The Flying Dutchmen continue a series of four consecutive non-league games against Illinois opponents, traveling to Millikin University in Decatur, Ill. The game will be broadcast by 92.7THEVAN-FM and streamed on the internet.
Hope is seeking its first-ever victory over Millikin in a series that started in 2010 with a 31-21 Big Blue victory. A year ago Millikin prevailed 27-15.
Both teams won their season opener , Hope at home over North Park 42-24 and Millikin on the road over Greenville 50-10.
Hope Highlights from North Park victory: For the seventh time in his career, junior tailback Shawn Jackson (Comstock Park/Comstock Park HS) rushed for over 100 yards, gaining 113 yards on 15 carries. He scored two touchdowns… Seven players caught a pass. Sophomore flanker Taylor Brynaert (Washington/Romeo HS) caught six passes for 79 yards and senior fullback Brian Lynn (Holland/Holland HS) also caught six passes covering 37 yards… Junior quarterback Michael Atwell (Geneseo, Ill./Geneseo HS) was just one completion shy of matching his career-high completing 19-of-30 passes for 176 yards and a touchdown. His career high of 20 completions (in 40 attempts) was against Millikin in 2011… Kicker Evan Finch (Ann Arbor/Pioneer HS) was a perfect 6-for-6 on PATs, raising his career total to 45-for-47… Junior defensive end Greg Bird (Byron Center/Byron Center HS) had two quarterback sacks.
This is the first of back-to-back road games for the Flying Dutchmen. On Saturday, Sept. 15, Hope travels to Concordia-Chicago as part of the inaugural Challenge Series between teams of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) and the Nothern Athletics Conference (NAC). The next home game will be Saturday, Sept. 22, against a third CCIW opponent, Illinois Wesleyan.