ALBION -- In the long-awaited home opener, the Albion College football team defeated Adrian College in a 49-34 shootout on Saturday afternoon. The Britons racked up 537 yards of total offense in their first home game since Nov. 2, 2019.

KEY STATS

Jack Bush threw for a career-high 401 yards. The junior was 34 of 47 with three touchdowns in the win.

Adrian had no answer for Philip Jones-Price, who racked up 78 yards on the ground and three touchdowns.

Kolby Canfield led all receivers with 137 yards and hauled in 10 catches on the day.

Despite not appearing in the box score, the Albion offensive line stepped up, allowing for Bush, Jones-Price and the rest of the Briton offense to control the momentum -- primarily in the second half.

Senior Donovan Slates recorded nine tackles and one big interception.

HOW IT HAPPENED

After the Brits deferred, the Bulldogs took less than three minutes to score on their opening drive. With the ball in Albion's hands, a pick-six gave Adrian a 14-0 lead four minutes into the game.

On the next Albion drive, Bush found Brendan Teal for a 14-yard touchdown pass. Jackson Cooney -- who was perfect in PATs -- sailed the kick through the uprights to cut the Adrian lead in half.

With two minutes remaining in the first quarter, Jones-Price found the end zone for the first time to cap off a 12-play, 80-yard drive and knot the game up at 14.

On the ensuing Bulldog possession, the visitors regained the lead, 21-14. The Britons answered right back with a 5-yard touchdown run from Jones-Price, typing the game at 21 with 9:39 before halftime.

Albion was facing a 4th-and-2 at the 50 yard line and elected to punt. The move proved wise as Hunter Williams booted a gorgeous ball to the 1-yard line, putting the Bulldogs deep in their ow territory. On fourth down, the Bulldogs could not get the punt off out of the end zone, as Josh Wuensch and Brooks Flannigan pinned the Bulldog kicker in the end zone for a safety.

With 3:03 before the half, Adrian took a 27-23 lead. Following an Albion penalty, the Bulldogs opted to go for two rather than kick the PAT. Freshman Ricky Pearson stepped in front of Jack Wurzer's pass and returned it the length of the field, tacking on two points for Albion as the hosts trailed 27-25 at the break.

With the ball out of the half, Jones-Price capped off a 10-play, 66-yard drive with a 7-yard touchdown, pushing the Britons in front, 32-27. Adrian answered on their next possession -- but it would be the last time the Bulldogs would have the lead.

On a 3rd-and-7, Ryan Nolan hauled in a 16-yard touchdown pass from Bush, and Cooney's PAT gave the Brits a 39-34 advantage midway through the third quarter. Albion extended its lead to 46-34 on the first play of the fourth when Bush connected with Andrew Durand from 20 yards out. Cooney's 36-yard field goal with 7:22 on the clock boosted the lead to 49-34.

NOTABLE QUOTES

"We had guys step up that haven't been able to step up in their career," said head coach Dustin Beurer. "We had a joke that only four guys on offense that played today had ever scored a touchdown in their career … We got a freshman to get one in Brendan Teal, Andy Durand got on the board, Philip Jones-Price had a couple more today, Kolby Canfield had a tremedo\us game for us … The defense buckled down in the second half, they just believed.

"All week we were just focused on the seniors," said Canfield. "With all the adversity we faced this season, this is something we could control on the field, we did it for them … I know a lot of the guys are returning, but the ones that aren't, I feel like this is something special for them."

THANK YOU, SENIORS

Prior to the game, Albion honored eight its eight seniors that will be graduating this spring -- Slates, Jordan Jones, Jared Jones, Jonathan Lutchka, Ayman Murray, Jacob Molitz, Isaiah Gibson and student coach Steve Seccia.

UP NEXT

Albion looks to play a rescheduled contest with Olivet next Saturday. Kickoff in Olivet is scheduled for 1 p.m.