STEVENS POINT, Wis. – Twenty-one consecutive points were not enough.
Despite rattling off three unanswered touchdowns in the fourth quarter after being down 21 entering the period, the Albion football team could not fend off Wisconsin-Stevens Point as they dropped a heartbreaker, 28-21, in overtime.
After struggling to gain any sort of offensive rhythm during the game's first three quarters, the Britons initially got on the board on the second play of the fourth courtesy of an
Ali Murray one-yard pass to
Cameron Moore in the right flat.
The score was set up on a Murray deep ball down the left sideline to Moore for 34 yards, the game's longest play for either team. Albion got the ball after
Ryan Deibis forced a Pointer fumble.
After both teams traded punts, Murray led the Britons on a nine-play, 51-yard scoring drive capped off on a 14-yard touchdown pass to Moore on a tipetoe catch to make it 21-14.
The ensuing kickoff was returned 89 yards for a score, but the play was nullified due to offsetting penalties.
Albion's defense settled as they forced a three-and-out. The game-tying drive began with 2:14 left in the game, and Murray went 7-for-8 on the possession that culminated with a 13-yard strike to
Dilon Denison with 13 seconds remaining.
The Pointers got the ball to begin the overtime period and capitalized with a two-yard rushing touchdown. On Albion's possession,
Alex Trudell converted a key fourth-and-one to keep the drive alive, but four plays later a Murray pass to Denison was broken up to end the game.
Stevens Point took the contest's opening kickoff and marched down the field on an 11-play, 65-yard drive that ended in a 13-yard passing touchdown to go up 7-0.
Six drives later, after an Albion interception, the Pointers took full advantage and cashed in on a 12-yard scoring run that gave the home team a 14-0 advantage.
After a missed Albion field goal on the ensuing possession at the beginning of the second quarter, both defenses held strong as the next three possessions resulted in punts.
The Britons had the ball with 1:06 left and no timeouts but could not score as time ran out for the half.
After intercepting another pass on the Britons' first possession of the second half, UWSP scored on a one-yard rush to go up three scores.
Despite Murray's three interceptions, all three of Albion's scores were courtesy of his pass attempts. The senior starting his first career game went 28-for-51 for 204 yards and hooked up with Moore nine times for 97 yards and two scores. Denison also caught five passes for 45 yards and a touchdown.
Alex Trudell ran for 121 yards on 32 carries, while
Devon Buskin (12),
Alex Olenik (11) and
Adam Mills (11) each had double-digit tackles.
As a team, the Britons racked up 330 yards of total offense and 21 first downs.
Up Next
Albion will look to get its first win of the season as they travel to Bluffton on Saturday, September 13 for a noon kickoff.
