One team will be trying to extend a streak while the other will be attempting to end one as the Hope College football team travels to Alma College for an MIAA contest on Saturday (Oct. 20).

Kickoff at Alma's Bahlke Field will be 1 p.m. EDT. The game will be broadcast on WHTC-AM (1450) and WFUR-FM (102.9). The WHTC broadcast will also be available on the internet (www.hope.edu).

The Flying Dutchmen (4-1) will seeking their fifth consecutive victory while the Scots (3-3) will be trying to snap a three-game losing streak. Hope will be playing its first road game in nearly a month.

It will be the second week of MIAA play. The defending MIAA champion Flying Dutchmen open conference action by defeating Kalamazoo 29-15 last Saturday while Alma was bowing to Albion 29-19.

This is a rivalry that started in 1919. The Flying Dutchmen own a 43-28-4 advantage in the series, including a 35-25 victory in 2000. Hope has dominated the series in recent years winning nine of the last 12 meetings and 25 over the past 29 years.

The game will feature the top two MIAA teams in scoring offense, Hope at 37.2 points and Alma at 33.3. The Flying Dutchmen are tops in the MIAA in scoring defense (18.6) while Alma ranks last (28.0).

Hope's pass defense will be presented with a challenge. The Alma "Scotgun" offense is averaging 51 attempted pass per game this season. Alma quarterback Steve Slowke leads the MIAA in total offense, averaging 332.2 yards per game. Hope quarterback Phil Butler of Howard City (Tri-County HS) tops the MIAA in passing efficiency with an NCAA rating of 142.5 (100.0 is considered "average"). Butler has completed 85-of-153 passes (56%) for 1,137 yards and 15 touchdowns.

Senior receiver Brian Adloff of East Grand Rapids was named the MIAA's offensive player of the week after catching 11 passes for 162 yards and two touchdowns against Kalamazoo. Adloff is Hope's career-leader in pass receptions (171) and yardage (2,124).

Hope's other receiver, senior Mike Gle of Brighton (Brighton HS) also had a standout performance against Kalamazoo, catching 13 passes for 117 yards. Gle has a team-leading 34 catches this season for nine touchdowns and 504 yards. The single season record for touchdown catches is 10 by Brian Oosterhouse in 1984. Gle already holds the Hope career mark for TD receptions with 18.

The Flying Dutchmen had seven quarterback sacks against Kalamazoo. Junior end Andy Keller of Hastings (Hastings HS) had three of them to raise his team-leading total to nine.

Hope returns home for an MIAA game against Adrian on October 27.