Monmouth at Hope football 2016
Hope College coach Peter Stuursma. (Cory Olsen | MLive.com File Photo)
(Cory Olsen)
The old adage about not winning football games when you commit turnovers stung deeply within the Hope football team Saturday.
The Flying Dutchmen (0-2) committed eight turnovers (five interceptions and three fumbles) in an 18-6 loss to Defiance (1-1).
After an overwhelming loss in their season opener to Monmouth (Ill.) 44-3, Hope showed moments of solid play but once again forced their defense to shoulder much of the playing time.
Column: Hope fans fear not, Peter Stuursma will lead team back to glory
"I don't know if I've ever been in a game with eight turnovers," Hope coach Peter Stuursma said. "Our defense just kept hanging on and hanging on and getting the ball back for us."
Hope played the first quarter scoreless with Defiance before the Yellow Jackets scored two touchdowns in the second to take a 12-0 lead into halftime.
"I would say we had two or three drives in the first half that we were pretty good but in the second half we shot ourselves in the foot by starting off with a turnover," Stuursma said.
Hope finally got on the board in the fourth quarter on a five yard run by freshman quarterback Bruce Schroeder but when they got the ball back once again, another turnover ended their chance at a comeback.
Schroeder threw all five of Hope's interceptions and fumbled twice while Brandan Campbell fumbled once.
Campbell led Hope with 12 rushes for 64 yards while Cooper Cecchini led the team with five receptions for 78 yards.
In their season opener against Monmouth Stuursma started senior Michael Custer at quarterback but switched to Schroeder in the second half after Custer struggled.
Now he's faced with more questions about who will lead the team.
"We're trying to find a spark at that position," Stuursma said. "We know that if you start a freshman at quarterback things are going to move pretty quick for him.
"We'll find a way to make some changes whether it be personnel or scheme or whatever because those are the only options we have."
Hope converted just one of 11 third down attempts and suffered six sacks.
"We're going to revisit everything," Stuursma said. "Everything about how we do business. I've got confidence in our coaching staff"
Hope will travel to Concordia (Ill.) next Saturday. Game time is 2 p.m. EDT.
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