# 2023 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association football season

The 2023 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association season was the season of college football played by the seven member schools of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) as part of the 2023 NCAA Division III football season.
The Alma Scots, in their sixth year under head coach Jason Crouch, compiled a 10–0 record in the regular season and won the program's second consecutive MIAA championship. They advanced to the NCAA Division III Football Championship playoffs, winning in the first and second rounds, but losing to national champion Cortland (41-58) in a quarterfinal match. They averaged 46.8 points per game and outscored opponents by a total of 609 to 259. Quarterback Carter St. John led the team with 3,323 passing yards and won the postseason award as the most valuable player in the conference.
The Hope Flying Dutchmen, led by head coach Peter Stuursma, compiled an 8–2 record (5–1 in conference games) and finished in second place in the MIAA. Running back Chance Strickland was chosen for the All-MIAA team.

## Conference overview

| Conf. rank | Team | Head coach | Overall record | Conf. record | Points scored | Points against |
| 1 | Alma | Jason Couch | 12–1 | 6–0 | 609 | 259 |
| 2 | Hope | Peter Stuursma | 8–2 | 5–1 | 360 | 232 |
| 3 | Trine | Troy Abbs | 6–4 | 4–2 | 358 | 304 |
| 4 | Albion | Travis Rundle | 7–3 | 3–3 | 322 | 210 |
| 5 | Olivet | Dan Musielewicz | 4–6 | 2–4 | 236 | 315 |
| 6 | Kalamazoo | Jamie Zorbo | 5–5 | 1–5 | 297 | 341 |
| 7 | Adrian | Jim Deere | 1–9 | 0–6 | 191 | 328 |

## All-MIAA honors

At the end of the regular season in November 2022, the MIAA head coaches voted on individual honors, including the following:
* Most Valuable Player, Offense - Carter St. John, Alma
* Most Valuable Defensive Player - Nick Fannon, Albion
* Pete Schmidt Memorial Scholar Athlete Award - SirQuarius Bell, Olivet
The following players received first-team honors on the 2023 All-MIAA football team:
Offense
* Quarterback - Carter St. John, Alma
* Running back - Chance Strickland, Hope; Dontal Wright, Olivet
* Wide receivers - Kyle Bristow, Albion; Devon Frenchko, Alma; Grant Holtzer, Hope
* Tight end - Nate Webb, Alma
* Offensive line - Dylan Clem, Hope; Alexander Lewis, Trine; Jackson Linback, Trine; Jonathan Sasiela, Adrian; Reese Townsend, Alma
Defense
* Defensive line - Nick Fannon, Albion; Jamon Gibson, Trine; Jerome Roberson, Alma; Hunter Sanderson, Ala
* Linebackers - Eli Jackson, Alma; Cole Luhmann, Hope; Odin sffredine, Alma; Alex Olenik, Albion
* Cornerbacks - Drew Humm, Alma; Larry Platt, Albion
* Safeties - Nick Fegler, Hope; Bryce Fredenburg, Alma
Special teams
* Kicker - Ian Burr, Kalamazoo
* Punter - Chris Bowman, Albion
* Return specialist - Zach Poff, Alma

## Teams
### Alma

The 2023 Alma Scots football team represented Alma College as a member of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) during the 2023 NCAA Division III football season. In their sixth season under head coach Jason Couch, the Scots compiled an 12–1 record (6–0 against conference opponents), won the MIAA championship, and were ranked No. 11 nationally at the end of the regular season. They advanced to the Division III playoffs where they won games in the first and second rounds, but lost to Cortland in the quarterfinals.
The team's statistical leaders included quarterback Carter St. John with 3,323 passing yards, Eddie Williams with 686 rushing yards, Zach Poff with 90 points scored, Devon Frenchko with 1,259 receiving yards, and Odin Soffredine with 104 total tackles.
| Date | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance |
| September 2 | Ohio Northern* | Bahlke FieldAlma, MI | W 52–7 | 2,463 |
| September 9 | at Manchester* | Spartan StadiumNorth Manchester, IN | W 68–0 | 250 |
| September 16 | Anderson* | Bahlke FieldAlma, MI | W 60–14 | 1,485 |
| September 23 | at Wittenberg* | Edwards-Maurer FieldSpringfield, OH | W 48–28 | 1,527 |
| September 30 | Trine | Bahlke FieldAlma, MI | W 70–30 | 2,132 |
| October 14 | at Hope | Ray & Sue Smith StadiumHolland, MI | W 35–17 | 2,870 |
| October 21 | Kalamazoo | Bahlke FieldAlma, MI | W 43–10 | 1,741 |
| October 28 | Olivet | Bahlke FieldAlma, MI | W 41–20 | 1,859 |
| November 4 | at Adrian | Docking StadiumAdrian, MI | W 45–24 | 1,946 |
| November 11 | at Albion | Sprankle-SprandelAlbion, MI | W 50–14 | 1,450 |
| November 18 | DePauw | Bahlke FieldAlma, MI | W 32–17 | 1,975 |
| November 25 | at Mount Union | Kehres StadiumAlliance, OH | W 24–20 | 1,785 |
| December 2 | Cortland | Bahlke FieldAlma, MI | L 41–58 | 2,542 |
| *Non-conference game ||||||

### Hope

The 2023 Hope Flying Dutchmen football team represented Hope College as a member of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) during the 2023 NCAA Division III football season. In their seventh season under head coach Peter Stuursma, the Dutchmen compiled an 8–2 record (5–1 against conference opponents) and finished in second place in the MIAA.
| Date | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance |
| September 2 | at Aurora* | Spartan Athletic ParkAurora, IL | L 17–38 | 1,127 |
| September 9 | Loras* | Ray & Sue Smith StadiumHolland, MI | W 42–28 | 2,344 |
| September 16 | Mount St. Joseph* | Ray and Sue Smith StadiumHolland, MI | W 40–35 | 2,124 |
| September 23 | Northwestern (MN)* | Ray and Sue Smith StadiumHolland, MI | W 54–17 | 1,850 |
| September 30 | at Adrian | Docking StadiumAdrian, MI | W 30–21 | 1,294 |
| October 7 | Albion | Ray and Sue Smith StadiumHolland, MI | W 14–6 | 1,606 |
| October 14 | Alma | Ray and Sue Smith StadiumHolland, MI | L 17–35 | 2,870 |
| October 21 | at Olivet | Cutler Athletic ComplexOlivet, MI | W 45–7 | 3,215 |
| October 28 | at Kalamazoo | Angell FieldKalamazoo, MI | W 63–17 | 985 |
| November 4 | Trine | Ray and Sue Smith StadiumHolland, MI | W 38–28 | 2,033 |
| *Non-conference game ||||||

### Trine

The 2023 Trine Thunder football team represented Trine University as a member of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) during the 2023 NCAA Division III football season. In their ninth year under head coach Troy Abbs, the Thunder compiled a 6–4 record (4–2 against conference opponents) and finished in third place in the MIAA.
| Date | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance |
| September 2 | at Anderson* | Macholtz StadiumAnderson, IN | W 61–0 | 946 |
| September 9 | Rose-Hulman* | Fred Zollner Athletic StadiumAngola, IN | L 28–30 | 5,145 |
| September 16 | Franklin* | Fred Zollner Athletic StadiumAngola, IN | W 58–43 | 4,165 |
| September 23 | at Hanover* | Alumni StadiumHanover, IN | L 14–38 | 2,957 |
| September 30 | at Alma | Alma, MI | L 30–70 | 2,132 |
| October 7 | Adrian | Fred Zollner StadiumAngola, IN | W 34–14 | 5,312 |
| October 14 | Olivet | Fred Zollner Athletic StadiumAngola, IN | W 28–14 | 1,258 |
| October 21 | at Albion | Sprankle-SprandelAlbion, MI | W 35–28 | 1,087 |
| November 4 | at Hope | Ray & Sue Smith StadiumHolland, MI | L 28–38 | 2,033 |
| November 11 | Kalamazoo | Fred Zollner Athletic StadiumAngola, IN | W 42–29 | 5,213 |
| *Non-conference game ||||||

### Albion

The 2023 Albion Britons football team represented Albion College as a member of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) during the 2023 NCAA Division III football season. In their first season under head coach Travis Rundle, the Britons compiled a 7–3 record (3–3 against conference opponents) and finished third in the MIAA.
| Date | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance |
| September 2 | at Carthage | Art Keller FieldKenosha, WI | W 41–20 | 1,050 |
| September 9 | at Bluffton | Alumni FieldBluffton, OH | W 42–20 | 600 |
| September 16 | Rose-Hulman | Sprankle-Sprandel StadiumAlbion, MI | W 48–19 | 2,874 |
| September 23 | Wisconsin-Stevens Point | Sprankle-Sprandel StadiumAlbion, MI | W 30–7 | 2,019 |
| September 30 | Kalamazoo | Sprankle-Sprandel StadiumAlbion, MI | W 44–17 | 4,069 |
| October 7 | at Hope | Ray & Sue Smith StadiumHolland, MI | L 6–14 | 1,606 |
| October 21 | Trine | Sprankle-Sprandel StadiumAlbion, MI | L 28–35 | 1,087 |
| October 28 | at Adrian | Docking StadiumAdrian, MI | W 34–21 | 342 |
| November 4 | at Olivet | Cutler Athletic ComplexOlivet, MI | W 35–7 | 1,250 |
| November 11 | Alma | Sprankle-Sprandel StadiumAlbion, MI | L 14–50 | 1,450 |

### Olivet

The 2023 Olivet Comets football team represented The University of Olivet as a member of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) during the 2023 NCAA Division III football season. In their seventh year under head coach Dan Musielewicz, the Comets compiled a 4–6 record (2–4 against conference opponents), were outscored by a total of 315 to 236, and finished in fifth place in the MIAA.
| Date | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance |
| September 2 | at Franklin* | Faught StadiumFranklin, IN | W 35–32 | 1,432 |
| September 9 | at Wooster* | John P. Papp StadiumWoster, OH | L 22–24 | 2,795 |
| September 16 | Hanover* | Cutler FieldOlivet, MI | L 17–67 | 1,905 |
| September 30 | Alfred State* | Cutler FieldOlivet, MI | W 40–19 | 1,255 |
| October 7 | at Kalamazoo | Angell FieldKalamazoo, MI | W 42–14 | 1,000 |
| October 14 | at Trine | Fred Zollner Athletic StadiumAngola, IN | L 14–28 | 1,258 |
| October 21 | Hope | Cutler FielOlivet, MI | L 7–57 | 3,215 |
| October 28 | at Alma | Bahlke FieldAlma, MI | L 20–41 | 1,859 |
| November 4 | Albion | Cutler FieldOlivet, MI | L 7–35 | 1,250 |
| November 11 | Adrian | Cutler FieldOlivet, MI | W 32–10 | 1,205 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecoming ||||||

### Kalamazoo

The 2023 Kalamazoo Hornets football team represented Kalamazoo College as a member of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) during the 2023 NCAA Division III football season. In their 16th year under head coach Jamie Zorbo, the Hornets compiled a 5–5 record (1–5 in conference games) and finished in sixth place in the MIAA.
Kicker Ian Burr converted nine of twelve field goal attempts, also punted 47 times (including 11 inside the 20), and was named to the All-MIAA team.
| Date | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance |
| September 2 | Oberlin* | Angell FieldKalamazoo, MI | W 42–10 | 833 |
| September 9 | at Kenyon* | McBride FieldGambier, OH | W 48–16 | 521 |
| September 16 | Defiance* | Angell FieldKalamazoo, MI | W 42–35 | 688 |
| September 30 | at Albion | Sprankle-SprandelAlbion, MI | L 17–44 | 4,069 |
| October 7 | Olivet | Angell FieldKalamazoo, MI | L 14–42 | |
| October 14 | Adrian | Angell FieldKalamazoo, MI | W 45–23 | |
| October 21 | at Alma | Bahlke FieldAlma, MI | L 10–43 | 1,741 |
| October 28 | Hope | Angell FieldKalamazoo, MI | L 17–63 | 985 |
| November 3 | at Greenville* | Don Stout FieldGreenville, IL | W 33–23 | 500 |
| November 11 | at Trine | Fred Zollner Athletic StadiumAngola, IN | L 29–42 | 5,213 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecoming ||||||

### Adrian

The 2023 Adrian Bulldogs football team represented Adrian College as a member of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) during the 2023 NCAA Division III football season. Under head coach Jim Deere and interim head coach Harry Bailey, the Bulldogs compiled a 1–9 record (0–6 against conference opponents) and tied for third place in the MIAA.
| Date | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance |
| September 2 | at Elmhurst* | Langhorst FieldElmhurst, IL | L 3–14 | 789 |
| September 9 | Defiance* | Docking StadiumAdrian, MI | L 17–34 | 1,293 |
| September 16 | Bluffton* | Docking StadiumAdrian, MI | W 23–15 | 500 |
| September 23 | at Greenville* | Don Stout FieldGreenville, IL | L 35–45 | 500 |
| September 30 | Hope | Docking StadiumAdrian, MI | L 21–30 | 1,294 |
| October 7 | at Trine | Fred Zollner Athletic StadiumAngola, IN | L 14–34 | 5,312 |
| October 14 | at Kalamazoo | Angell FieldKalamazoo, MI | L 23–45 | 617 |
| October 18 | Albion | Docking StadiumAdrian, MI | L 21–34 | 342 |
| November 4 | Alma | Docking StadiumAdrian, MI | L 24–45 | 1,946 |
| November 11 | at Olivet | Cutler Athletic ComplexOlivet, MI | L 10–32 | 1,205 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecoming ||||||