"We beat a very good football team," Stuursma said after the game. "Their quarterback is very good. They're going to win a lot of games, in my opinion. I like the way they play. They play hard.

"For three-quarters of the game, we were pretty good. I think we let up off the gas in the fourth quarter."

Hope improved to 2-1 on the season, while the Fightin' Engineers fell to 1-2.

After Hope fumbled in the red zone on its first drive, the Flying Dutchmen came back on their next possession to score the game's first points. Hope drove 56 yards in five plays, with junior running back Daniel Romano of Royal Oak, Michigan (Shrine Catholic HS) capping the drive with a 9-yard touchdown run. Junior kicker Dylan Hillger of Holly, Michigan (Lake Fenton HS) booted the extra point for a 7-0 Hope lead.

Rose-Hulman drove to the Hope 35 on its next possession, but on fourth down, junior defensive end Ethan Riley of Trenton, Michigan (Trenton HS) sacked quarterback Andrew Dion for a 12-yard loss, giving the Dutchmen the ball on downs near midfield.

Hope then put together a methodical 53-yard, 13-play drive, with junior running back Kenyea Houston of Chicago, Illinois (Westinghouse Prep) carrying seven times on the drive. Houston plunged in from the one for the touchdown, extending the Hope lead to 14-0 with 8:29 left in the first half. That's how the half ended.

The Flying Dutchmen took advantage of a Rose-Hulman fumble early in the third quarter to add to their lead. Junior free safety Adam VanderKooy of Indianapolis, Indiana (Brebeuf Jesuit HS) recovered the miscue at the Fightin' Engineers' 30-yard-line.

Three plays later, Hope faced a fourth-and-3. With Hope running out of a power formation, Rose-Hulman expected a running play. However, the Dutchmen went to the air instead. Junior quarterback Chase Brown of Comstock Park, Michigan (Comstock Park HS) found senior tight end Lucas Leak of Lansing, Michigan (Waverly HS) wide open, and Leak rambled the rest of the way into the end zone for a 23-yard touchdown. Hope now led 20-0 after the missed extra point.

After a Rose-Hulman touchdown cut the lead to 20-7, Hope hit paydirt again late in the third quarter, with Houston capping a 63-yard, seven-play drive with a 4-yard touchdown run. The Dutchmen led 27-7 going into the fourth quarter.

Rose-Hulman, who is expected to challenge for the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference championship, scored two touchdowns in the game's final 65 seconds to cut the lead to seven, but Hope was able to run out the clock to preserve the win.

Photo of Kenyea Houston by Tom Renner

Hope had a balanced offensive attack, rushing for 191 yards and passing for 183 for 374 yards total offense. Houston had his fifth career 100-yard rushing performance with 102 yards on 25 carries, while Romano added 59 yards on 11 attempts.

Brown completed 10-of-14 passes for 124 yards and a touchdown, while senior quarterback Joey Stark of Troy, Michigan (Athens HS) came off the bench in the third quarter to complete 3-of-6 throws for 59 yards. Junior H-back Lou Baechler of Plymouth, Michigan (Canton HS) tied a career high with four receptions for 45 yards, and added several key blocks.

Defensively, the Flying Dutchmen held Rose-Hulman to just 66 yards rushing on 36 attempts, sacked Dion twice and forced two turnovers.

"I think we got good pressure. I think our defensive backs really stepped up … I felt like our guys shored up some of the things we did wrong last week," Stuursma said.

Senior cornerback Trevor Sutton of Bay City, Michigan (All Saints HS) had an interception for Hope. Junior free safety Brady Howe of Holland, Michigan (Holland Christian HS) led the Dutchmen in tackles with eight. Riley had six tackles, including three for losses and both of Hope's sacks. Senior defensive end Drew Althouse of Ludington, Michigan (Ludington HS) had six tackles, including two tackles for loss.

The Flying Dutchmen return to action next Saturday at Ray and Sue Smith Stadium for a 1 p.m. matchup with Northwestern (Minnesota) College. It'll be the last nonconference matchup before Hope begins Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association play on Saturday, October 2, against Kalamazoo College at home.

The game will be the Purple Community game benefitting the Van Andel Institute. Hope players will wear purple jerseys during the game in memory of or in honor of loved ones affected by cancer and other neurological diseases. All proceeds from the game will go toward the Van Andel Institute and help to underwrite a summer internship for a Hope student at VAI.