Here is a look at today's 2 p.m. Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) kickoff between Hope College and Olivet College.
It is Olivet's homecoming, and the Comet are off to their best start since 1967.
Hope will try to stop Olivet from getting to 6-0 for the first time since 1961. The Comets went winless in 2012 and went 2-48 over the previous five seasons.
RECORDS
Hope (3-2, 0-1 MIAA) at Olivet (5-0, 1-0)
COACHES
Hope — Dean Kreps, 19th Season (97-84)
Olivet — Dan Pifer, Second season (5-10)
GAME NOTES
This is the 70th game in the Hope-Olivet rivalry dates that back to 1927. Hope leads the all-time series 52-17-1. The Flying Dutchmen have won the previous five MIAA meetings, including a 24-14 victory at home in 2012 that saw quarterback Michael Atwell of Geneseo, Ill., (Geneseo HS) pass for 261 yards and three touchdowns. Receiver Taylor Brynaert of Washington (Romeo HS) finished with 95 receiving yards and two scoring catches of 13 and 16 yards.
Senior safety Santino DiCesare of Dorr (Wayland HS) has fond memories of playing at Olivet. In 2011, DiCesare became the third player in MIAA history and second at Hope to register a 100-yard interception return for a touchdown. DiCesare covered 108 yards in his memorable romp to the end zone, but it goes in the record book at 100 yards. DiCesare tied Randy Ames' school record from 1996 vs. Adrian.
Running back Shawn Jackson is coming off a career-high 251 yards rushing — a performance that ranks among the best in school history. The senior from Comstock Park (Comstock Park HS) now ranks sixth in single-game rushing efforts. He trails Brandon Graham, who had four 250-yard plus rushing games, including a career-high 302 against Kalamazoo in 1996, and Greg Voss, who ran for 257 against Franklin in 1971. Jackson leads the MIAA and sits 18th in all of NCAA Division III at 140.2 rushing yards per game.
Linebacker Cody Lindemulder and punter Dean DeVries were selected MIAA Players
of the Week for defense and special teams, respectively, for games ending on Oct. 5. Lindemulder, a junior from Mulliken (Lake Odessa Lakewood HS), ranks fourth in the league at 9.0 tackles per game. DeVries, a sophomore from Grand Rapids (Grandville HS), earned Player of the Week honors for the second straight week. He is second in the MIAA at 39.5 yards per punt.
2013 TEAM STATISTICS
HOPE—CATEGORY—OLIVET
28.0 Points Per game 26.0
13.2 Opponents Points Per Game 13.4
173.2 Yards Rushing Per Game 158.0
273.8 Yards Passing Per Game 243.8
447.0 Total Offense Per Game 401.8
142.4 Opponent's Rushing Per Game 75.0
202.6 Opponent's Passing Per Game 242.6
345.0 Total Defense Per Game 317.6
9/8 Turnovers/Takeaways 4/11
