Box Score ANGOLA, Ind. - It was
not an ideal day for the 17th ranked Trine University football
squad as they dropped their first conference game in four seasons,
26-7 to Adrian College. The Thunder are now 3-1 on the season and
0-1 in the conference.
From the start the Trine offense was unable to
gain any momentum against the Bulldogs defense. Neither team was
able to find the end zone in the first quarter as it appeared Trine
was able to get a hand on 22 yard field goal attempt by Logan
Mitseff that missed wide left. After Trine's next possession
went three and out, the Thunder forced a fumble on Danny Cobb
starting their drive near midfield. On the first play, Trine was
pushed back by a penalty and three players later it the Bulldogs
who forced the fumble and recovered. Three players later, Brandon
Miller found Justin Hemm for 43 yards. With the ball at the three,
Adrian pushed it in from there to take the 7-0 lead.
Trine's next possession resulted in short
punt, but this time the defense held strong and against forced a
fumble recovering it on their six yard line. However, it would be
another turnover, this time an interception by quarterback Ryan
Hargraves. With the ball on the Trine 17, once again the Thunder
defense held strong as they forced the Bulldogs to settle for a 27
yard field goal.
On Trine's ensuing possession, the offense
manages just 22 yards before being forced to punt. On the punt,
Adrian blocked the Nick Muir kick and recovered to start their
drive at the Trine 25 yard line. Three plays later it was Miller
finding Mitch Gabriele for a 21 yard touchdown. Trine followed with
another three and out possession that was hindered by another
penalty. Using just 50 seconds off the clock, Adrian would score
another field goal this time from 47 yards by Mitseff. Despite
out-scoring the Thunder 20-0 in the quarter, Trine actually held
the ball for almost three more minutes, as Adrian out-gained the
Thunder by just 24 total yards in the quarter.
The third quarter was similar to the first in
that neither team would score. Trine actually held the ball for
most the period, using up just over 11 minutes. The quarter saw two
big plays go against the Thunder. First, Ja Vontae Hence returned a
punt down to about the Adrian 20, but was called back due to an
illegal block. The second came on the ensuing possession. After
driving to the Adrian 24, Hargraves was against picked off inside
the Bulldogs 10 yard line.
Trine was able to get on the board during their
next possession after forcing another three and out on defense. The
Thunder drove 59 yards before Hargraves found Will Chrystal from
seven yards out. After forcing Adrian to punt on another three and
out, Hargraves threw his third pick of the day on the first play of
the Trine drive. Adrian then drove 61 yards scoring the final
points if the game. Trine would drive down the field 76 yards, but
Hargraves pass in the end zone was intercepted.
Hargraves finished the day going 16-for-33, for
130 yards with a touchdown and four interceptions. Kent Biller led
the offense with a game-high 126 rushing yards. Hence led Trine
with seven receptions for 44 yards while Chrystal had four catches
for 40 yards. Despite the score, Trine gained more total yards than
the Bulldogs 278-to-264. Trine also led time of possession
32:31-to-27:29. Penalties also hurt the Thunder as they were
flagged nine times for 72 yards.
The loss snaps the Thunders 20-game conference,
20-game regular season and 22-game home regular season winning
streaks.
Trine will look to rebound as they travel to
LaGrange, Georgia as they take on non-conference opponent LaGrange
College on October 8.