Dashing through the snow on Ben Wellman's two playmaking legs — and an opportunistic defense creating turnovers all the way — the nationally-ranked Flying Dutchmen football team made Hope College spirits bright on a wintry Saturday afternoon.
The No. 16-ranked Flying Dutchmen defeated No. 15 Aurora University (Illinois), 49-21, at Ray and Sue Smith Stadium for the first postseason victory in program history. Hope had lost its previous five postseason appearances.
Now 11-0 for the first time, the Flying Dutchmen advanced to play an NCAA Division III third-round game at top-ranked North Central College (Illinois) on Saturday, Dec. 7, at noon Central.
North Central (11-0) topped visiting Whitworth University (Washington), 42-17, on Saturday
"I'm super proud of our guys. These guys know they made history," head coach Peter Stuursma said. "It's the first time Hope College has won a playoff game, against a very good team. We have great respect for Aurora University. Don Beebe and their staff do a great job. Their players played hard.
"But our guys really came to play. Offensively, defensively, they were outstanding. We're just very excited to be moving on."
Wellman (Bloomington, Illinois / Bloomington HS) delivered a bag full of holiday goodies for the Flying Dutchmen.
The senior quarterback accumulated 297 yards of total offense and five touchdowns.
Wellman completed 16-of-20 passes for 208 yards and four scores. The exercise science major also rushed for 89 yards on 11 carries, second only to 95 yards on 22 carries from senior running back Tyler Amos (Portage, Michigan / Portage Northern).
On Hope's first drive, Wellman directed a 65-yard, 6-play drive that answered Aurora's 68-yard scoring drive that put the Flying Dutchmen behind for the first time this season. Aurora took a 7-0 lead on a 4-yard Antonio Ramsey run.
After Hope tied the score at 7-7 midway through the first quarter on a Chance Strickland 3-yard run, the Flying Dutchmen produced the next four touchdowns for a 35-7 lead at the 9:34 mark of the third quarter.
First, Hope capitalized on the second of five Aurora turnovers. Two plays after sophomore linebacker Brad Raredon (Hudsonville, Michigan / Hudsonville) forced a fumble that senior defensive lineman Oatis Ackermann (East Grand Rapids, Michigan / East Grand Rapids) recovered, Wellman and Amos connected for a 19-yard touchdown pass and a 14-7 lead.
After an Aurora punt, Hope went 65 yards in 11 plays before Wellman hit senior Grant Holtzer for a 5-yard score 17 seconds before halftime.
The Flying Dutchmen took the second-half's opening drive 51 yards in four plays before Wellman dashed on a snowy afternoon for a 38-yard score.
The Hope sideline and home standings erupted after Wellman's 38-yard touchdown scramble during the third quarter extended the lead to 28-7.
"He's a big-time player. I'm so happy for him," said senior linebacker Andrew Debri (DeWitt, Michigan / DeWitt). "We actually have a class together, physics. I looked at home and said 'Ben, you need to slide sometimes. We can't have you getting hurt.
"As he was running for that long touchdown, I was screaming 'slide, slide, slide' and he sidesteps it to the crib. I was laughing. It was awesome."
Wellman said he had "all the time in the world" to make the right read.
"We really settled in after a little shakeup in the first quarter. I had no pressure back there," Wellman said. "Everything was pretty clear and our game plan worked."
Three plays after Wellman's long scoring dash, junior Bryce Debri intercepted a pass and returned it 34 yards to the Aurora 28. Two Wellman passes and three Amos rushes resulted in a 2-yard Amos score and a commanding 35-7 lead.
Stuursma wasn't fazed by the early deficit.
"Honestly, I thought about it for about one second," Stuursma said. "Then, the offense got the ball back and drove all the way down the field with an incredible answer. That was a huge answer. I thought the turnovers were important in the first half. That was a big response for our guys to come out in the third quarter and put the pedal to the metal."
While allowing a season-most 21 points, the Flying Dutchmen also forced a season-high five turnovers on three interceptions and two fumbles. Senior defensive back Trevor Hansen (Wyoming, Michigan / South Christian) and Raredon also picked off passes.
Raredon topped Hope with nine tackles and forced a fumble that senior defensive lineman Oatis Ackermann (East Grand Rapids, Michigan / East Grand Rapids) recovered.
Senior linebacker Cole Luhmann collected eight tackles and recovered a Raredon forced fumble that stopped a potential Aurora scoring drive.
The Flying Dutchmen gave up two Adkins touchdown passes for Trey Urwiler (18 and 6 yards) during the third quarter. Adkins completed 27-of-40 passes for 302 yards but finished with a season-high three interceptions.
Hope answered in the fourth quarter with Wellman firing touchdown strikes of 34 yards to senior receiver Grant Holtzer (Okemos, Michigan / Okemos) and 8 yards to sophomore receiver Travis Myers (Ada, Michigan / Forest Hills Northern).
The 49 points matched a season-high for Hope, a feat accomplished in three previous games. The Flying Dutchmen have set a school record for points in a season with 492.
Aurora closed the season with a 9-2 record. The Spartans' only other loss was to North Central, 48-21, on Sept. 14. The loss snapped an eight-game winning streak for the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference champions.
"First, let me say congratulations to Coach Stuursma and Hope. They played great football," Aurora head coach Don Beebe said. "They played very sound football and didn't make mistakes. You could tell they were a very senior-dominated team because they played extremely well. I give them all the credit. It's unfortunate for us on our side we just made too many mistakes."
No. 16 Hope breaks through vs. No. 15 Aurora, earns first playoff victory
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Nov 30, 2024