ANGOLA, Ind. -- The Trine University football team finished their season with a 17-13 loss to visiting Hope College. The weather reigned in the passing games for both teams, as they were forced to rely heavily on their running backs.
The weather made an impact from the very start of the contest. The Thunder received the opening kickoff and were unable to get anything going finishing with a three and out. The snap on the ensuing punt was off target, forcing the punter to fall on top of it turning the ball over to the Flying Dutch inside the five yard line. On the next play they would take a 7-0 lead on a short running play.
Neither team died much on the next two drives, and Trine's offense returned to the field with a long way to go for a score. Starting from their own 16 yard line, the Thunder began leaning heavily on the running game. Sophomore Jordan Watson (Ann Arbor, Mich. / Dexter) received the ball on the first four plays of the drive and on the fourth he broke a run for 44 yards deep into Hope's territory. A few plays later junior Alex Price (Reading, Mich. / Reading) connected with sophomore Connor Arthur (Bryan, Ohio / Bryan) on a 20 yard touchdown pass to pull the team within one. A failed extra point left the Flying Dutch with a 7-6 lead.
Hope increased their lead on the next drive with a field goal in the opening minutes of the second quarter making the score 10-6.
After a punt from each team on the next two drives, the Thunder started a drive from their own 30 yard line. Price took the opening play 25 yards on the ground to move the team into the offensive zone with a fresh set of downs. After three two-yard gains in a row the drive looked set to stall, but on fourth and four Price faked the entire stadium with a play action pass completion to senior Adam Gutting (Findlay, Ohio / Findlay) that would go the final 39 yards to the endzone. This time the extra point was good and the Thunder took a 13-10 lead.
Neither team did much offensively through the remainder of the half and the score would hold into the intermission.
The second half started slowly for both teams, as they returned to the field in a wintry mix with a stiff wind. The first four drives of the half ended in punts. Finally Hope broke the stalemate with a four-play rushing only drive that went 70 yards to the endzone. They would convert the extra point and take a 17-13 lead.
The fourth quarter saw both defenses come up with crucial stops. Senior Aaron Dean (Fort Wayne, Ind. / Eastside) came up with the lone takeaway of the day with an interception to start the quarter. But the Thunder offense continued to struggle and with both teams forced to rely on the running game for any ball movement the time quickly ticked off the clock.
The Trine defense forced a fourth down with just under two minutes remaining in the contest, but the Flying Dutch picked up three yards on a running play to ice the game and escape with the 17-13 win.
Price finished the game with a pair of touchdown throws, but just 78 yards passing and 42 on the ground. Junior Xaine Kirby (Sweetser, Ind. / Eastbrook) led the team with 75 yards on the ground with Watson coming in second with 61.
Defensively senior Keysean Amison (Sandusky, Ohio / Perkins) led the way with 15 total tackles including nine solo. Senior Tyler Pollard (Homosassa, Fla. / Crystal River) finished second on the team with 10 tackles, but led the team with two tackles for a loss including a seven-yard sack.
Trine finishes the season 6-4 overall and 4-2 in Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) play. They finish second in the MIAA standings with just Albion College and Hope coming in ahead of them.