On a sweltering 80-degree afternoon in Granville, Ohio, the Hope College football team opened the 2026 season by beating Denison University 28-14, seizing control from the first snap.
Game Highlights
Hope struck immediately, driving 74 yards on their opening possession to take a 7-0 lead and never looking back, establishing a tone that carried through the entire contest.
Brody Schuitemen added two touchdowns, the decisive one coming on a fourth‑down 46‑yard rush that sealed the win, while sophomore wide receiver Kaden DeHorn exploded for a career‑high 151 yards on six catches, including a 52‑yard scoring pass that stretched the lead.
Defensively, sophomore linebacker Nolan Vis logged a game‑high 10 tackles, nine of them solo, and the unit forced two turnovers, one of which was returned for a touchdown, helping the Dutch limit Denison to 390 total yards.
Head coach Peter Stuursma celebrated his 75th victory in 95 career games at Hope College, noting the team’s growth and resilience as key factors in the comeback narrative.
Contributions also came from freshman Gavin Rabideau, who converted his first point‑after‑touchdown, and sophomore running back Trey Goike, whose two‑point conversion early in the fourth quarter pushed the lead to 28-7. Quarterback Alex Thole completed 16 of 24 passes for 263 yards, orchestrating a 410‑yard total offense that underscored the team's balanced attack.