The Hope College football team (6-1) will be seeking to extend its winning streak to seven games Saturday (Nov. 3) as the Flying Dutchmen host the Olivet Comets (1-7).
Kickoff for the Parents Day game at Holland Municipal Stadium will be 1 p.m. The game will be broadcast by WHTC-AM (1450) and WFUR-FM (102.9). It will also be available in the internet (www.hope.edu).
The MIAA race has become the familiar Hope/Albion sprint. The Flying Dutchmen and Britons are both 3-0 in conference play while everyone else in the league has at least two losses. Hope closes its regular season at Albion on Saturday, Nov. 10.
In pre-game ceremonies, 14 seniors who will be playing in their final regular season home game will be honored. They are Brian Adloff of East Grand Rapids, Bill Crane of Cedar Springs, Ian Fish of Parchment, Mike Gle of Brighton, Brian Hammer of Caledonia, Vinnie Harambasic of Troy, Nick LeTarte of Walled Lake, Chris Mangus of Tawas, Sam Martin of Alma, Andy Oosterheert of Grandville, Bryan Regner of Livonia, Lucas Smith of McBain, Curtis Tyler of Charlotte and Pat Warren of New Lothrop.
The Hope-Olivet rivalry started in 1927. Hope has a 42-15-1 advantage in the series, including a 26-3 victory in 2000.
Senior Vinnie Harambasic of Troy (Troy Athens HS) has been named the MIAA Defensive Player of the Week. Against Adrian last Saturday, he intercepted a pass, forced a fumble and was credited with 12 tackles. He is the fourth Hope defensive player to be honored by the MIAA this season, joining Josh Baumbach, Nick Conrad and Jason Misner. Hope has also had three offensive players honored by the MIAA -- Phil Butler, Mike Gle and Brian Adloff.
Senior receiver Mike Gle of Brighton (Brighton HS) has established a Hope single season record for touchdown receptions. He caught two TD passes against Adrian to raise his season total to 11, surpassing the old mark of 10 by Brian Oosterhouse in 1984. Gle already owns the career record for TD catches (21).
Senior receiver Brian Adloff of East Grand Rapids (East Grand Rapids HS) has tied the Hope single season record for pass receptions (51). He held the previous mark, catching 51 passes in the 2000 season. Adloff is approaching 200 career catches (191) and 2,500 pass reception yards (2,452).
Sophomore quarterback Phil Butler of Howard City (Tri-County HS) has thrown 19 touchdown passes. The Hope single season record is 20 by Greg Heeres in 1983.
Hope's defense against the pass has been outstanding this season. The team has a pass defense efficiency rating of 90.28 (100.0 is considered "average"). The Dutchmen have allowed only four touchdown passes through seven games.