DUBUQUE, Iowa – Seeking only the program's second 2-0 start since 2003, the Loras College Duhawk football team (1-0) heads to Holland, Mich., to face Hope College (0-1) on Saturday. Kickoff is slated for 12 p.m. (CT) inside Ray and Sue Smith Stadium.

Last weekend was a good start to the 2023 season for Loras, who won their season opener in thrilling fashion by defeating Benedictine University in front of the Loras faithful, 42-41. Quarterback Evan England threw for 252 yards and a touchdown, with senior wide out Michael Crawford being the primary target with 10 receptions for 105 yards. Junior running back Jamel Britt rushed for 55 yards and three scores, while England rushed 12 times for 61 yards and a touchdown of his own. Owen Kelly scored his first career defensive touchdown, returning an Eagle interception 70 yards to the house.

The matchup with Hope is a first for both programs. The Flying Dutchmen are coming off a 38-17 loss in their season opener against nationally-ranked No. 20 Aurora University. The team was projected to finish second in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association preseason poll, following a 2022 season that saw the program go 6-4 overall and 3-3 in conference play.

Quarterbacking Hope is Zach Trainor, a freshman out of Milford, Mich. In last week's loss, Trainor passed for 161 yards and a touchdown, while also picking up 15 yards on the ground. Elijah Smith and Chance Strickland share the backfield and have rushed for a combined 1,275 yards and 17 touchdowns over their respective careers. Grant Holtzer, Brody Thompson, and Travis Myers make up their Flying Dutchmen's top receiving core, as the trio finished last week with six catches for 113 yards and a score. Defensively, Hope is led by senior linebacker Jackson Bush, who recorded nine tackles (five solo) and 3.5 tackles for loss in their opener.

ON THE AIR
Saturday's game will air live on VAN 92.7 and will stream on Hope's YouTube account. Live stats for the contest can be found here. 

Against the American Rivers Conference
Here's how the Duhawks stack up statistically against the A-R-C through the first week of the season:
Total Offense: 3^rd
Total Defense: 6^th
Passing: Evan England – Completions (3rd - 28), completion percentage (1st - 84.8%), yards (4th - 252),
Rushing: Jamel Britt – Touchdowns (2nd – 3)
Receiving: Michael Crawford – Yards (6th – 105)
Returns: Hareson Willis – Kickoff return yards (1st - 171)
Tackles: Josh Rydberg (T-2nd - 11 TOT), Zacchaeus Knighton (T-5th - 8 TOT), Brandon Phelps (T-5th - 8 TOT)
Tackles for Loss: Sean Doyle (T-2nd - 2.0)
Passes Defended: Mike Barber III (T-3rd - 3)
 
A-R-C Standings
Loras College: 1-0 overall (Defeated Benedictine University, 42-41)
Central College: 1-0 overall (Defeated St. Olaf, 34-24)
Coe College: 1-0 overall (Defeated Cornell College, 56-6)
Nebraska Wesleyan: 1-0 overall (Defeated Austin, 19-7)
Wartburg College: 1-0 overall (Defeated Monmouth College, 62-35)
Luther College: 0-0 overall (Season opener vs. St. Olaf on 9/9 at 2 p.m.)
Buena Vista University: 0-1 overall (Lost to Gustavus Adolphus, 51-7)
University of Dubuque: 0-1 overall (Lost to Wittenberg, 28-27)
Simpson College: 0-1 overall (Lost to Augustana [IL], 49-27)