FRANKLIN, Ind. – Calvin used a staunch defense and a second half offensive explosion to pull away to a 41-7 victory at Franklin College Saturday afternoon as the Knights improved to 3-0 on the season.
Senior
Thomas Vaccaro (Franklin, Tenn./Christ Presbyterian) was 27 for 37 passing for 300 yards and four touchdowns. He also rushed for a career-high 99 yards and a touchdown. Junior
Hunter Hogan (Ravenna, Mich./Ravenna HS) reeled in a career-high 13 receptions for 135 yards and two touchdowns. 11 different receivers caught a pass for the Knights as they outscored the host Grizzlies 27-0 in the second half.
The Calvin defense limited Franklin to just 106 yards of offense including just 22 yards on the ground.
Franklin held the upper hand for much of the first half however as the Knights struggled with early turnovers.
Calvin's defense forced Franklin into a punting situation on its opening series. The Knights turned the ball over on a fumble on their first play from scrimmage, setting up the Grizzlies with the ball on the Calvin 40-yard line. Five plays later, Franklin quarterback Josh Bruner connected with Dawson Slaughter on a 16-yard touchdown strike. The point-after gave Franklin a 7-0 first quarter lead.
The Knights then marched 64 yards down to the Franklin six but a Vaccaro pass was intercepted by Franklin's Jace Dorsey in the end zone to thwart a Calvin touchdown bid.
Another Calvin scoring opportunity went for naught early in the second quarter as a 34-yard field goal attempt was blocked. Calvin's defense continued to hold Franklin in check and the Knights finally found gold midway through the second quarter as they mounted a five-play, 54-yard drive capped off by a 15-yard touchdown run by Vaccaro. The point-after by junior
Sal Ruffino (Shelby Township, Mich./Eisenhower) knotted the score 7-7.
Franklin was forced into another 3-and-out and Calvin followed with a 60-yard scoring march with Vaccaro finishing off the drive with a six-yard flip to junior
Hayden Slegers (Ontario, Ca./Ontario Christian HS) for a score and a subsequent 14-7 lead the Knights carried into halftime.
Calvin took the opening drive of the second half 67-yards down the field on 10 plays. The drive was completed with an 18-yard touchdown pass from Vaccoro to junior
Luke Michmerhuizen (Holland, Mich./Holland Christian HS).
Junior
Zaiden Chirco (Jenison, Mich./Jenison HS) intercepted a Franklin pass on the ensuing drive and Calvin capitalized with a four-yard touchdown pass from Vaccaro to Hogan and a 27-7 lead.
Vaccaro connected with Hogan for a 26-yard touchdown and a 34-7 Calvin lead in the opening moments of the fourth quarter.
A sack by Calvin junior
Trevor Martens (Hudsonville, Mich./Jenison HS) of Franklin quarterback Harrison Wetzel helped set up the final scoring drive for the Knights. Junior
Nick Earles (Greenville, Mich./Greenville HS) completed a 99-yard scoring drive with a four-yard touchdown burst with 4:42 remaining. Ruffino kicked the extra point and the Knights cruised from that point to a 41-7 win.
Calvin finished the game with 512 yards of total offense.
Slegers added 43 yards rushing while Hogan had 26 yards on the ground, sophomore
Beau Harris (Coopersville, Mich./Coopersville HS) 19 yards and Earles 16 yards.
Freshman
Chase Swartz (Byron Center, Mich./Byron Center HS) had his first collegiate catch in the game and it went for 42 yards. Michmerhuizen had two catches for 30 yards and a touchdown. Freshman
Michael DeKuiper (Rockford, Mich./Rockford HS) had two catches for 29 yards. Junior
M'Khi Guy (Muskegon Heights, Mich./Muskegon HS) had two grabs for 19 yards. Slegers had two catches for 12 yards and a score. Earles and junior
Seth Anderson (Rockford, Mich./Rockford HS) had two catches apiece. Junior Baxter McCoy (Rockford, Mich./Rockford HS) had one catch for 16 yards and junior
Carter Bylsma (Hudsonville, Mich./Unity Christian HS) one catch for nine yards.
On defense, junior linebacker
Carson Schnurstein (Portage, Mich./Portage Central HS) had nine tackles and one pass breakup. Junior
Kaden McCullough (Allendale, Mich./Allendale HS) had six tackles, a sack and a quarterback hurry. Freshman
Nolan Bloomquist (Portage, Mich./Portage Central HS) came up with six tackles including one tackle for loss. Sophomore defensive lineman
Brock Sperling (Palos Heights, Ill./Chicago Christian HS) racked up four tackles, two for loss and one sack. Junior
Logan Minier (West Olive, Mich./Grand Haven HS) and Martens added three tackles each with Minier and Martens both recording a tackle for loss. Junior
Gage Jones (Ludington, Mich./Ludington HS) also intercepted a pass – his second of the year – and returned the pick for 16 yards to aid a ball-hawking Calvin defense.
COACHES COMMENT: "Really proud of our entire organization today," said Calvin head football coach
Trent Figg. "I thought we had a great week of preparation coming in, and our players executed at a high level. We had a lot of adversity in the first half, but our guys never wavered. I thought our staff did a great job of making the necessary in-game adjustments and our players responded well. There will be a lot to clean up once we watch the film, but overall very pleased with the effort and execution today. Shoutout to Knight Nation for traveling so well and being there to support our team. We are excited to be 3-0 and really excited to be back home next week to open conference play in front of our fans in the new stadium God Bless and Go Knights!"
NEXT UP: Calvin will host the University of Olivet next Saturday at 4 p.m. next Saturday in the first-ever game at Calvin's new Knight Stadium. The game will feature a pair of 3-0 teams and will also mark the MIAA opener for both teams. In addition, the contest will be a part of Calvin Homecoming Weekend.
