A change of scenery might just be what the Hope
College football team needs to record its first victory of the
season.
     Following back-to-back home losses,  the Flying Dutchmen (0-
2) take to the road for the first time this season traveling to
Illinois Wesleyan University (2-0) in Bloomington, Ill. on
Saturday, Sept. 25.  Kickoff will be 1 p.m. CDT (2 p.m. in
Michigan).
     The game will be broadcast by WHTC-AM (1450) and WFUR-FM
(102.9).  It will also be available on the internet
(www.hope.edu/pr/athletics).
     The teams first met a year ago with Illinois Wesleyan
prevailing 42-17 in Holland.  This year they have already shared
a common opponent in DePauw.  The Titans opened their season with
a 28-20 victory over the Tigers while Hope was defeated by DePauw
27-21 last Saturday.  Illinois Wesleyan did not play last
Saturday.
     The Flying Dutchmen will face yet another pass-oriented
team.  IWU quarterback Brian Shemansky completed 28-of-46 passes
for 306 yards against DePauw.  Receiver Zac Williams caught an
IWU record 15 of those passes for 200 yards and four touchdowns.
Illinois Wesleyan rushed for just 70 yards on 36 plays against
DePauw.
     Hope will seek to counter with a balanced attack that
through two games is averaging 189 yards rushing and 190 yards
passing.
     Senior tailback Eric Nichols of Grandville (Calvin Christian
HS) has been a mainstay of the Hope offense in the early going.
He has been voted the MIAA offensive player of the week for his
career-best 163-yard rushing effort against DePauw.  So far this
season he has rushed for 261 yards.  Last year over nine games,
in a combined starter/reserve role that was punctuated by
injuries,  he totaled 240 yards.
     This will be the final non-league tuneup for the Flying
Dutchmen who will take a week off before launching MIAA
conference play Defiance on Oct. 9.

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Dutchmen Seek First Win

 A change of scenery might just be what the HopeCollege football team needs to record its first victory of theseason.     Following back-to-back home losses,  the Flying Dutchmen (0-2) take to the road for the first time this season traveling toIllinois Wesleyan University (2-0) in Bloomington, Ill. onSaturday, Sept. 25.  Kickoff will be 1 p.m. CDT (2 p.m. inMichigan).     The game will be broadcast by WHTC-AM (1450) and WFUR-FM(102.9).  It will also be available on the internet(www.hope.edu/pr/athletics).     The teams first met a year ago with Illinois Wesleyanprevailing 42-17 in Holland.  This year they have already shareda common opponent in DePauw.  The Titans opened their season witha 28-20 victory over the Tigers while Hope was defeated by DePauw27-21 last Saturday.  Illinois Wesleyan did not play lastSaturday.     The Flying Dutchmen will face yet another pass-orientedteam.  IWU quarterback Brian Shemansky completed 28-of-46 passesfor 306 yards against DePauw.  Receiver Zac Williams caught anIWU record 15 of those passes for 200 yards and four touchdowns. Illinois Wesleyan rushed for just 70 yards on 36 plays againstDePauw.     Hope will seek to counter with a balanced attack thatthrough two games is averaging 189 yards rushing and 190 yardspassing.     Senior tailback Eric Nichols of Grandville (Calvin ChristianHS) has been a mainstay of the Hope offense in the early going. He has been voted the MIAA offensive player of the week for hiscareer-best 163-yard rushing effort against DePauw.  So far thisseason he has rushed for 261 yards.  Last year over nine games,in a combined starter/reserve role that was punctuated byinjuries,  he totaled 240 yards.     This will be the final non-league tuneup for the FlyingDutchmen who will take a week off before launching MIAAconference play Defiance on Oct. 9.