ADRIAN, Mich. – Four takeways were crucial as the Trine University football team held off their hosts from Adrian College to win the 2022 edition of the Border Brawl by the score of 27-21. The Thunder built an early lead before matching the Bulldogs through the final half to come away with the victory.

Trine started with the ball, but found little success and quickly punted the ball away to the home team. The defense on the other hand found their rhythm right from a start, ending the first Adrian drive on its seventh play, when senior Angel Sanchez jarred the ball out of the quarterback's hands before recovering it himself and giving the offense their second drive of the game.

The two teams traded three-and-outs on the next two drives before the Thunder offense returned to the field, this time from their own 36-yard line. Senior Alex Price started the drive with a seven-yard completion to classmate Brandon Kline. A few plays later senior Xaine Kirby picked up a first down, going 12 yards on a fourth down run. Price finished the series off on the next play finding Kline behind the defense for a 44-yard touchdown pass.

After sophomore Anthony Hentz added the extra point the team boasted a 7-0 lead with just under three minutes remaining in the first quarter.

It was the special teams that set up the team's next scoring drive. After another punt was forced by the defense senior Jake Gladieux put together a 28-yard return going out of bounds at the Adrian 18-yard line. A penalty against home team moved Trine even closer, giving them a first-and-goal from the nine. The next two plays were both runs by Kirby with the second getting him into the endzone and giving the team a 14-0 lead.

Adrian responded to the second touchdown, going 72 yards over 12 plays on their next drive, mostly on the ground. Their touchdown cut the lead in half, 14-7 with 2:52 remaining in the half.

Gladieux had another great return, taking the ensuing kickoff 65 yards to give the offense one more chance before the intermission. Price moved the team down in close to the goal line and sophomore Colton Wampler put the ball through the uprights to make the score 17-7 at the half.

The Bulldogs cut into the lead further to start the second half. They once again used a strong rushing attack to drive down the field. The Thunder forced a fourth down play on their own 30, but the home team converted on a long pass, the lone completion of the drive. They scored their second touchdown on the next play making the score 17-14.

After the next Trine drive stalled, junior Braden Moore kicked a great punt to pin Adrian deep, giving them the ball on their own nine-yard line. Sophomore Tucker Hasselman followed up with a forced fumble that he ran into the endzone himself, building the lead back to ten at 24-14.

The home side responded to the score with another long touchdown drive, cutting the lead to three, this time at 24-21.

Things looked grim for Trine when Price's next pass was intercepted giving the ball quickly back to Adrian. The defense stepped up again, this time with junior Kendall Himes shedding his blocker and coming away with a sack on third down to force another punt.

It was a good one, pinning the offense on their own one-yard line. Price came up with a clutch pass on second down to give the team some breathing room and Kirby followed up with a run to give the team another set of downs. The offense took their time and inched their way down the field, chewing precious minutes off the clock.

The drive would go 84 yards on 16 plays while taking over eight and a half minutes off the clock. It ended with a second Wampler field goal putting the lead to six at 27-21 with just under seven minutes remaining in the game.

The defense forced another three-and-out, giving the ball right back to the offense. After burning another three minutes they punted the ball away, but Adrian's returner muffed the reception and Trine recovered the fumble. They played it safe and forced the Bulldogs to use their final two timeouts before attempting another field goal to put the game away.

This one went wide, forcing the defense to take the field one more time. Just three plays into the Adrian drive it looked like Hasselman had ended the game with an interception, but the play was negated by a roughing the passer penalty. Senior Jacob Yoder followed up the penalty with a nine-yard sack, putting the home team on their last legs. Senior Jaylin Page then finished the game with an interception.

The defensive effort was truly a team one. Eight different players recorded five or more tackles. Junior Jamon Gibson and senior Keysean Amison lead the team with eight tackles each. Gibson also led the team with two and a half tackles for a loss including one sack. Senior Kyle Naif finished second on the team with seven tackles.

On the offensive side, Price finished the game with 162 yards through the air, going 11-for-17 with one touchdown and one interception. Sophomore Dominic Crowder led the team on the ground finishing with 26 yards. Price finished second with 21 yards and Kirby finished with 20. Kline finished the game with 90 yards receiving to lead the team with senior Kyran Pearson finishing second with 60.

The team improves to 5-1 overall and 1-1 in Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) play following the victory. They will continue their conference slate by traveling to face Olivet College next Saturday, October 15. Opening kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.