by Robert Youngs, Jr.

Searching for its first victory of the 2012 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association campaign, the Kalamazoo College football team dropped Saturday's homecoming contest to visiting Hope at Angell Field, 30-7.

Kalamazoo's first two drives resulted in punts, but it was three first half Hornet turnovers on interceptions that kept the offense parked on the sideline for much of the rainy and damp afternoon. Six turnovers total ebbed the official dedication of the new facilities and a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Hope opened up a 14-0 lead late in the first quarter and, on the next drive, K started to get things going. Finally into Flying Dutchmen territory for the first time Saturday, a false start penalty backed the Hornets up across midfield. On the next play, an interception ended any thought of a Kalamazoo score, as the Hornets were marching down the field on rush attempts by junior quarterback Aaron McGuire and senior running back Dimeko Price.

Hope scored again to lead 21-0, and a three-and-out by K seemed to add to the growing sense of anticipation of fans in attendance, already dampened by rainy skies. False start and delay of game penalties pushed the Flying Dutchmen back and were forced to punt after a sack by junior captain Ian Good.

On the Hornets' sixth drive, sunshine finally appeared, and it smiled on the Kalamazoo offense. Mixing in rushes from Price and an 11-yard pass from McGuire to senior receiver Mikael Lott, K found the end zone on the tenth play of the drive, with McGuire finding Lott again for a three-yard strike.

Travis Braun kicked the extra point to cut the Hope lead to 21-7 going into halftime.

After the half, Kalamazoo got the ball and got to near midfield after a nifty shovel pass from McGuire to Price, but the drive stalled after an incompletion. Needing two stops to stay in the contest, the Hornets earned them.

On Hope's first drive, senior cornerback Brandon Casto broke up a pass intended for Hope receiver Vincent Boddy. After a Hornet three-and-out, Kalamazoo forced a fumble, but couldn't grab it. Later, after offsetting personal fouls, Hope was unable to complete two passes, with a big hit on fourth down coming from safety Ryan Gregory on Hope quarterback Michael Atwell.

After the next drive got deep into Hope territory, the drive ended with an interception.  Starting from their own four yard line, Hope was backed up by a stop of Shawn Jackson by junior defensive end Jake Larioza. An incomplete pass forced another Flying Dutchmen punt.

A fumble gave the ball back to Hope and, after a stellar goal line stand by the Hornets and junior linebacker Blake Simon, who stopped Hope fullback Brian Lynn on a dive play at the Kalamazoo one yard line, the Hornets surrendered a safety to push the Hope lead to 23-7.

Freshman cornerback Octavious Sanders broke up a third-and-long pass attempt for the Flying Dutchmen to earn another Hope punt. Kalamazoo had a shot at staking itself closer in the contest, but a long pass completion from McGuire to sophomore receiver Dan Grost was wiped out by a penalty. Two sacks by Hope ended the drive.

Hope running back Reggie Duncan scored three plays into the next drive after getting the short field. The extra point made things 30-7.

Looking for a late spark, freshman quarterback Justin Danzy entered the game and marched K down the field and into the red zone. After completing passes to Jimmy Frye, Price and Lott, yet another interception stopped Kalamazoo at the Hope nine yard line.

Price led the ground attack with 176 yards on 23 carries with a long of 41 for an average of 7.7 yards. McGuire was 14-of-30 passing for 120 yards and the touchdown with a long of 28.

Lott grabbed six passes for 47 yards and a long of 11. Price also had six grabs and Frye had three for 35 yards.

Jake Gallimore had eight tackles in the setback, seven of them solo. Zerki had five tackles, all of them solo, with one for loss. Larioza also added five stops, three solo, 3.5 for loss and two sacks for six yards.

Kalamazoo falls to 3-4 overall and 0-3 in MIAA play. The Hornets hit the road again for an Oct. 27 date with Adrian and a 6 p.m. kickoff. K will be at Alma on Nov. 3 before returning home for Senior Day on Nov. 10 against Olivet.