Hope Football Scores 31 Unanswered Points, Takes Down Five-Win Trine

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The opponent's lengthy, game-opening scoring drive did not faze the Hope College football team.

The Flying Dutchmen answered immediately and willed their way to a 31-7 homecoming win over a five-win Trine on Saturday in front of a Smith Stadium crowd of 2,031.

Hope (4-3 overall) reeled off 31 unanswered points to move into second place in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association standings with a 3-1 league record.

Trine (5-2, 2-1 MIAA) took the opening kickoff and drove 80 yards for a touchdown and 7-0 lead 3 minutes, 44 seconds into the first quarter.

The Flying Dutchmen pulled even three plays when junior running back Brandan Campbell of Otsego, Michigan (Otsego HS) capped a three-play, 66-yard scoring drive on a 36-yard touchdown run.

Five ½ minutes later, junior running back Mike Miklusicak of Wayland, Michigan (Wayland) scored on a 21-yard carry to put up for good at 14-7.

Campbell added a 10-yard touchdown run in the second quarter, while junior Darren Ford of Howell, Michigan (Howell) kicked a 32-yard field goal for a 24-7 halftime lead.

Quarterback Bruce Schroeder of Appleton, Wisconsin (North) scored on a 1-yard run in the third quarter.

The Flying Dutchmen outgained Trine 378-239. Hope limited the MIAA's top rushing team to 76 yards on the ground.

Miklusicak rushed for a game-high 141 yards on 23 carries. It was his third 100-yard rushing game of the season and the fourth of his career.

Campbell ran for 132 yards on 22 carries for his third consecutive 100-yard game on the ground and fourth overall. In his first season at Hope, he only needs 97 more yards to become the 12th Flying Dutchmen running back to reach the 1,000-yard mark in a single season.

Campbell He needs one more rushing touchdown to tie two Flying Dutchmen for ninth place in school history: Ed Cain (1981) and Michael Sturm (1984).

The Hope defense yielded only 159 yards over 11 drives after Trine's opening drive.

Senior linebacker Aaron O'Meara of Wyandotte, Michigan (Theodore Roosevelt) spearheaded Hope's stingy defense with a team-high 13 tackles, including one sack. He also recorded one pass breakup.

Hope returns to action on Saturday, Oct. 29 against Kalamazoo. Kickoff is 1 p.m. at Smith Stadium as the Flying Dutchmen try to claim the Wooden Shoes Trophy.

Free team posters and post-game autographs will be offered as the makeup date for Youth Day.