HOLLAND, Mich. - The Kalamazoo College football team won the "Battle of the Wooden Shoes" with a 30-29 win at Hope in the season finale on Saturday. Kalamazoo's Jacob Hardy made a field goal with two seconds remaining to put the Hornets on top. The field goal was deflected and hit the crossbar before going over.
After a scoreless first quarter, Kalamazoo entered halftime down 13-6. Hope led 20-13 after the third quarter and led 23-13 two minutes into the fourth.
Kalamazoo made it a 23-20 game when Alex White connected with Alex Dietrich on a 21-yard touchdown pass with 9:32 remaining. The Hornets took their first lead of the game (27-23) with 1:27 remaining when White scored on a 10-yard run.
Hope proceeded to go 66 yards on three plays in 39 seconds to retake the lead (29-27) with 41 seconds left. The extra point attempt was blocked leaving the Flying Dutchmen with the two-point lead.
Kalamazoo's Hartlee Lucas returned the kickoff 34 yards to start the drive at the Kalamazoo 44, but a personal foul by Hope moved the Hornets up to the Flying Dutchmen 41. White connected with Dietrich for 38 yards on the next play to advance to the Hope 3. The Hornets tried one pass and two rushing attempts before making the field goal with two seconds remaining.
Hope had one second remaining after the ensuing kickoff, but Kalamazoo's Octavius Sanders intercepted a pass to end the game.
Kalamazoo put up 507 yards of total offense compared to 417 for Hope. The Hornets won despite turning the ball over four times compared to two turnovers by the Flying Dutchmen.
Alex White was 32-of-50 passing for 355 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions for Kalamazoo.
Alex Dietrich had eight catches for 143 yards and two scored. Cameron Shegos made nine catches for 85 yards while Dan Grost had 51 yards on three receptions.
White also led Kalamazoo in rushing with 61 yards on 13 carries with two touchdowns. Running back Shon Powell had 58 yards on 17 carries.
Connor Rzeznik and Dylan Zerki each made eight tackles to lead the Hornet defense. Zerki's total included two and a half tackles for loss. Sanders had five tackles with four pass break ups as well as the game-ending interception.
The win was Kalamazoo's first against Hope since 1995. The Hornets finished the 2014 season 2-8 overall and in sixth place in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association at 2-4.