Football edged 16-13 by Alma (Mich.) in season-opening overtime thriller
By Tim Glon
ADA — The Ohio Northern football team opened its 128th season of football with a tight 16-13 overtime loss to Alma (Mich.) on a warm and muggy Saturday afternoon at Dial-Roberson Stadium.
Senior Trevor McConnell (Detroit, Mich./Cranbrook) threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to senior Austin Eick (Rossford) on a fourth-and-goal with 2:59 left in the game game to tie it at 10-all.
The Scots drove to the ONU 27-yard line and a 44-yard field goal hit the left upright and bounced away with four seconds left to send the game into overtime.
Senior Dom DiFalco (Murrysville, Pa./Franklin Regional) capped ONU's opening drive of overtime with a 35-yard field goal to give the hosts their first lead of the game at 13-10.
But AC would win the game on its possession on a 1-yard run by Davin Reif.
McConnell completed 22-of-45 passes for 202 yards and a score in his first career start for Ohio Northern. Eick caught four passes for 76 yards for the Polar Bears.
Sophomore Dalton Tjong (Cumming, Ga./West Forsyth) tied a career-high with 13 tackles to lead the ONU defense.
Alma was led by Eddie Williams with 78 yards rushing on 29 carries.
AC kicked a first quarter field goal and led 3-0 in the defensive battle, until DiFalco tied the game with a 38-yard field goal with 7:47 left in the third quarter.
The Scots went ahead 10-3 with a 45-yard touchdown pass with 6:49 left in the game, setting up McConnell's late-game heroics.
AC out-gained ONU 332-228 in total offense, but Northern held a 34:19-25:21 advantage in time of possession.
