The Hope College football team put together its most complete performance of the season Saturday afternoon as the Flying Dutchmen rolled to a 45-7 victory at The University of Olivet.
Hope improved to 3-1 in Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association play and 6-2 overall. The Flying Dutchmen remained tied for second place in the MIAA standings with Trine University after Trine topped Albion College, 35-28, on Saturday.
"It was a huge bounce-back," head coach Peter Stuursma said. "The first half, our guys played lights out: offensively, defensively and special teams. We made some big plays."
The Flying Dutchmen defense set the tone for the game on Olivet's first possession, as freshman defensive back Brad Raredon of Hudsonville, Michigan (Hudsonville) made a diving interception of a pass that bounced out of the hands of an Olivet receiver.
It was the first of six interceptions by the Flying Dutchmen for the game, one off the school record of seven set in 1967 against Adrian College.
On the next play, freshman quarterback Zach Trainor of Milford, Michigan (Walled Lake Western) went deep, connecting with senior wide receiver Grant Holtzer of Okemos, Michigan (Okemos) for a 65-yard touchdown strike. Senior placekicker Caden Balkon of Byron Center, Michigan (Byron Center) kicked the first of his six extra points for the game to give Hope an early 7-0 lead.
On Hope's next possession, a 32-yard run on a fake punt by sophomore cornerback Caleb Dean of Jenison, Michigan (Jenison) set up a season-long 35-yard field goal by Balkon.
The Flying Dutchmen extended their lead to 17-0 early in the second quarter as junior quarterback Ben Wellman of Bloomington, Illinois (Bloomington) capped an 86-yard drive with a 9-yard touchdown run.
Hope's defense then made key defensive stops on Olivet's next two possessions. After the Comets drove to the Hope 2-yard-line, sophomore cornerback Darion Nundley of Newport, Michigan (Woodhaven) intercepted a Thomas Foust pass in the end zone to quell the scoring threat.
Later in the second quarter, junior safety Tyler Stezowski of Holland, Michigan (Hamilton) stuffed Olivet's Dontal Wright short of a first down on a fourth-and-1 in Comet territory.
Two plays after the turnover on downs, Trainor spotted freshman running back Shawn Foster of Lansing, Michigan (Grand Ledge) in a one-on-one matchup against an Olivet linebacker, and lofted a 23-yard touchdown pass, Foster's first career touchdown.
Just 20 seconds later, the defense got into the scorebook, as sophomore linebacker Bryce Debri of DeWitt, Michigan (DeWitt) intercepted a short pass and returned it three yards for a touchdown. Hope led 31-0 at the half.
The Flying Dutchmen added two more touchdowns in the third quarter, on a 1-yard plunge by Wellman for his second touchdown of the game and a 1-yard run by senior running back Elijah Smith of Hastings, Michigan (Hastings) as the lead grew to 45-0. Olivet scored its only touchdown with about 10 minutes remaining in the game.
"After last week's physical game, we got almost everyone in today," Stuursma said. "Everyone was actively involved, too. It was fun to see guys put last week behind us and move forward."
Hope outgained Olivet 448-264 for the contest. The quarterback tandem of Wellman and Trainor combined for 273 passing yards on just nine completions - Wellman was 5-of-10 for 148 yards, while Trainor completed 4 of 7 passes for 125 yards and two touchdowns. Wellman was Hope's leading rusher with 45 yards on five carries.
Meanwhile, the defense limited an Olivet team that came into the game leading the MIAA in rushing offense at nearly 240 yards a game to just 74 yards on 32 attempts for a 2.3-yard-per-carry average.
Five different Hope defenders had an interception, with Debri picking off two passes and Nundley, Raredon, sophomore safety Nick Flegler of DeWitt, Michigan (DeWitt) and senior cornerback Trevor Hansen of Wyoming, Michigan (Grand Rapids South Christian) adding one each.
Stezowski led the Dutchmen in tackles with 10, and sophomore defensive lineman Liam Danitz of West Branch, Michigan (Ogemaw Heights) recorded two sacks.
The Comets slipped to 1-2 in the conference and 3-4 overall.
Hope returns to action on Saturday, Oct. 28, as it renews its historic Wooden Shoe rivalry with Kalamazoo College. Kickoff from Angell Field in Kalamazoo is 1 p.m.