HOLLAND, Mich. - On Saturday, the Rockford University football team took a break from NACC competition as the Regents hit the road to take on the Hope College Flying Dutchmen. The Regents entered the game knowing it was going to be a difficult test as Hope has a very talented and high-powered offense. The Flying Dutchmen are ranked in the top 100 in Division III in multiple offensive categories including holding the 52nd ranked passing offense averaging 265.0 yards per game. Despite being a heavy underdog, the Regents hung in with the Flying Dutchman for much of the game until Hope pulled away late for the 38-12 victory.
The first half was a fairly low scoring affair after Hope scored on its opening possession to grab a 7-0 lead. Following a Rockford punt, senior safety Jacob Gorsuch (Rockford, Ill./Jefferson) kept it a one-possession game when he intercepted his second pass of the season. The Rockford offense looked as though it would capitalize on the turnover as it drove the ball down the field. However, the Regents would bog down just outside the red zone and were forced to punt. After that neither team was able to get much going offensively until the second quarter when Hope strung together a 10-play 47-yard drive. With Hope threatening on the Rockford 5-yard line, freshman Kalab Polky (Rockford, Ill./Rockford Christian) recorded his first collegiate interception as the Regents once again turned away the Flying Dutchmen. However, the Hope offense was able to regroup on its final two possessions of the first half scoring 10 points to enter halftime with a 17-0 advantage.
The second half got off to an excellent start for Regents as they scored on their opening possession just as Hope had done to start the game. Rockford did most of its damage though the air as quarterback Andrew Stochl (Fox Lake, Ill./Marian Central Catholic) was 3-for-5 on the drive with a pair of completions to Dane Kirk (Rochelle, Ill./Rochelle Township) and a 26-yard completion on 4th down and 7 to Milton Phillips Jr. (Rockford, Ill./Guilford). The Regents then capped off the drive with 3-yard touchdown run by Kendrick Cooley (Bloomington, Ill./Bloomington) making it a 17-6 game.
However, despite Rockford's best efforts to keep it close, Hope went on to score 21 of the game's final 27 points including the next 14 points. Rockford's second half touchdown came midway through the fourth quarter with junior Reginald Haynes (Chicago, Ill./Prosser Career Academy) in at quarterback for the Regents. Haynes looked sharp on the drive going 2-for-3 including completing a 44-yard pass to Joe Breeden (Burlington, Ill./Central) on his first attempt of the game. Three plays later, Haynes connected on a 15-yard touchdown pass to Milton Phillips Jr. for his first collegiate passing touchdown. The late score would not be enough though as Rockford fell by a final of 38-12 to Hope College.
Defensively Rockford did a nice job containing the Hope offense for much of the day forcing 3 turnovers and recording 8 tackles for loss. Gorsuch and Polky each intercepted a pass while Michael Watson (Schaumburg, Ill./Schaumburg) was credited with a fumble recovery. Junior Michael Krieter (Rockford, Ill./Boylan) continued his stellar season on Saturday leading Rockford in tackles for the second consecutive week. Krieter tallied 9 total tackles including 8 solo tackles and 3 tackles for loss. He also recorded the Regents' lone pass breakup in the game. Sophomore Kendell Lee (Poplarville, Miss./Poplarville) was not far behind as he had 8 tackles with 4 solo tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss.
The Rockford University football team will be back at home on Saturday, October 18th against the Lakeland College Muskies. Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m. at Sam Greeley Field.
