CINCINNATI, Ohio -- A lockdown defense and tremendous special teams proved to be the keys to success in the Albion College football team's 36-20 win over Mt. St. Joseph University. 

KEY STATS

Wide receiver Justin Thomas hauled in three touchdown passes on the afternoon. He recorded his 100th career reception, solidifying his campaign as one of the best receivers in Albion history. 

Senior quarterback Jack Bush threw for three touchdowns and added one with his legs. 

Return man Andy Durand had a stellar day, including a 69-yard punt return for a touchdown. Junior running back Phillip Jones-Price finished with a 99-yard afternoon.

Defensively, Deondric Sanders led the Britons with nine total tackles, including one for loss. Casmer Johnson and Levi Ladd chipped in with six tackles apiece, including 1.5 TFL from Ladd. 

HOW IT HAPPENED

After the Brits forced the Lions into a three and out, Albion used a seven play, 69-yard drive to take an early 6-0 lead. The drive was capped by a 14-yard touchdown pass from Bush to Thomas in the corner of the end zone. The 6-0 lead held at the end of the first quarter. 

On MSJ's first drive of the second quarter, the hosts found the end zone to even the score at six. Looking to take the lead, the PAT was blocked by Mitch Arendsen and scooped up by Brooks Flannigan, who returned it the length of the field to tack on two points for the Britons. 

Albion inflated the lead to 15-6 on the ensuing possession. Similar to the first TD, the drive was finished when Bush connected with Thomas in the end zone -- this one from three yards out. 

A Lion touchdown to close out the half cut Albion's lead to 15-14 at the break. 

Albion's second drive of the third quarter once more resulted in a Thomas touchdown from Bush, pushing the visitors ahead, 22-14. 

MSJ got the ball back and the Britons forced the Lions to punt after another three and out. On the punt, Durand found open space on the sideline and took it to the house, returning it 69 yards for a score. Jackson Cooney's PAT gave the Brits a 29-14 lead with five minutes to play in the third. 

Bush gave Albion insurance with a 2-yard touchdown run in the fourth, extending the advantage to 36-20.

COACH B KNOWS BEST

"It was a great win on the road to start the season after an overnight trip," said head coach Dustin Beurer. "The first half was a little sloppy, but I give our guys a lot of credit for buckling down in the second half and getting a win … We need to eliminate the turnovers and some of the stupid penalties, but overall I'm glad we got a win in game one."

Under the Beurer regime, the Britons are 12-2. 

The Britons will remain on the road for week two when they travel to Defiance College. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.