HOLLAND, Mich. -- Two of the simplest names put on a show today in Holland -- Jack Bush and Justin Thomas. The pair of seniors were key pieces to the Albion College football team's 41-38 victory over Hope College on Saturday afternoon. It is the first win over the Flying Dutch for this senior class, and the first since Oct. 3, 2015.
Bush was 21 of 30 for a season-high 365 yards. The 365 passing yards are the second most of his career, coming second only to a 401-yard performance against Adrian last season.
Thomas hauled in a career-high 235 yards on 14 catches. The senior also scored three touchdowns -- all coming in the first half.
Junior Phillip Jones-Price rushed for 108 yards and a touchdown.
Defensively, Conner Smith turned in a career-high seven total tackles.The junior also had a critical fumble recovery late in the game to help seal the win.
With the win, Albion improves its chances for a second straight MIAA title, moving to 8-1 overall, 4-1 in the conference. Hope drops its first contest since Sep. 11, slipping to 7-2, 4-1 in the MIAA. Though both teams hold the same conference record, Albion has the edge with the head to head tiebreaker.
Or, as head coach Dustin Beurer put it, "One more to go."
HOW IT HAPPENED
Receiving the opening kickoff, the Britons scored on just the second play from scrimmage. Bush found Thomas deep for a 61-yard touchdown. Jackson Cooney's PAT was good, giving the visitors a quick 7-0 lead.
On the ensuing possession, a missed Hope field goal gave the Britons the ball at their own 27. Using an eight-play, 73-yard drive, Albion doubled its lead thanks to another Bush-Thomas TD. Bush threaded a ball to the senior, whose great effort at holding onto the ball secured the touchdown. A second successful Cooney PAT of the afternoon lifted Albion to a 14-0 lead six minutes into the contest.
Hope threatened, taking the ball all the way to the Albion 16. On a third and seven, Mitch Arendsen -- the MIAA leader in TFL -- came up with a big sack of the Hope quarterback. The 13-yard loss forced the Flying Dutch to kick a field goal, scoring their first points of the afternoon.
Albion scored on the first play of the second quarter, when Bush found Thomas yet again. An 18-yard score coupled with a Cooney PAT pushed the lead to 21-3. Jacob Clark registered a big 21-yard gain on the drive to help the Britons score on the nine-play, 75-yard drive.
Down but not out, Hope scored on their next possession to cut the Albion lead to 21-10. The Brits immediately responded with a field goal from Cooney, keeping it a two-score game.
Albion's defense forced Hope into a three and out. The punt was muffed by the Britons, with the Flying Dutch recovering the ball and getting a fresh set of downs at the Albion 18. Three plays later, Hope tacked on another touchdown, putting them within seven points of the Brits.
The last three minutes of the half continued to go Hope's way as the Britons fumbled the ensuing kickoff. Recovered by Hope at the Albion 30, the hosts were in great field position with 29 seconds on the clock. The Flying Dutch capitalized, evening the game at 24 leading into the half.
Receiving the ball out of the half, the Flying Dutch took a 31-24 lead.
Hope would force Albion to punt on its next possession, as momentum began shifting in favor of the hosts. The Flying Dutch would fumble the return and Evan Fineis recovered the ball at the Hope 34, putting Albion in prime field position. A 33-yard TD pass to Brendan Teal did just that, knotting the game at 31 -- a score that would hold heading into the fourth.
Highlighted by a 53-yard pass to Thomas, the Britons took the lead 12 seconds into the fourth quarter. Jones-Price powered his way into the end zone for a 38-31 lead following Cooney's point after.
With 9:40 on the clock, the Flying Dutch tied the game back up at 38 with another rushing TD.
Using nearly five minutes on their next drive, the Britons capped off the scoring with a 36-yard field goal from Cooney.
Looking to put together a walk off scoring drive, Smith recovered a fumble on Hope's second play, giving the ball back to the visitors with just over three minutes remaining. A 9-yard completion to Thomas on third and six secured the win. Three plays later, Albion kneeled in victory formation, with Thomas and the rest of the Briton bench celebrating.
EXTRA POINTS
The 520 yards of total offense were the second most by the Britons this season (550, Defiance).
Both teams were perfect in red zone opportunities. Albion scored on all five of its chances, while the Flying Dutch went six of six.
Thomas is now 97 receiving yards away from becoming Albion's all-time leader, as he already surpassed the career TD reception mark earlier this season.
Bush leads the MIAA in passing yards per game (234.1) as Thomas leads in receiving yards per game (99.6). They both sit atop the leaderboard passing touchdowns (21) and receiving touchdowns (14).
With a title on the line, Albion will host Alma (5-4, 1-4) on Nov. 13 for Senior Day. Kick off is scheduled for 1 p.m.