Adrian College is off to a perfect start on the football field this fall, opening the season 3-0 and looking ahead to the challenge of Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association play.
The Bulldogs began their season Sept. 6 with a 10-7 win at Division I FCS Valparaiso. Quarterback Noah Beaudrie threw for 183 yards and a touchdown, hitting Ethan Abberger on a 26-yard score with 26 seconds left to seal the win. Running back Trey Brueggemann added 79 rushing yards, while Abberger finished with 79 receiving yards.
Adrian followed the dramatic opener with back-to-back shutouts. The Bulldogs defeated Thiel College 76-0 at Docking Stadium, then blanked Manchester University 57-0 on Homecoming this past Saturday. The defense has not allowed a point since Week One, while the offense has scored more than 40 points in each of the last two games.
Through three games, Adrian is averaging 47.7 points per game while allowing just 2.3 points per game. The Bulldogs have rushed for 721 yards on 120 carries, averaging 5.6 yards per attempt. Noah Beaudrie has completed 50 of 71 passes for 588 yards with no interceptions and has added 137 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. The lead running back has been Trey Brueggemann with 149 yards and two touchdowns on 34 attempts, also playing quarterback in the “Bulldog package”, which sees Brueggemann line up in the backfield with Carson Schrader, both of whom are bigger backs. The leading receiver on the season has been Ethan Abberger, who has caught 18 passes without a drop for 182 yards and three touchdowns.
The defense has been equally sharp, holding opponents to 107 rushing yards and 327 passing yards in total. The Bulldogs have intercepted seven passes, including a team-leading two interceptions from safety Ethan Burrows, one of which was the game-sealing interception against Valparaiso University in Week 1. The Bulldog defense has forced nine fumbles as a team, six of which they have recovered. They add 28 tackles for a loss, six sacks, and one safety, showing just how stout the defense is from top to bottom.
Adrian was picked to finish third in the MIAA preseason poll after going 6-4 overall and 3-4 in conference play last year. The Bulldogs opened 2024 with four straight wins before faltering down the stretch.
To make a run at the league title, the Bulldogs will need to maintain their offensive balance and minimize turnovers. Beaudrie’s efficiency and Brueggemann’s consistency on the ground could be difference-makers. Defensively, maintaining pressure and winning the turnover margin will remain priorities.
With three wins in hand, Adrian has momentum. Now the Bulldogs will try to prove they are more than an early-season story.
The Bulldogs open MIAA play Sept. 27 at Olivet before returning home Oct. 4 against Albion. Other key dates include Oct. 18 at Calvin, Oct. 25 against Hope, and Nov. 8 at home against Trine. Adrian closes the regular season Nov. 15 at Alma. To watch all home contests, you can tune in on YouTube on the Adrian College TV channel or listen in on radio station 103.9 WLEN. Road contests will also be available on 103.9, and an audio-only version will be occasionally available on the Adrian College TV YouTube channel.
