#3-Wheaton remains undefeated with a 43-26 win over Hope College (Boxscore)

Wheaton, Ill. (9/27) - The Wheaton College Thunder, ranked

third in this week's D3Football.com

Top 25, defeated Hope College 43-26 this afternoon in front of a large Homecoming

crowd at McCully Field. Wheaton improves to 3-0 and ends the non-conference

portion of its schedule, as the Thunder will begin CCIW play next Saturday at

Elmhurst College. This is Wheaton's first 3-0 start to the season since the

1999 team opened the year with a 7-0 record. Hope is now 1-2 on the year and

will play Alma College next week in its conference opener.

Wheaton totaled 399 yards of offense today with an average of 5.9 yards per

play running for 250 yards and passing for 149 yards. The Flying Dutchmen had

462 yards of offense with 5.4 yards per play throwing for 403 yards and rushing

for 59 yards.

Wheaton

quarterback Chad Bradley had an efficient effort today, completing eight

of his 14 passing attempts for 149 yards with two touchdowns. Junior wide receiver

Brad Musso caught seven of Bradley's eight completions for 137 yards

with two touchdown receptions. The tailback tandem of senior Dan Price

and junior Garrett Granberg combined to rush for 189 yards and four touchdowns.

Price carried the ball 18 times for 95 yards with one touchdown and Granberg

amassed 94 yards on 22 carries with three touchdowns. Senior defensive back

Ty Gose (PICTURED LEFT) led the Thunder defense with 11 total tackles,

including nine solos with a tackle for lost yardage (-3 yards). Senior outside

linebacker Jeff Mumm recorded nine tackles, including four tackles for

lost yardage (-16 yards), with one sack (-9 yards) a fumble recovery and a 24-yard

interception return. Linebacker Jason McDearmon tallied nine total tackles

with two quarterback sacks (-16 yards).

Hope quarterback Phil Butler was 26-47 for 403 yards and one touchdown,

however, he threw two interceptions and was sacked five times. Receiver Jeff

Eldersveld grabbed 11 receptions for 135 yards and Jake Schrock caught

six Butler passes for 164 yards with one touchdown. Running back Dan Bloemers

carried the ball 24 times for 44 yards with three touchdown runs. Flying Dutchmen

linebacker Paul Hoeksema made 10 total tackles, while Andy Snyder

and Jason Misner each added nine total tackles.

Hope

took a 7-0 lead with 10:49 to play in the first quarter when Bloemers scored

on a five-yard run into the end zone. The Thunder tied the game at 7-7 when

Bradley found Musso (PICTURED RIGHT) on a 16-yard pass to cap a five-play drive

of 57 yards. Granberg gave the Thunder a 13-7 lead when he scored on a one-yard

touchdown run with 5:33 to play in the first quarter to cap a seven-play drive

of 32 yards. Hope took a 14-13 advantage with 8:59 to play in the first half

when Bloemers scored on a three-yard run to cap a seven-play drive of 56 yards.

Wheaton regained the lead for good when Granberg scored on a two-yard run with

6:20 to play in the first half for a 19-14 lead after the attempted two-point

conversion failed. The touchdown capped a seven-play drive of 42 yards, where

Granberg ran for 27 of his team's 42 yards. Sophomore Andrew Day kicked

a 23-yard field with 13-seconds to play in the first half as the Thunder entered

the intermission with a 22-14 lead.

After a scoreless third quarter Wheaton's first play of the fourth quarter

was a four-yard touchdown run by Granberg to give the hosts a 29-14 lead with

14:52 to play in the game. Hope's next drive ended when Wheaton defensive back

Shawn Wildt intercepted a Butler pass at the Wheaton 35-yard line and

returned it to the Hope 49-yard line. Four plays later Bradley found Musso on

a 38-yard touchdown pass to give the Thunder a 36-14 lead with 10:24 to play

in the game. With 8:27 to play Butler found Schrock on a 31-yard touchdown pass

to cut the Thunder lead to 36-20. Wheaton's lead was reduced to 36-26 with 4:19

left in the game when Bloemers scored on a one-yard run to cap a nine-play drive

of 75 yards. Wheaton put the game away with 1:43 to play the game when Price

scored on a nine-yard touchdown run to give the Thunder the 43-26 lead that

would be come the final score.