The Carthage College football team (1-0, 0-0 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin) opened its 2009 season on Saturday, Sept. 12 with a 26-19 win over Hope College (0-2) at the Holland Municipal Stadium in Holland, Mich. The Red Men broke a 19-19 tie with a touchdown in the final minute of the game.
The first quarter started out slowly. A 47-yard pass to Hope's Kyle Dietrich set up a 36-yard field-goal attempt late in the first quarter, but a bad snap broke up that attempt. On the ensuing Red Men drive, a 30-yard catch by Nick Merchut and a 12-yard keeper by Evan Jones set up a four-yard touchdown run by John Seigler with four seconds remaining in the first period. Tyler Funk's point-after was blocked for a 6-0 Carthage lead. A 30-yard catch by Dietrich set up a five-yard TD carry by Hope quarterback Chris Feys at 6:45 second quarter. The Chris Hazekamp point-after was good for a 7-6 Hope lead. Carthage came right back, as quarterback Evan Jones hooked up with Mike Koeneman on a 20-yard touchdown pass at 4:43. Jones' two-point conversion pass was batted down for a 12-7 Carthage lead at halftime.
In the second half, a big holding call on Carthage cornerback Wayne Bolden led to a Hope touchdown at 9:29 third quarter on a one-yard carry by Adam Loveless. The Hazekamp point-after was wide-left, and the Flying Dutchmen led, 13-12. Following an interception of a Jones pass to Kyle Snell, Hope scored on a two-yard touchdown carry by Adam Loveless at 12:30. The point-after was blocked, the Flying Dutchmen led by seven points, 19-12. A Marcus Williams interception set up two-yard TD carry by Carthage's Jeff Koeneman at 8:01. Funk's point-after was good for a 19-19 tie.
Carthage took the lead in the final minute of the game with a nine-play, 88-yard scoring drive. A 34-yard reception by Chas Walton was the key play in the drive. With 50 seconds to go, Evan Jones rolled to his right and connected with Nick Merchut on a 19-yard scoring strike. Funk's point-after was good for a 26-19 Red Men edge. Brian Hipchen intercepted a pass on a Hope “hook and ladder” play to end the final Flying Dutchmen drive.
Carthage rolled up 403 total offensive yards, 109 rushing and 204 passing, while Hope had 373 total yards, 148 on the ground and 225 in the air. Evan Jones completed 28-of-41 passes for 292 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 51 yards on seven carries. Nick Merchut caught seven passes for 79 yards. Hope's Chris Feys completed 20-of-45 passes for 225 yards, with Kyle Dietrich catching seven of those for 135 yards.
