The Aurora University Spartan football team had the 2024 season come to an end in the second round of the NCAA Division III playoffs. AU fell to Hope College 49-21 as the Spartans were unable to overcome five turnovers in the contest. For a third consecutive year the Spartans made at least a trip to the second round.


FINAL SCORE: Hope College 49, Aurora University 21
LOCATION: Holland, Michigan
RECORDS: Aurora University 9-2 overall (8-0 NACC); Hope College 11-0 overall (7-0 MIAA)


- The Spartans took the opening kickoff and marched 78-yards in nine plays for a score.
- Antonio Ramsey put AU ahead 7-0 with a four-yard scoring run.
- Hope answered on their first drive with a six-play scoring drive to tie the game 7-7.
- After AU punted on their second possession, the AU defense and Deuce Moore forced the games first turnover.
- Moore sacked the Hope quarterback, forced a fumble on the fourth down play to give AU possession again.
- 7-7 would be the score after one quarter of action.
- The Spartans appeared on the verge of scoring again but a fumble, the first AU turnover of the game at the Hope 23 ended the scoring chance.
- The AU defense then forced Hope to punt but the turnover bug hit the Spartans again.
- The second Spartan fumble came at the AU 18 yard line giving the hosts field position in the red zone.
- Two plays later Hope scored to go ahead 14-7.
- Hope took momentum from the two AU turnovers forcing an AU punt.
- With seconds left in the first-half, Hope scored to take a 21-7 lead going into halftime.
- Hope returned the second-half kickoff to midfield and needed four plays and a long scoring run to take a 28-7 lead.
- Spartan Tyler Adkins threw an interception on the following AU possession with the Hope defender returning deep in AU territory.
- Hope took advantage of the turnover again and led 35-7 with 11 minutes to play in the third.
- The Spartans showed they would not go home quietly on their next possession scoring on four-plays in 1:30. Adkins found Trey Urwiler for the score and AU trailed 35-14.
- The defense from AU forced Hope to punt and the offense marched down field again.
- On the third play of the fourth quarter, Adkins found Urwiler and AU was within two scores at 35-21.
- Hope would answer the AU score on their next drive to go ahead 42-21.
- On the first-play of the next AU drive, Adkins found Steven Gonzalez for a 54-yard catch and run deep into Hope territory.
- Unfortunately for the Spartans, the turnover bug struck again on the next play. Adkins was intercepted in the Hope end zone ending the AU scoring chance.
- Hope marched down field and scored to all but seal the contest with a 49-21 lead with five minutes to play.
- After the teams each traded punts, Adkins was picked off for a third time with just under two minutes left in the game.
- The Spartans would fall to Hope 49-21.


Rushing:
 - Carries: Tyler Adkins (8) 
 - Yards: Tyler Adkins (44)
- Touchdown: Antonio Ramsey (1)
Passing:
- Tyler Adkins (27-of-40 for 302 yards with three touchdowns and three interceptions)
Receiving:
 - Catches: Avron Carter (10) and Trey Urwiler (7) 
 - Yards: Steven Gonzalez (96), Trey Urwiler (86) and Avron Carter (84).
 - Touchdowns: Trey Urwiler (2)
Defense:
- Tackles: Andrew Nordland (10) and Dylan Regnier-Jamnik (8)
- Sacks: JP Chaney and Deuce Moore (1.0)
- Forced Fumble: Deuce Moore (1)