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Runing back Brody Schuiteman lunges toward the end zone.
Lynne Powe
Pictured, Brody Schuiteman (20)
10
Wis.-Stevens Point WSP 1-1 , 0-0
38
Winner Hope HPE 2-0 , 0-0
Wis.-Stevens Point WSP
1-1 , 0-0
10
Final
38
Hope HPE
2-0 , 0-0
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
WSP Wis.-Stevens Point 0 3 0 7 10
HPE Hope 7 7 14 10 38

Game Recap: Football | | Alan Babbitt

Nationally-Ranked Football Gets to the Point, Topples WIAC Foe

Facing an opponent from a formidable NCAA Division III conference, the nationally-ranked Hope College football team tackled the challenge successfully.

The Flying Dutch delivered in all three phases of the game during the Orange and Blue Weekend home opener on Saturday, earning a 38-10 victory against the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point in front of a Ray and Sue Smith Stadium crowd of 3,373.

It was Hope's second victory against a Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference foe in five tries and the first since a 32-20 victory at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville on Sept. 21, 2002. The WIAC has produced six national champions and five national runner-ups this decade.

"That's a team that plays in an incredible league … that's a gauntlet," head coach Peter Stuursma said of the Pointers. "That's a good test. I'm proud of the way our guys played. There are some things we need to work on ... but we got better from Game 1 to Game 2."

The Orange and Blue raised their record to 2-0 overall. They entered the week ranked 18th in the D3football.com Top 25 and 20th in the American Football Coaches Association Division III poll.

The victory ensured the third consecutive 2-0 start to the season for the Flying Dutch. Hope wraps non-league play next week at Hanover College in the MIAA's crossover with the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference. Hanover, the HCAC preseason favorite, is also 2-0.

Sophomore linebacker Nolan Vis (Hudsonville, Michigan / Unity Christian) recorded a team-high eight tackles. The defense yielded only 162 yards of total offense: 64 on the ground and 98 through the air.

UWSP (1-1) scored only three points during the first half on a 39-yard Cooper Jochimsen field goal and did not reach the end zone until 10 seconds into the fourth quarter on a 12-yard Ben Wollershein touchdown reception.

Junior safety Trenten Bolhouse (Zeeland, Michigan / Zeeland East) intercepted a UWSP pass. Led by first-year defensive coordinator Alex Smith, the Flying Dutch were also credited with five pass breakups.

Offensively, the Orange and Blue followed their line to a season-high in points and 456 yards of total offense, including a season-best 258 rushing. Seven contributed into the rotation: seniors Timothy Clay (Byron Center, Michigan / Byron Center), Kemper Millis (Norton Shores, Michigan / Mona Shores), and Philip McLaurin (Niles, Michigan / Brandywine), juniors Nolan Collins (Lawton, Michigan / Lawton), Caleb Fisher (Haslett, Michigan / Maslett), and Nick Saade (Holt, Michigan / Mason), and sophomore Aaron Hunt (Hudsonville, Michigan / Hudsonville).

Freshman running back Brody Schuiteman (Jenison, Michigan / Michigan) capitalized on running lanes, scoring twice in each half. Hope never trailed after Schuiteman's 9-yard rush with 2 minutes, 36 seconds remaining in the first quarter. Schuiteman now has six rushing touchdowns on the season.

Schuiteman added scoring runs of 21, 2 and 15 yards for a 28-3 lead with 4:59 remaining in the third quarter.

Senior quarterback Alex Thole (Schoolcraft, Michigan / Schoolcraft) completed 20-of-25 passes for 198 yards. Senior wideout Trevor Griffiths (Stevensville, Michigan / Lakeshore) hauled in a game-high 92 receiving yards on five catches.

The Flying Dutch closed out the game with a 36-yard field goal from sophomore Cooper Clark (Grand Rapids, Michigan / Forest Hills Northern) and 25-yard touchdown run from junior running back AJ Martel (Mason, Michigan / Mason).
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