# 2019 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association football season

The 2019 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association season was the season of college football played by the eight member schools of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) as part of the 2019 NCAA Division III football season.
The Hope Flying Dutchmen won the MIAA championship. Hope quarterback Mason Opple and linebacker Mason Dekker won the awards as offensive and defensive most valuable players of the MIAA.

## Conference overview

| Conf. rank | Team | Head coach | Overall record | Conf. record | Points scored | Points against |
| 1 | Hope | Dustin Beurer | 9–2 | 7–0 | 463 | 210 |
| 2 (tie) | Albion | Peter Stuursma | 8–2 | 5–2 | 435 | 239 |
| 2 (tie) | Olivet | Dan Musielewicz | 8–2 | 5–2 | 331 | 188 |
| 4 (tie) | Alma | Jason Couch | 6–4 | 4–3 | 297 | 199 |
| 4 (tie) | Adrian | Jim Deere | 5–5 | 4–3 | 261 | 376 |
| 6 | Trine | Troy Abbs | 5–5 | 2–6 | 252 | 226 |
| 7 | Kalamazoo | Jamie Zorbo | 2–8 | 1–6 | 169 | 262 |
| 8 | Finlandia | Travis Wiltzius | 0v10 | 0–7 | 79 | 498 |

## All-MIAA honors

At the end of the regular season in November 2019, the MIAA head coaches voted on individual honors, including the following:
* Most Valuable Offensive Player - Mason Opple, Hope
* Most Valuable Defensive Player - Mason Dekker, Hope
* Pete Schmidt Memorial Scholar Athlete Award - Chase Bouschor, Albion
The following players received first-team honors on the 2019 All-MIAA football team:
Offense
* Quarterback - Mason Opple, senior, Hope
* Running backs - Kenyea Houston, sophomore, Hope; Noah McMinn, senior, Olivet
* Wide receivers - Christian Bos, senior, Hope; Justin Thomas, sophomore, Albion; Henry Wilson, junior, Adrian
* Tight end - Joe Cleary, senior, Adrian
* Offensive line - Chase Bouschor, senior, Albion; Jarold Bush, senior, Olivet; Tim Avery, senior, Hope; Zach Smith, senior, Hope; Dan Waber, senior, Olivet
Defense
* Defensive line - Mitch Arendsen, junior, Albion; Jack Babb, senior, Hope; Noah Coplan, junior, Kalamazoo; Miguel Manion, senior, Olivet
* Linebackers - Mason Dekker, senior, Hope; Zeke Ramirez, senior, Alma;; Simeon Washington, senior, Trine; Kolby Williams, senior, Hope
* Defensive backs - Luke Beckhusen, senior, Hope; Tyrone Collins, freshman, Albion; Anthony Merriman, sophomore, Olivet; Isaiah Mason, freshman, Olivet
Special teams
* Punter - Austin Heeres, senior, Hope
* Return specialist - Chase Hinkle, senior, Alma
* Kicker - Cooper West, sophomore, Adrian

## Teams
### Hope

The 2019 Hope Flying Dutchmen football team represented Hope College as a member of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) during the 2019 NCAA Division III football season. Under head coach Peter Stuursma, the Dutchmen compiled a 9–2 record (7–0 against conference opponents) and won the MIAA championship. It was Hope's first outright MIAA championship and its first playoff berth since 2006.
Hope players won the awards as both offensive and defensive most valuable players of the MIAA: quarterback Mason Opple on offense and linebacker Mason Dekker on defense. Opple also set Holland's single season baseball record with 120 RBIs in 2020.
| Date | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance |
| September 6 | at Millikin* | Lindsay FieldDecatur, IL | L 21–27 | 2,400 |
| September 14 | Defiance* | Roy & Sue Smith StadiumHolland, MI | W 80–6 | 2,553 |
| September 21 | Aurora* | Roy & Sue Smith StadiumHolland, MI | W 34–32 | |
| October 5 | at Trine | | W 51–0 | |
| October 12 | Albion | Roy & Sue Smith StadiumHolland, MI | W 52–33 | 2,803 |
| October 19 | at Finlandia | McAfee FieldHancock, MI | W 79–12 | |
| October 26 | at Olivet | Cutler Athletic ComplexOlivet, MI | W 21–7 | 1,105 |
| November 2 | Alma | Roy & Sue Smith StadiumHolland, MI | W 31–24 | 1,822 |
| November 9 | at Kalamazoo | Angell FieldKalamazoo, MI | W 49–21 | 734 |
| November 16 | Adrian | Roy & Sue Smith StadiumHolland, MI | W 42–7 | 2,001 |
| November 23 | Wartburg* | Roy & Sue Smith StadiumHolland, MI (NCAA Division III playoffs) | L 3–41 | 2,384 |
| *Non-conference game ||||||

### Albion

The 2019 Albion Britons football team represented the Albion College as a member of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) during the 2019 NCAA Division III football season. Under head coach Dustin Beurer, the Britons compiled an 8–2 record (5–2 against conference opponents) and finished in second place in the MIAA.
| Date | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance |
| September 7 | Defiance* | Sprankle-Sprandel StadiumAlbion, MI | W 56–6 | 4,632 |
| September 14 | at Franklin* | Faught StadiumFranklin, IN | W 48–26 | 3,000 |
| September 21 | Eureka* | Sprankle-Sprandel StadiumAlbion, MI | W 56–41 | 3,796 |
| October 5 | Alma | Sprankle-Sprandel StadiumAlbion, MI | L 28–32 | 4,244 |
| October 12 | at Hope | Roy & Sue Smith StadiumHolland, MI | L 33–52 | 2,803 |
| October 19 | at Kalamazoo | Angell FieldKalamazoo, MI | W 37–17 | 1,402 |
| October 26 | Adrian | Sprankle-Sprandel StadiumAlbion, MI | W 69–24 | 1,501 |
| November 2 | Trine | Sprankle-Sprandel StadiumAlbion, MI | W 24–14 | 964 |
| November 9 | at Finlandia | McAfee FieldHancock, MI | W 54–6 | 357 |
| November 16 | at Olivet | Cutler Athletic ComplexOlivet, MI | W 30–21 | 1,250 |
| *Non-conference game ||||||

### Olivet

The 2019 Olivet Comets football team represented Olivet College as a member of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) during the 2019 NCAA Division III football season. Under head coach Dan Musielewicz, the Comets compiled an 8–2 record (5–2 against conference opponents) and finished in a tie for second place in the MIAA.
| Date | Opponent | Site | Result |
| September 7 | at Wilmington (OH)* | Williams StadiumWilmington, OH | W 20–7 |
| September 14 | Concordia (IL)* | Concordia StadiumRiver Forest, IL | W 54–24 |
| September 21 | Benedictine (IL) | Cutler Athletic ComplexOlivet, MI | W 21–6 |
| October 5 | at Finlandia | McAfee FieldHancock, MI | W 63–6 |
| October 12 | Adrian | Cutler Athletic ComplexOlivet, MI | W 21–17 |
| October 19 | at Trine | Fred Zollner Athletic StadiumAngola, IN | W 34–17 |
| October 26 | Hope | Cutler Athletic ComplexOlivet, MI | L 7–21 |
| November 2 | at Kalamazoo | Angell FieldKalamazoo, MI | W 30–20 |
| November 9 | at Alma | Bahlke FieldAlma, MI | W 28–13 |
| November 16 | Albion | Cutler Athletic ComplexOlivet, MI | L 21–30 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecoming ||||||

### Alma

The 2019 Alma Scots football team represented Alma College as a member of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) during the 2019 NCAA Division III football season. In their second season under head coach Jason Couch, the Scots compiled a 6–4 record (4–3 against conference opponents) and tied for fourth place in the MIAA.
| Date | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance |
| September 7 | Baldwin Wallace | Bahlke FieldAlma, MI | L 14–31 | 1,359 |
| September 14 | at Manchester (IN) | Burt FieldNorth Manchester, IN | W 35–7 | 515 |
| September 21 | Rockford (IL) | Bahlke FieldAlma, MI | W 51–16 | 2,042 |
| October 5 | at Albion | Sprankle-Sprandel StadiumAlbion, MI | W 32–28 | 4,244 |
| October 12 | Trine | Bahlke FieldAlma, MI | W 23–14 | 1,091 |
| October 19 | at Adrian | Docking StadiumAdrian, MI | L 31–34 | 3,001 |
| October 26 | Kalamazoo | Bahlke FieldAlma, MI | W 28–10 | 1,168 |
| November 2 | at Hope | Ray & Sue Smith StadiumHolland, MI | L 24–31 | 1,822 |
| November 9 | Olivet | Bahlke FieldAlma, MI | L 13–28 | 1,122 |
| November 16 | Finlandia | Bahlke FieldAlma, MI | W 46–0 | 743 |

### Adrian

The 2019 Adrian Bulldogs football team represented Adrian College as a member of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) during the 2019 NCAA Division III football season. Under head coach Jim Deere, the Bulldogs compiled a 5–5 record (4–3 against conference opponents) and tied for fourth place in the MIAA.
| Date | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance |
| September 7 | Heidelberg* | Docking StadiumAdrian, MI | L 7–57 | 2,247 |
| September 14 | at Hanover* | Alumni stadiumHanover, IN | L 28–49 | 2,593 |
| September 21 | Wisconsin Lutheran* | Docking StadiumAdrian, MI | W 32–29 | 3,719 |
| October 5 | Kalamazoo | Docking StadiumAdrian, MI | W 30–27 | 1,246 |
| October 12 | at Olivet | Cutler Athletic ComplexOlivet, MI | L 17–21 | 5,555 |
| October 19 | Alma | Docking StadiumAdrian, MI | W 34–31 | 3,001 |
| October 26 | at Albion | Sprankle-Sprandel StadiumAlbion, MI | L 24–69 | 1,501 |
| November 2 | at Finlandia | McAfee FieldHancock, MI | W 48–24 | 480 |
| November 9 | Trine | Docking StadiumAdrian, MI | W 34–26 | 529 |
| November 16 | at Hope | Ray & Sue Smith StadiumHolland, MI | L 7–42 | 2,001 |
| *Non-conference game ||||||

### Trine

The 2019 Trine Thunder football team represented the Trine University as a member of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) during the 2019 NCAA Division III football season. Under head coach Troy Abbs, the Thunder compiled a 5–5 record (2–5 against conference opponents) and finished in sixth place in the MIAA.
| Date | Opponent | Site | Result |
| September 5 | at Manchester* | Burt FieldNorth Manchester, IN | W 38–21 |
| September 14 | at Bluffton* | Bluffton, OH | W 35–20 |
| September 21 | Concordia Wisconsin* | Fred Zollner Athletic StadiumAngola, IN | W 21–16 |
| October 5 | Hope | Fred Zollner Athletic StadiumAngola, IN | L 0–51 |
| October 12 | at Alma | Bahlke FieldAlma, MI | L 14–23 |
| October 19 | Olivet | Fred Zollner Athletic StadiumAngola, IN | L 17–34 |
| October 26 | Finlandia | Fred Zollner Athletic StadiumAngola, IN | W 58–0 |
| November 2 | at Albion | Sprankle-Sprandel StadiumAlbion, MI | L 14–24 |
| November 9 | at Adrian | Docking StadiumAdrian, MI | L 26–34 |
| November 16 | Kalamazoo | Fred Zollner Athletic StadiumAngola, IN | W 29–3 |
| *Non-conference game ||||||

### Kalamazoo

The 2019 Kalamazoo Hornets football team represented Kalamazoo College as a member of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) during the 2019 NCAA Division III football season. The Hornets compiled a 2–8 record (1–6 against conference opponents) and finished in seventh place in the MIAA.
It was Jamie Zorbo's 12th season as Kalamazoo's head football coach.
| Date | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance |
| September 7 | at Oberlin | Knowlton ComplexOberlin, OH | W 3–0 | 1,231 |
| September 14 | at Greenville | Francis FieldGreenville, IL | L 17–31 | 500 |
| September 21 | Lakeland | Angell FieldKalamazoo, MI | L 7–28 | 698 |
| October 5 | at Adrian | Docking StadiumAdrian, MI | L 27–30 | 1,246 |
| October 12 | Finlandia | Angell FieldKalamazoo, MI | W 44–0 | 562 |
| October 19 | Albion | Angell FieldKalamazoo, MI | L 17–37 | 1,402 |
| October 26 | at Alma | Bahlke FieldAlma, MI | L 10–28 | 1,168 |
| November 2 | Olivet | Angell FieldKalamazoo, MI | L 20–30 | 639 |
| November 9 | Hope | Angell FieldKalamazoo, MI | L 21–49 | 734 |
| November 16 | at Trine | Fred Zollner Athletic StadiumAngola, IN | L 3–29 | 1,100 |
| Homecoming ||||||

### Finlandia

The 2019 Finlandia Lions football team represented Finlandia University as a member of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) during the 2019 NCAA Division III football season. Under head coach Travis Wiltzius, the Lions compiled a 0–10 record (0–8 against conference opponents) and finished in last place in the MIAA.
| Date | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance |
| September 7 | Concordia (WI)* | McAfee FieldHacock, MI | L 7–38 | 657 |
| September 14 | Ripon* | McAfee FieldHancock, MI | L 12–45 | 527 |
| September 21 | Concordia-Chicago}* | McAfee FieldHancock, MI | L 12–23 | 657 |
| October 5 | Olivet | McAfee FieldHancock, MI | L 6–63 | 637 |
| October 12 | at Kalamazoo | Angell FieldKalamazoo, MI | L 0–44 | 562 |
| October 19 | Hope | McAfee FieldHancock, MI | L 12–79 | 475 |
| October 26 | at Trine | Fred Zollner Athletic StadiumAngola, IN | L 0–58 | 1,007 |
| November 2 | Adrian | McAfee FieldHancock, MI | L 24–48 | 480 |
| November 9 | Albion | McAfee FieldHancock, MI | L 6–54 | 357 |
| November 16 | at Alma | Alma, MI | L 0–46 | 743 |
| *Non-conference game ||||||