By Steve Robinson | September 13, 2008 - 10:11 pm

FootballBLOOMINGTON, Ill. – Junior quarterback Mackenzie McGrady scored two touchdowns and threw for two more scores against Illinois Wesleyan Saturday, but it was not enough, as IWU beat Alma College, 48-34 in a non-conference contest.

For Alma College (1-1), the Scots’ first set of downs on the day resulted in a punting situation – one IWU (2-0) converted into an early score.

At the Scots’ own 42 yard line, Alma College punter Matt Brown had his first punt of the day blocked by IWU senior linebacker Josh Monk, and Monk’s teammate, junior Chris Messina, collected the ball for a touchdown for IWU’s first score of the day, 7-0, after IWU kicker Joe Duffy’s extra point.

“(IWU has) a lot of weapons and they used every one of them,” said Scots head coach Jim Cole. “We knew that coming in, and we knew our offense could do some things against their defense.

Alma College Football“But in a game like this, you have to bring your A game,” Cole continued. “That blocked punt (in the first quarter) put us behind the 8-ball right from the start.”

A Wesleyan Stadium crowd of 1,550, which included about 100 Scots fans, saw senior Jeremy Stephens connect with McGrady on a 4-yard score to even the contest at 7-all, following senior kicker Dan Seals’ extra point.

IWU scored three unanswered touchdowns – two of them in the second quarter – setting the Scots backward as the day continued. First, at 3:33 in a defense-filled second quarter, Titans junior quarterback Kraig Ladd connected with senior tight end Rick Podkowa on a 33-yard touchdown strike, giving IWU a 14-7 lead after Duffy’s extra point.

IWU went into halftime with a 21-7 lead following a 5-yard pass from Ladd to senior wide receiver Martin Ceisel, with 10 seconds until halftime, capping a 10-play, 90 yard march, followed by another successful Seals point-after.

IWU opened the third quarter with a quick 7-yard touchdown pass by sophomore running back Eli Williams from Ladd at the 12:10 mark. Duffy’s extra point, increased IWU’s margin, 28-7.

From there, the Scots ran in the third quarter – literally – to two consecutive scores that stunned and quieted the partisan crowd. First, sophomore running back Jon Reed’a 8-yard dash at 8:52, capping a 8 play, 64 yard drive, startling IWU fans as the Scots cut the lead to 28-14, following another Seals kick.

McGrady would close out the third quarter scoring on a 9-yard run with 1:24 left in the third quarter, putting Alma College within 8 – 28-20 – after a failed Seals point-after try.

IWU would go up, 34-20, on a 23-yard score from Ladd to senior wide receiver Tom Almanzo, at 12:37 in the fourth quarter.

Illinois Wesleyan FootballMcGrady would score on a 14-yard run at 11:10, slicing IWU’s lead to seven, 34-27. But Ceisel and Almanzo would each score one more time for IWU – courtesy of Ladd passes of 20 yards and 4 yards, respectfully, — giving IWU the final tally needed for the day.

Senior wide receiver Matt Brown closed out the Scots’ scoring on the day on a 23-yard pass from McGrady, concluding a 7 play, 60 yard drive with 4:39 left in the contest.

“(Alma College) is a good offensive team,” IWU head coach Norm Eash said after the game. “Anytime you have a spread offense, they can score fast and quick. They had a good quarterback and good receivers, so, they were a test for our defense.”

An Injured Scot: Scots senior defensive back Kyle Percival injured his left ankle during an IWU kickoff return in the third quarter. The status of his injury was not known immediately after the contest.