ADRIAN, Mich. – Kyle Thomas connected with Collin Poore on a 20-yard touchdown pass with six minutes to play, but Albion College was unable to get the ball back in a 34-32 loss to Adrian College on the opening week of Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association football action.

Emmanuel Stewart rushed for 219 yards and two touchdowns, and David Nutter added 107 yards and a score on the ground as Adrian possessed the ball for 44 minutes.

Albion created the big plays, however, including:

• Michael Harvey's 81-yard interception return that put the Britons ahead, 6-0, in the first quarter.
• Donovan Slates blocked the punt on Adrian's second possession, setting up the Briton offense at the Adrian 12-yard line. Two plays later, Thomas hooked up with Marlon Martin for a 10-yard touchdown as the Britons led, 13-0, with six minutes left in the first quarter.
• Richard Annorat and Zach Kitka caught the Adrian punter for a loss of 16 yards in the fourth quarter to set up Albion's final score.

Thomas completed 14-of-24 passes for 208 yards and two touchdowns. Poore hauled in four receptions for 98 yards.

Jose Rodriguez led the defense with 19 tackles and Annorat was credited with 16 stops. Dallis Reynolds, who wrapped up a sack forcing Adrian to kick a 43-yard field goal in the fourth quarter, finished with 15 tackles.

Albion (1-3 overall, 0-1 MIAA) returns home Oct. 7 for a 1 o'clock MIAA game against Trine University.

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