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Hope College

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#BeStrongBeTrue
26 Football celebration vs. Albion
Lynne Powe
0
Albion ALB 0-4 , 0-1
63
Winner Hope HPE 4-0 , 1-0
Albion ALB
0-4 , 0-1
0
Final
63
Hope HPE
4-0 , 1-0
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
ALB Albion 0 0 0 0 0
HPE Hope 7 21 21 14 63

Game Recap: Football | | Alan Babbitt

Football Shuts Out Albion Again, Dominates MIAA Opener

Many hands carried the unbeaten Hope College football team to a commanding MIAA opening performance.

Using eight touchdown scorers and 32 tacklers, the nationally ranked Flying Dutch shut out Albion College for the second consecutive season, rolling to a 63-0 victory in front of a sunny Smith Stadium Poster Day crowd of 2,838.

Hope, the MIAA's preseason favorite in the league's coaches poll, racked up a season-high 513 yards of total offense and held the Britons to just 66 yards total. The Flying Dutch, who are ranked 15th in the AFCA poll and 16th by D3football.com, posted their largest victory in an MIAA opener since beating Kalamazoo, 67-0, in 2021.

The Orange and Blue also blanked Albion in consecutive meetings for the first time in the series' 97-game history. Hope won, 62-0, at Albion last season while giving up 81 yards. Head coach Peter Stuursma was thrilled.

"We gave up four first downs. That is unbelievable in college football. We are playing a lot of guys — in crucial downs. That's a credit to our depth and our coaching staff doing a great job," Stuursma said. "We had 513 yards of offense. We've got some weapons, but I don't think we've hit our full stride yet. I'm very pleased with both sides of the ball."

Led by first-year defensive coordinator Alex Smith, the Flying Dutch did not surrender a touchdown during the first three quarters for the fourth consecutive game this season. Entering Week 4, only six teams in NCAA Division III had allowed fewer yards in a game.

Junior safety Mason Gougis (Romeoville, Illinois), junior linebacker Will Seniura (Grand Rapids, Michigan) and sophomore defensive end Carson Ostrander (Grand Rapids, Michigan) shared team-high honors with three tackles apiece against Albion (0-4, 0-1).

Seniura, who collected a sack, was one of 11 who had a tackle for loss.

Senior defensive end Tate Bezeau (Saline, Michigan) chased down a fumble forced by safety Tyson Mann (Grandville, Michigan) in the end zone for the Flying Dutch's first defensive score of the season.

Led by offensive coordinator Andrew Hawken, Hope rushed for a season-best 329 yards and passed for 184 yards. Six running backs and one receiver scored touchdowns.

Junior running back AJ Martel (Mason, Michigan) ran into the end zone twice — on runs of 2 and 1 yards. His 2-yard score with 1:15 remaining in the first quarter broke a scoreless tie.

Senior receiver Johnny Rohen-Blanton (Rockford, Michigan) started the Flying Dutch's 21-point second quarter by hauling in a 46-yard strike from senior quarterback Alex Thole (Schoolcraft, Michigan).

Hope also received touchdown runs from sophomore running back Trey Goike, freshman running back Brody Schuiteman (Jenison, Michigan), sophomore quarterback Jack Bullock (Washington, Michigan), freshman running back Jack Bollman (Stanwood, Michigan), and junior running back Sean Emerson (Bloomfield Hills, Michigan).

Freshman placekicker Avery Umphrey (Cedar Springs, Michigan) booted all nine PAT attempts and finished one off Hope's single-game record.
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