A determined Hope College football team tackled a mighty challenge to kick off the pursuit of an MIAA championship.

The Flying Dutchmen never trailed en route to a 34-13 victory at nationally-ranked and two-time defending league champion Alma College on Saturday.

Hope, 4-0 for the first time since the Detroit Tigers last won a World Series, also snapped a two-game losing streak to the Scots, a national quarterfinalist last season.

"It started on Monday in our meeting. The focus that our guys had was unbelievable," head coach Peter Stuursma said after his team earned the 499th victory in program history. "Even our coaches noticed they were laser-focused and the energy our guys had all week. They were excited to play and showed that obviously in the first half."

The Flying Dutchmen's next game is Saturday, Oct. 5, at 1 p.m. against Trine University at Ray and Sue Smith Stadium. The Purple Community game will benefit Van Andel Institute's groundbreaking research for cancer, Parkinson's and other diseases, and help fund internships for Hope students at VAI.

The Flying Dutchmen built a 24-0 halftime lead that withstood a two-touchdown third quarter from Alma (2-2), which entered the game ranked 15th in the American Football Coaches Association poll and 16th in the D3football.com rankings.

Hope outgained the Scots, 608-307, while rushing for 300-plus yards for the fourth consecutive game.

Senior running back Chance Strickland (Mason, Michigan / Mason HS) rushed for a season-high 179 yards and one touchdown on 28 carries. Strickland entered the game tied for the Division III lead with nine rushing touchdowns.

Senior running back Tyler Amos (Portage, Michigan / Portage Northern) ran for 98 yards and one score on eight carries.

Senior quarterback Ben Wellman (Bloomington, Illinois / Bloomington) completed 19-of-30 passes for a season-best 261 yards and two touchdowns. Wellman also rushed seven times for 24 yards.

Junior Caden Balkon (Byron Center, Michigan / Byron Center) kicked a season-best two field goals for the Flying Dutchmen.

Defensively, Hope limited Alma to two third-quarter Carter St. John touchdown passes of 6 and 55 yards. Senior linebacker Cole Luhmann (Rochester, Michigan / Stoney Creek) recorded a team-high seven tackles.

On Hope's second possession, Wellman led a seven-play, 59-yard drive that ended with a 16-yard Wellman touchdown pass to fifth-year senior Grant Holtzer (Okemos, Michigan / Okemos) with 4 minutes, 54 seconds remaining in the first quarter.

In the second quarter, the Flying Dutchmen extended the lead on a Balkon 28-yard field goal, an Amos 34-yard touchdown run and a Strickland 2-yard touchdown run.

To open the second half, Wellman guided Hope on a 6-yard, 75-yard drive that Wellman capped with a 4-yard touchdown pass to sophomore H-back Seth Luhmann (Rochester, Michigan / Stoney Creek).

Alma finally broke through during the third quarter when St. John threw touchdown passes of 6 yards to Broderick Miller and 55 yards to Devon Frenchko over a span of 4 ½ minutes.

The Flying Dutchmen didn't buckle any further and closed the scoring with a Balkon 31-yard field goal 1:16 into the fourth quarter.