several possessions until the Bulldogs took over at 1:38 and went 71 yards to the Kalamazoo 1-yard line. The Bulldogs kicked an 18-yard field goal on 4th-and-1 with 2.2 seconds left to go up 30-27. Kalamazoo was unable to score on the kickoff return ending the game in defeat.
Adrian put up 445 yards of total offense compared to 392 by Kalamazoo, including 256 yards on the ground.
Niko Nickson was 7-for-18 passing for 118 yards with a touchdown. Anthony Giovanni was 4-of-7 for 18 yards while also rushing for 71 yards on nine carries and making one catch for 18 yards.
CJ Foster had 51 yards rushing on eight carries while Jared Pittman had 48 yards on 10 carries.
Bubba Wilson had one catch for 53 yards and another run for 45 yards. Sam Matthews had three catches for 51 yards including the 42-yard touchdown reception.
Greg Kearns was 2-for-2 on field goals and 3-for-3 on extra points.
Taylor Jackson led the Hornet defense with nine total tackles with one interception. Dakota Walbeck and Josh Martin each made eight tackles.
Isaiah Fleming was credited with a sack while Jake Sypniewski had a 25-yard interception return.
Kalamazoo is back home next Saturday, Oct. 12 when the Hornets take on Finlandia at 1 p.m.