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Hope College

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Linebacker Nolan Vis dives to tackle a Denison running back.
Denison University
Pictured, Nolan Vis
28
Winner Hope HOP 1-0 , 0-0
14
Denison DEN 0-1 , 0-0
Winner
Hope HOP
1-0 , 0-0
28
Final
14
Denison DEN
0-1 , 0-0
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
HOP Hope 7 7 6 8 28
DEN Denison 0 0 0 14 14

Game Recap: Football | | Alan Babbitt

No. 19 Football Delivers Big Plays, Downs Denison in Opener

The big Orange (and Blue) sacked the Big Red to kick off the 2026 college football season on a sweltering, 80-degree Saturday in Granville, Ohio.

The No. 19 Hope College football team powered past Denison University 28-14 behind offensive touchdowns in each quarter and timely defensive stops against the Big Red.

The MIAA's unanimous preseason favorite never trailed and overcame two turnovers, including a fumble in the end zone that resulted in a Denison touchdown.

Freshman running back Brody Schuitemen (Jenison, Michigan / Jenison) rushed for a game-high two touchdowns, including a game-clinching 46-yard jaunt on fourth down with 4:13 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Senior wide receiver Kaden DeHorn (Caledonia, Michigan / Caledonia) and sophomore running back Trey Goike (White Lake, Michigan / Orchard Lake St. Mary's Prep) also scored for the Orange and Blue.

DeHorn set career-highs with 151 yards receiving and six receptions.

Defensively, sophomore linebacker Nolan Vis (Hudsonville, Michigan / Unity Christian) recorded a game-high 10 tackles, including nine solo. The Flying Dutch surrendered 390 yards but forced two turnovers and held Denison to 1-of-4 scoring possessions inside the red zone.

"I thought we overcame some mistakes we made. I'm pleased with both sides of the ball," head coach Peter Stuursma said. "It was a good win, with a lot to work on. We needed to travel six hours and face a team whose losses last season were to playoff teams. Denison is a good football team."

The Orange and Blue's third consecutive victory in a season opener was also Stuursma's 75th in 95 games at his alma mater.

Hope scored on the game's first possession, driving 74 yards for a 7-0 lead. DeHorn and senior quarterback Alex Thole connected for a 52-yard strike on the opening play from scrimmage. Five plays later, Schuiteman rushed into the end zone from 1 yard out. Freshman Gavin Rabideau (Lansing, Michigan / Lansing Catholic) converted his first PAT.

After a second-quarter, red-zone stop, Hope engineered a 15-play, 86-yard drive that ended on a 7-yard Goike run. Rabideau's PAT with 40 seconds left in the half sent the Orange and Blue into halftime with a 14-0 lead.

The Flying Dutch delivered another red-zone stop midway through the third quarter, setting up DeHorn's 52-yard touchdown catch from Thole for a 20-0 lead.

On the second play of the fourth quarter, junior safety Trenten Bolhouse (Zeeland, Michigan / Zeeland West) forced Denison quarterback Brian Rager to fumble at the Hope 2-yard line and sophomore linebacker Dom Cassise (Beverly Hills, Michigan / Detroit Country Day) recovered. The Big Red responded by forcing an AJ Martel fumble that Nick Pellicciotta fell on in the end zone for a touchdown.

After trading punts, the Orange and Blue created another turnover. Junior safety Mason Gougis (Romeoville, Illinois / Romeoville) stripped Graham Tonkonogy and recovered at the Hope 36-yard line.

Six plays later, Schuiteman busted free on a fourth-and-2 play from the Denison 46-yard line for his second touchdown. Goike ran in a two-point conversion for a 28-7 lead with 4:13 remaining. Schuiteman rushed for a game-high 73 yards on nine carries.

Hope finished with 410 yards of total offense. Thole completed 16 of 24 passes for 263 yards; he was intercepted once.

"We showed flashes. I'm so proud of who stepped in," Stuursma said. "We expected it to be warm, but it was sweltering hot. We played a lot of guys on offense and defense."
 
 
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