KALAMAZOO, Mich. – In an historic opening MIAA contest for Calvin University football, the Knights fell in heartbreaking fashion 33-31 at Kalamazoo College. The game was played in front of 2,500 fans - with fans from both schools well represented for the late September evening kickoff.

Saturday's contest marked the first night game at Kalamazoo's Angell Field since September 17, 1960.

Calvin (2-2 overall, 0-1 MIAA) grabbed its first lead of the game on a short touchdown toss from graduate student Chase Bradman (Kentwood, Mich./South Christian HS) to freshman Carter Bylsma (Hudsonville, Mich./Unity Christian HS) with 2:13 left in the fourth quarter. The point-after by freshman Sal Ruffino (Shelby Twp./Eisenhower) gave the Knights a 31-27 lead and culminated a methodical 20-play, 63-yard drive that chewed up over nine minutes of the fourth quarter.

Kalamazoo (4-0 overall, 1-0 MIAA) responded with a clutch drive of its own, moving 75 yards in 11 plays and scoring on a two-yard touchdown pass to Jonah Spates with 22 seconds left. Kalamazoo quarterback Josh Nichols came up with several clutch throws on the drive including a dart inside the Calvin 10-yard line to help set up the winning throw.

Calvin blocked the point-after attempt, leaving the Knights down just two.

The Knights moved the ball past midfield in short order and had one last chance with four seconds remaining but a Hail Mary pass was intercepted near the goal line to close out the game.

Kalamazoo grabbed an early 7-0 lead in the first quarter, but the Knights answered with a six-yard touchdown toss from Bradman to freshman Seth Ritsema (Grand Rapids, Mich./South Christian HS) to tie the game midway through the opening stanza.

The Hornets regained the lead 14-7 on a second quarter touchdown pass to Spates from Nichols. Ruffino answered with a 30-yard field goal – his seventh of the season – to make it a 14-10 game. Spates scored his second touchdown of the game – grabbing a five-yard toss with a minute left in the half. The point-after failed and Kalamazoo carried a 20-10 lead into the break.

Penalties were a persistent problem for Calvin in the first half as the Knights were penalized 12 times for 124 yards, keeping several Kalamazoo offensive drives alive.

Calvin found its offensive rhythm in the third quarter while its defense started to gain a foothold as the Knights cleaned up the penalty yardage.

The Knights opened the third quarter with a quick five-play, 71-yard drive capped off by a 19-yard touchdown toss by Bradman to freshman Luke Michmerhuizen (Holland, Mich./Holland Christian HS) in the back corner of the end zone. The scoring strike brought the Knights within 20-17.

Kalamazoo needed just two minutes to respond as Nichols found Luke Hanifan on a 16-yard touchdown to the back corner to go up 27-17.

Bradman engineered a quick drive for Calvin with Ritsema racing into the end zone on 19-yard touchdown play to bring the Knights back within three at 27-24.

Calvin regained the ball and began to march but a Bradman pass was intercepted deep in Kalamazoo territory. Calvin's defense stiffened and forced a Hornet punt, setting up its 63-yard, 20-play go-ahead drive.

Calvin finished the game with 535 yards of total offense – 142 on the ground and 393 through the air. Bradman was 40 of 54 for a career-high 393 yards and four touchdowns. Ritsema and Michmerhuizen had nine receptions apiece with Michmerhuizen gaining 137 reception yards and Ritsema 90. Freshman Hunter Hogan (Ravenna, Mich./Ravenna HS) had six grabs for 70 yards while freshman Jude Klunder (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian HS) had a career-high eight catches for 43 yards.

Graduate student Jaier Harden (Grand Rapids, Mich./Innovation Central HS) led Calvin's ground game with 68 yards on 19 attempts while freshman Jackson Cook (Whitehall, Mich./Whitehall HS) 10 carries for 52 yards.

Calvin's defense was led by freshman Cason Schnurstein (Portage, Mich./Portage Central HS) who racked up five tackles including one solo tackle for loss.

Kalamazoo gained 362 yards of offensive with 300 coming by way of the pass. Nichols was 18 of 36 for 247 yards and four touchdowns.

Calvin was penalized 19 times for 179 yards. Kalamazoo was penalized nine times for 83 yards.

COACHES COMMENT: "Hats off to Kalamazoo and its football team," said Calvin head football coach Trent Figg. "They (Kalamazoo) executed at a high level tonight. I am extremely proud of our players and coaches tonight for their effort and battle. We had several guys playing banged up and they would not come off the field. Overall there some bright spots in all three phases of the game tonight, but at the end of the day, we had too many penalties and gave Kalamazoo unecessary advantages. Our team discipline starts with me, and we will work hard to get the penalties cleaned up. Again, I am so proud of our guys and the physicality that they bring on a daily basis. A huge thank you to Knight Nation for showing in a big way on the road tonight. It is much appreciated by our players and coaching staff. We have a lot to look forward to as we continue conference play."

NEXT UP: Calvin will host Alma next Saturday at 1 p.m. at Eagles Stadium on the campus of Grand Rapids Christian High School in front of a Calvin Homecoming crowd.