ALBION, Mich. – Calvin completed a sterling year two campaign with a 53-24 victory at Albion College Saturday afternoon.

In just its second year as a program, Calvin closed out a winning campaign at 7-3 overall after finishing 2-8 in year one.

Picked to finish seventh in the eight-team MIAA preseason coaches' poll, Calvin finished 4-3 in conference play to place fourth.

Saturday's victory also marked Calvin's first conference road win.

Calvin led 36-10 at halftime and rolled up 490 yards of total offense in cruising to the win.

Junior Hunter Hogan (Ravenna, Mich./Ravenna HS) had a monster game with 182 yards of total offense and two touchdowns. Hogan finished with 78 yards rushing and a touchdown and 104 yards receiving and a touchdown. His 24-yard touchdown pass from sophomore Thomas Vaccaro (Franklin, Tenn./Christ Presbyterian) put Calvin on top 6-0 midway through the first quarter. After Albion sliced the deficit in half with a field goal, Hogan ripped off an electrifying 65-yard touchdown run down the left sideline to help put the Knights up 13-3 in the opening moments of the second quarter.

Albion closed to within three on a 13-yard touchdown pass from Davis Crossman to Cameron Moore in the right corner of the end zone but the Knights ripped off 23 unanswered points to lead 36-10 at the break. Vaccaro started the scoring surge with a 19-yard touchdown run up the middle and moments later, sophomore Gage Jones (Ludington, Mich./Ludington HS) stepped in front of an Albion pass for a 19-yard pick six. The Jones defensive score helped lift Calvin into a 26-10 lead.

Calvin then ripped off a 12-play, 59-yard drive capped off by an 18-yard touchdown strike from Vaccaro to sophomore Jude Klunder (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian HS). Albion then mounted a lengthy drive but misfired on a 36-yard field goal attempt. Calvin moved down the field in the final minute of the half and converted on a 46-yard field goal by sophomore Logan Nap (Lawton, Mich./Lawton HS) on the final play of the half to build a 36-10 halftime lead.

Calvin rolled through the second half, using touchdown runs from sophomore Nick Earles (Greenville, Mich./Greenville HS) and sophomore Drake Irwin (Rockford, Mich./Rockford HS) sandwiched around a 37-yard field goal by Nap to complete the scoring.

Vaccaro was 23 of 32 passing for 250 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 52 yards and a score. Earles led the Calvin ground game with 89 yards and a score. Freshman Beau Harris (Coopersville, Mich./Coopersville HS) also saw his first snaps at quarterback, rushing for five yards on two attempts.

Sophomore Luke Michmerhuizen had a team-high nine catches for 68 yards. Klunder had four catches for 36 yards and a score. Earles had two catches for 27 yards and sophomore Seth Anderson (Rockford, Mich./Rockford HS) three catches for 21 yards.

Sophomore Carson Schnurstein (Portage, Mich./Portage Central HS) and freshman Reed Vogeler (Caledonia, Mich./Caledonia HS) tallied eight tackles apiece. Sophomore Caden Kolanowski (Goodrich, Mich./Goodrich HS) also had seven tackles.

Sophomore Luke Bushouse (Holland, Mich./Holland Christian HS) picked up his second sack of the season for the Knights. Sophomore Noah Funk (Caledonia, Mich./South Christian HS) also snagged a second half interception.

COACHES COMMENT: "Today was another big step for us as a program," said Calvin head football coach Trent Figg. "This was the program's first conference road win. I am so proud of our players and coaches for finishing this season the right way. 7-3 overall, 4-3 in league play and 4-1 at home has made this a great second season. I thought that we played our most complete game of the year today, and that is exactly how we wanted to end the season. Again, I am so thankful to lead this team and I am so proud of its work and commitment. Knight Nation showed up again in a big way today on the road! We have great days ahead! God Bless and Go Knights!"