Here is a
look at today's matchup of college football unbeatens between
visiting Hope and Illinois Wesleyan.
Kickoff is
2 p.m.
Listen to
the game on your radio at WYVN-FM 92.7 or on your phone through The
Van's mobile app.
COACHES
Hope — Dean Kreps, 19th Season
(97-82)
Illinois Wesleyan — Norm Eash,
27th season (166-88-1)
GAME NOTES
The Flying Dutchmen's 3-0
start is the best to a season since 1984 — when
then-coach Ray Smith's Flying Dutchmen finished undefeated at 9-0.
In 1990, Hope went five games before suffering a loss — going
4-0-1 during that stretch.
Hope trails in the all-time
series with Illinois Wesleyan by an 8-1 margin. The Flying
Dutchmen lost the 2012 meeting at home 23-13, getting outgained
286-179 in a defensive struggle.
The Flying Dutchmen feature the
highest-scoring offense in the Michigan Intercollegiate
Athletic Association at 39.7 points per game, while Illinois
Wesleyan is second in the College Conference of Illinois-Wisconsin
at 43.0 points per game. Hope is first in the MIAA in total offense
at 545.3 yards per game, while the Titans are second in the CCIW at
496.5 yards allowed. Illinois Wesleyan tops the CCIW in total
offense at 185 yards allowed, while Hope sits third in the MIAA at
322.3.
Senior quarterback Michael
Atwell of Geneseo, Ill. (Geneseo HS) needs 23 passing
yards to become the fourth 5,000-yard career passer in Hope history. Atwell has thrown
for 4,977 yards and 34 touchdowns in his career. Atwell is
threatening to pass Greg Heeres for third all-time. Heeres had
5,120 passing yards between 1981-84. Atwell leads the nation in
passing yards with 1,054 after three games.
Senior running back Shawn
Jackson of Comstock Park (Comstock Park HS) is eight
yards from passing 2,500 rushing yards for his Hope career. Jackson has 2,492 yards and
22 rushing touchdowns. He ranks fourth all-time in Hope history and
is chasing Kurt Bennett for third place. Bennett ran for 2,647
yards between 1973-76.
Click here to read about the Hope coaching staff's
participation in a national "Coach To Cure MD" event
today.
2013 TEAM STATISTICS
HOPE--STAT--ILL. WESLEYAN
39.7 -- Points Per game -- 43.0
11.7 -- Opponents Points Per Game --
12.0
184.3 -- Yards Rushing Per Game --
223.0
361.0 -- Yards Passing Per
Game -- 273.50
545.3 -- Total Offense Per
Game -- 496.5
118.7 -- Opponent's Rushing Per
Game -- 72.5
202.3 -- Opponent's Passing Per Game
-- 112.5
321 -- Total Defense Per Game --
185
6/6 -- Turnovers/Takeaways --
8/4
