Head coach Dean Kreps can pick a multitude of reasons to be optimistic about the 2015 Hope College football season. He sees established playmakers and promising newcomers in all three phases of the game.
The Flying Dutchmen kick off their 106th season on Saturday, Sept. 5, when they host Monmouth, Illinois in the 50th annual Hope/Holland Community Day. Kickoff is 1:30 p.m. at Smith Stadium.
Monmouth is Kreps' alma mater. The Flying Dutchmen lead the all-time series 2-1, but Monmouth won last season's meeting 30-20 on its turf.
Hope committed seven turnovers in that game but still only lost by 10 points. Kreps is confident the Flying Dutchmen can play a much cleaner and productive game in the rematch.
"I'm very excited about the offense," Kreps said. "With the addition of Chris Leigh at tailback, Jordan VanDort at right tackle, Rob Kish with 800 game snaps under his belt at quarterback … I think we can be every bit as good and probably better than we were last year. We scored just a little over 30 points per game. I expect us to do that again, which should be enough to win most games."
Kish returns for his second season as a starter. The senior co-captain from Grosse Pointe Park, Michigan (Grosse Pointe South HS), took over as starter after the Monmouth loss, going on to throw for 2,100 yards and 24 touchdowns.
He is joined in the backfield by Leigh, a sophomore transfer running back from Lehigh University who has earned the starting nod. The sophomore from Lake Orion, Michigan (Lake Orion HS), scored on a 70-yard touchdown run at Yankee Stadium last November against rival Lafayette.
Reserve running backs Mike Miklusicak of Wayland, Michigan (Wayland HS), and Zac Boersema of Holland, Michigan (West Ottawa HS), give the Flying Dutchmen one of their deepest backfields.
VanDort, a freshman transfer from Western Michigan University and Zeeland, Michigan (Zeeland West HS), bring a 6-5, 335-pound frame to replace three-time, All-MIAA honoree Joe Droppers on the line.
VanDort will play right tackle and joins a veteran line that includes four-year starter in left tackle Brandon Parcell and a three-year starter in left guard Rodger Thompson.
Senior Jake Helm of Holland, Michigan (Holland HS), moves to receiver from tight end and has the speed to make up for the loss of leading receiver Taylor Brynaert to graduation, Kreps said. Senior Matt Kroll of Grand Haven, Michigan (Grand Haven HS), led Hope last season with 11 touchdown catches and was second with 676 receiving yards.
On defense, the Flying Dutch welcome the return of fifth-year year senior Stephen Gerger. The defensive end led the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association in 2014 with 11 ½ sacks.
Gerger is joined up front from senior co-captain Alex Issa, a nose guard from St. Clair Shores, Michigan (Warren De La Salle HS), and freshman defensive tackle Ian Gorgenson of DeWitt, Michigan (Lansing Catholic Central HS).
Kreps considers linebacker the deepest position on the Hope roster.
Junior Aaron O'Meara of Wyandotte, Michigan (Theodore Roosevelt HS), and sophomore Jacob Pardonnet of Brighton, Michigan (Brighton HS), will start against Monmouth.
Senior free safety Colin Kelly of Troy, Michigan (Shrine Catholic HS), anchors a secondary that includes returners such as sophomore Kimani Dooley of Detroit, Michigan (Clarenceville HS), and junior Kirk Gibson of Scotts, Michigan (Climax-Scotts HS).
On special teams, Hope returns preseason All-American punter Dean DeVries. The senior from Grandville, Michigan (Grandville HS) is a three-time, All-MIAA honoree who broke the single-season school record for punting average last season at 42.7 yards per attempt.
Sophomore Darren Ford of Howell, Michigan (Howell HS), has earned the nod as placekicker.
The Flying Dutchmen were picked fifth in the MIAA preseason coaches poll. Hope's league opener is Saturday, Oct. 3 against visiting Albion at 5 p.m.
Homecoming is Saturday, Oct. 24, at 6 p.m. against Alma.
