ADRIAN, Mich. – Calvin dropped a 30-10 decision to the Adrian College Bulldogs Saturday afternoon at Docking Stadium.

Calvin led 10-7 and trailed just 14-10 at halftime. The host Bulldogs bottled Calvin up in the second half however, scoring 16 unanswered points to pull away for the win.

Adrian's defense limited Calvin to just 121 yards of total offense including -18 yards of rushing. The Bulldog defense also came up with seven quarterback sacks.

The Knights (2-4 overall, 0-3 MIAA) kept right with Adrian (5-1 overall, 2-1 MIAA) in the first half.

In the first quarter, Calvin's defense got a stop on a fourth down to stop a Bulldog drive and then forced Adrian into a missed field goal on its next possession.

The Knights then marched 80 yards on 11 plays with freshman Seth Anderson (Rockford, Mich./Rockford HS) completing the drive with a four-yard touchdown reception – the first of his collegiate career. The reception came on pass came from graduate student Chase Bradman (Kentwood, Mich./South Christian HS) with Anderson snaring the pass in the left flat and diving across the goal-line for the score. The point-after by freshman Sal Ruffino (Shelby Twp, Mich./Eisenhower HS) gave Calvin a 7-0 lead with 4:08 left in the opening quarter.

Adrian responded with a long kickoff return that set up a quick four-play, 21-yard drive to tie the score 7-7.

Calvin regained the lead at 10-7 on a 36-yard field goal by Ruffino on the opening drive of the second quarter. The drive was set up by a 35-yard pass play between Bradman and graduate student Jaier Harden (Grand Rapids, Mich./Innovation Central HS).

Adrian responded with a 64-yard touchdown march to regain the lead at 14-10 and carried that lead into halftime.

The Bulldogs gained a pivotal touchdown late in the third quarter. Adrian had a first and goal at the Calvin four-yard line but was pushed back to the 22-yard line on sacks by senior Isaac Northouse (Caledonia, Mich./South Christian HS) and freshman Carson Schnurstein (Portage, Mich./Portage Central HS). On third and goal from the 22, Adrian quarterback Noah Heide found a receiver in the back corner of the end zone in tight coverage for a touchdown. The point-after gave Adrian a 21-10 advantage.

In the fourth quarter, Calvin's defense stood tall twice, getting a stop on a fourth and one and forcing the Bulldogs into a punt on its following possession. Adrian used the punt game as a weapon however as the Bulldogs pinned the Knights at the two-yard line on a 50-yard boot.

Adrian's defense followed with a safety tackling the Knights in the end zone on first down for a 23-10 lead.
A series of turnovers then ensued. Adrian fumbled the kickoff with Calvin freshman Jaden LaFleur (Wyoming, Mich./Wyoming HS) pouncing on the ball at the Bulldog 47-yard line. Adrian intercepted a Calvin pass on the next play, taking over at its own 28-yard line. Calvin's defense forced another Adrian punt, but the punt was muffed by Calvin with the Bulldogs recovering the ball at the Calvin 16-yard line. Three plays later, Adrian connected on a 16-yard touchdown pass to bump its lead to a 20-point margin and put the game out of reach.

Calvin's defense limited Adrian to 282 yards of total offense. Schnurstein had a career-best day with 10 tackles including a pair of tackles for loss and one sack. Freshman Trevor Martens (Hudsonville, Mich./Jenison HS) racked up seven tackles. Senior Paul VanderPloeg (Hudsonville, Mich./Unity Christian HS), freshman Dylan DeHoop (Hudsonville, Mich./Unity Christian HS) and freshman Noah Funk (Caledonia, Mich./South Christian HS) had six tackles apiece. Northouse had five tackles, a sack and an interception. Freshman Jaden Lewis (Spring, TX Legacy School of Sports Science) also had five tackles.

On offense, Bradman was 14 of 28 for 139 yards with one interception while facing a fierce pass rush throughout the day. Freshman Luke Michmerhuizen (Holland, Mich./Holland Christian HS) had three catches for 53 yards.

"We knew coming into the game that it would be a four-quarter battle. I am so proud of the way our guys did battle until the very end," said Calvin head football coach Trent Figg. "From a field position standpoint, we put ourselves in a less-than-ideal place on five of their drives and that was the difference in the game. We - and when I say 'we', it starts with me - have to do a better job of putting ourselves in the best field position possible to start each drive. I love this team, and we will continue to work and get prepared each week. God Bless and Go Knights."

Calvin returns to action next Saturday when it travels to Trine University for a 1 p.m. contest in Angola, Indiana.