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Tyson Mann holds a football.
Ray Nard Imagemaker
Pictured, Tyson Mann
27
Winner Hope HOP 3-0 , 0-0
10
Hanover HAN 2-1 , 0-0
Winner
Hope HOP
3-0 , 0-0
27
Final
10
Hanover HAN
2-1 , 0-0
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
HOP Hope 6 7 0 14 27
HAN Hanover 0 3 0 7 10

Game Recap: Football | | Alan Babbitt

No. 17/18 Football Beats the Heat at Hanover, Wins MIAA-HCAC Crossover Showdown

Hope takes down Hanover, 27-10

On a sweltering afternoon in southern Indiana, the nationally ranked Hope College football team beat the heat and an unbeaten opponent in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association-Heartland Collegiate Conference Crossover.

The Flying Dutch powered past HCAC preseason favorite Hanover College, 27-10, on Saturday, using a stout defense and a robust ground game to close non-league play with a 3-0 record. 

Hope — No. 17 in this week's NCAA Division III rankings and No. 18 in the AFCA poll — next kicks off pursuit of an MIAA title on Saturday, Sept. 26, at 1 p.m. at home against Albion College at Ray and Sue Smith Stadium.

Led by safety Tyson Mann, the Orange and Blue did not allow an opposing offensive touchdown until the fourth quarter for the third consecutive game despite playing in 90-degree temperatures on artificial turf even warmer. Mann (Grandville, Michigan / Grandville) finished with a team-high eight tackles, including one for loss.

Offensively, Hope averaged 6.2 yards per carry while outrushing the Panthers, 261-63. Freshman Brody Schuiteman (Jenison, Michigan / Jenison) led the charge with his second consecutive 100-yard game, running for 120 yards and four touchdowns on 19 carries.

It was Schuiteman's second consecutive game with four rushing touchdowns. Schuiteman now has 10 rushing touchdowns this season, ranking him among the NCAA Division III leaders.

Head coach Peter Stuursma was proud of his team's performance.

"We feel we're doing some things that win football games," Stuursma said. "We're playing well off each other. Our offense is stepping up. Our defense is doing some good things. Big, big team win."

After forcing Hanover (2-1) to punt away the opening possession, the Flying Dutch marched 83 yards in seven plays and grabbed a 6-0 lead on a 12-yard Schuiteman TD run at the 7:32 mark of the first quarter.

Hope took its third possession, 82 yards in 13 plays, for a 13-0 lead after Schuiteman scored on a 1-yard run and freshman Avery Umphrey (Cedar Springs, Michigan / Cedar Springs) kicked the PAT. The Flying Dutch held a 13-3 halftime lead after Hanover's Andrew Weitzel booted a 27-yard field goal with seven seconds remaining.

In the fourth quarter, Hope capped a 90-yard, 15-play drive with another 1-yard Schuiteman TD plunge and led 20-3. The Flying Dutch then quickly answered Hanover's 75-yard TD drive with 4:11 remaining when Schuiteman broke free on the drive's second play by racing 43 yards into the end zone.

In addition to Schuiteman, Hope received 59 rushing yards on 10 carries from junior AJ Martel (Mason, Michigan / Mason) and 57 more on seven carries from sophomore Trey Goike (White Lake, Michigan / Orchard Lake St. Mary's Prep).

"We have some backs who can really run," Stuursma said. "Brody, he's a moose. Trey and AJ give us a 1-2 punch as we had with Chance Strickland and Tyler Amos [in 2024]. We came at teams from different angles."

Defensively, the Flying Dutch limited Hanover to a season-low 291 yards of total offense, including 63 on the ground with a 3.3 per carry average.

Hope recorded 6.5 tackles for loss, including 1.5 sacks for senior linebacker Joey Mahaney (Williamston, Michigan / Williamston).

"Our guys play hard. They've been playing that way all season," Stuursma said. "We might give up some plays, but we don't give up the big ones. They're bending but not breaking. Credit to our guys and our defensive staff."

 
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