WESTERVILLE, Oh. – Calvin opened its 2026 campaign with a dominating 53-21 victory at Otterbein University Saturday afternoon.
The Knights scored touchdowns on their first seven offensive possessions while rolling up 577 yards of total offense.
Senior quarterback
Thomas Vaccaro (Franklin, Tenn. Christ Presbyterian) was 15 of 20 through the air for 252 yards and five touchdown passes. Junior running back/slot receiver
Hunter Hogan (Ravenna, Mich./Ravenna HS) had more than 150 all-purpose yards with two touchdowns – one on the ground and one through the air to lead the offensive attack.
Calvin led 32-7 at halftime and 46-7 after three quarters while cruising to the win.
The Calvin defense set the tone on the opening possession of the game, forcing Otterbein into a three-and-out and punt. The Knights responded with an eight-play, 60-yard drive capped off by a two-yard touchdown burst by junior
Nick Earles (Greenville, Mich./Greenville HS).
Otterbein drove into Calvin territory on the ensuing possession, but the Knights got a fourth down stop at their own 31-yard line on a crunching stop by juniors
Carson Schnurstein (Portage, Mich./Portage Central HS) and
Trevor Martens (Hudsonville, Mich./Jenison HS).
On first down, Hogan, Hogan exploded through a hole in the middle, turned up the right sideline and race into the end zone for a 69-yard touchdown for a 12-0 lead.
Calvin got the ball back moments later on an interception by junior defensive back
Gage Jones (Ludington, Mich./Ludington HS). The Knights mounted a methodical 12-play, 62-yard drive, climaxed by a five-yard touchdown toss from Vaccaro to junior
Jude Klunder (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian HS) in the back of the end zone. The point-after put the Knights up 19-0.
Vaccaro then dialed up a 32-yard touchdown pass to Hogan up the left sideline for a 25-0 lead. Otterbein countered with a 45-yard touchdown pass with 1:37 left in the first half but the Knights waisted little time in countering as Vaccaro found junior tight end
Aiden O'Brien (Lawton, Mich./Lawton HS) up the left sideline for a 57-yard touchdown with O'Brien juggling the ball and then corralling it as he stretched across the goal-line to help put the Knights up 32-7.
On the opening drive of the second half, Vaccaro went deep again, this time to junior
Luke Michmerhuizen (Holland, Mich./Holland Christian HS) who got behind a defender and raced 43 yards into the end zone.
Calvin got the ball back a short time after on an interception by freshman
Nolan Bloomquist (Portage, Mich./Portage Central HS), giving the Knights the ball in Otterbein territory. Two plays later, Vaccaro went deep again, this time for a 42-yard touchdown strike to Klunder.
Sophomore quarterback
Beau Harris (Coopersville, Mich./Coopersville HS) came on in relief for the Knights and tossed a 60-yard touchdown bomb to junior
McCoy Baxter (Rockford, Mich./Rockford HS).
Otterbein added a pair of late touchdowns, one on a 27-yard pass play and the other on a 57-yard fumble return to close out the scoring.
Harris was 4-of-7 off the bench for the Knights with 88 yards with freshman
Noah Escobedo (Oak Lawn, Ill. Harold L. Roberts) seeing time late, completing one pass for seven yards.
Hogan rushed for 80 yards and picked up 65 reception yards while returning a punt for 13 yards. Junior
Hayden Slegers (Ontario, Ca./Ontario Christian HS) had nine carries for 50 yards with Vaccaro rushing for 37 yards and Earles 15 yards. Freshman
Hunter Wilder (Whitehall, Mich./North Muskegon HS) had a strong debut with 10 carries for 49 yards.
Michmerhuizen had six catches for 88 yards and a score. Hogan had five catches for 65 yards. Klunder had three catches for 58 yards and O'Brien one catch for 57 yards. Baxter also had one grab for 60 yards.
Bloomquist had a big collegiate debut with nine tackles and one interception. Schnurstein had seven tackles and senior
Caden Kolanowski (Goodrich, Mich./Goodrich HS) seven tackles. Freshmen
Keegan Kroll (Grandville, Mich./Grandville HS) and
Justin Febus (Hudsonville, Mich./Unity Christian HS) had good debuts with four tackles each.
Junior
Isiah Hill (Dowagiac, Mich./Dowagiac HS) had a pair of tackles including one sack.
Klunder had one kick return for 45 yards with sophomore
Paul Hubbard returning two kicks for 53 yards including a long of 35. Hubbard also broke up one pass from his defensive back position.
Otterbein had 175 yards of rushing and 181 yards passing.
COACHES COMMENT: "A great opener for our team. This game is something we have building for all through camp," said Calvin head football coach
Trent Figg. "We came ready to play and started fast. Everyone who traveled on our roster for this game played which was great. Looking forwarding another week of preparation for a strong St. Norbert team next Saturday. We are looking forward to playing in front of our home fans."
NEXT UP: Calvin will host St. Norbert next Saturday at 1 p.m. at Calvin Soccer Stadium.
