HOLLAND – There is nothing like finishing a historic season against the best in the country.
The Hope College football team won its first ever playoff game before the run ended at the hands of North Central (Ill.) College, the eventual NCAA Division III champion, to finish 11-1.
The season brought a new level of excitement to the program and that has translated into strong recruiting as the Flying Dutchmen aim for another MIAA title and a trip back to the playoffs.
“Every team is different. I really like this team. I love the guys we have. I love the leadership they’ve shown,” Hope coach Peter Stuursma said. “When you win your first playoff game in the history of the program, that is huge. But then when you play the national champs and punch them in the mouth. Now, they beat us fair and square, but we were able to punch them in the mouth a little bit. That gives the guys a sense of what it is like at the top level.”
Hope has new starting QB
The Flying Dutchmen will have a similar offensive scheme to last season, which spread the ball out and got results.
But the leader of the offense will be different.
Hope has four quarterbacks in the fight to start, and they are all new after Ben Wellman graduated and Zach Trainor did not return to the program.
“They are building confidence and the weapons we need. I am excited to see where it goes,” senior H-back Seth Luhmann said.
Former GVSU quarterback Alex Thole transferred, as did Dallas Sauser from Iowa Community College, joining fellow junior Tyson Williams and freshman Jonathan Pittman from Mona Shores.
“It is not a quarterback controversy it is a competition. We have young quarterbacks that are very good – as good as an incoming class as we ever had. But that has to translate. The game is really fast at this level,” Stuursma said. “Ben Wellman and Zach Trainor were battling for a job last year and we rotated two quarterbacks up until about Week 4.”
Other offensive weapons
Luhmann, an All-MIAA performer, leads the offense as one of the returning leaders.
“Very similar offense,” Stuursma said. “We lost some key guys, but that is where young kids step up. Our freshmen who are now sophomores are now stronger, faster and their knowledge base is way higher. We have 13 offensive lineman returning who played at least 100 plays, and that is huge. Luhmann makes our offense go. Rob MacAleese at center makes our offense go. We have key guys in that leadership role and that is fun to watch.”
Jonny Rohen-Blanton returns at wide receiver, among others, and will look to make a big impact.
Defense wins championships
After one of the best defensive seasons in team history, the Flying Dutchmen will blend youth and experience.
“Defense we have some new starters, but guys who played a lot. Obviously, Caleb Paarlberg is as good as anybody. Christian Herrema is very good, Jake Punches, Liam Dantiz and Tate Bezeau. We have a lot of guys who played a lot and are going to be ready. They have the mentality to just be a nameless, faceless group that plays really fast,” Stuursma said. Our corners are good and our safeties are showing versatility and knowledge Tyson Mann and Trenten Bolhouse from Zeeland West. Our corners in Lorenzo Vitti and Austin Harvey. Owen Graham has been in the program four years. He hasn’t started yet, but he has been huge from a leadership standpoint and is raising his level of play.”
Contact sports editor Dan D’Addona at Dan.D’Addona@hollandsentinel.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter @DanDAddona or Facebook @HollandSentinelSports.
This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: How Hope College football will build on historic season, first playoff win
Reporting by Dan D’Addona, Holland Sentinel / The Holland Sentinel
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