HOLLAND, Mich.- The Eagles took the long bus ride out to Michigan to take on Hope College in the final nonconference game of the season on Saturday afternoon. The game marked "Community Day" for Hope College, and the home crowd participated in a "Purple Out" which made for an exciting atmosphere for the Eagles to play in on the road. UNW would drop the contest 52-10.

The Eagles showed no effects from the long bus ride as they hit the ground running early in the first quarter. Hope received the opening kickoff, but fumbled the football on their first play from scrimmage. This gave the Northwestern offense great field position and a chance to deliver the first blow of the game. They did just that. Damon Clapper (Dallas Center, Iowa/Dallas Center - Grimes) subbed in at quarterback, and ran to the right side, then cut it back up the middle for a three yard touchdown and a 7-0 Eagle lead.

However, it would not take long for the Flying Dutchmen to respond. On the ensuing kickoff, Carter Nofziger for Hope found room up the right sideline and ran it back for a 90 yard touchdown. The extra point was good, and the game was tied 7-7 early in the first quarter.

The first quarter was played at a slower pace and possessions were hard to come by. The only other score in the opening frame came from the home team. Terrell Harris ran in a screen pass for a 14 yard touchdown. The snap on the extra point was errant, and Luke Malamisuro (Cambridge Isanti, Minn./Cambridge Isanti) made a hit that forced a fumble. Jacob Emley (St. Peter, Minn./St. Peter) recovered the fumble, and was a shoe string tackle away from returning it for two Eagle points. The second quarter began with Hope leading 13-7.

During the 2^nd quarter, the Eagles had possessions where they moved the football but could not come away with points. A Dan Romano 14 yard touchdown run, and a Terrell Harris four yard touchdown reception gave Hope a 26-7 lead. Right before the half, the Eagles moved the football again. This time it was due largely to the scrambling ability of quarterback Collin Currier (Waconia, Minn./Waconia High School). Blake Mitchell (Watertown, S.D./Watertown) made a field goal as time expired, and the halftime score saw the Eagles trailing 26-10.

Hope's defense came out red hot in the second half, and did not allow the Eagles to score. The Flying Dutchmen had three touchdown runs, a field goal, and a defensive safety to pull away for good in the second half.

Offensively, the Eagles ground game had some success. Leading the Eagles on the ground was running back Jeremiah Staten (South Elgin, Ill./Wheaton Academy) who had 14 carries for 39 yards. Damon Clapper (Dallas Center, Iowa/Dallas Center - Grimes) also ran the ball twice for 6 yards and a touchdown. Collin Currier (Waconia, Minn./Waconia High School) ran the ball well from his quarterback position, totaling 7 carries for 30 yards. Currier also threw for 130 yards. Beau Burk (Ogilvie, Minn. / Ogilvie) was the primary target through the air, finishing with 6 catches for 57 yards.

Defensively, Paul Berglund (Brillion, Wis./Brillion High School) recovered a fumble, and Nic Schultz (Fontana, Calif./Etiwanda) led the way with 9 tackles, two of them for loss.

The Eagles wrapped up nonconference play on Saturday afternoon, and will play solely UMAC teams for the remainder of the 2021 season. The Eagles are back at home this Saturday, October 2^nd against Finlandia University for the Homecoming game.