De’Llontae Johnson

HANCOCK — Two young football programs will get together Saturday afternoon when Finlandia University hosts Robert Morris-Peoria at 1 p.m. at McAfee Field.

The Colonials, who are 1-4 on the season, began their program in 2013, while the Finlandia Lions started up the sport in 2015.

Finlandia coach Tim Driscoll has been pleased with the progress made by the 1-2 Lions this season.

“We’ve shown steady improvement in the Lawrence and Lewis Clark College games,” Driscoll said. “We’ve found our offense in those games.”

Finlandia was especially proficient in a 54-44 win over Lewis Clark last week, scoring a school record in points.

Freshman quarterback De’Llontae Johnson has rushed for more than 100 yards and accounted for over 100 yards passing in the past two games.

“He (Johnson) has shown some of the athletic ability we knew he had,” Driscoll noted. “He can make things happen because of that ability.”

Tailback Justin Woolever has been steady this season and picked up 104 yards rushing last week.

Junior Dillon Hueckstaedt has been a two-way performer for the locals, starting at fullback and also playing linebacker.

The former Baraga High product is a good blocker who has caught two touchdown passes this season. On defense, he averages better than 10 tackles a game.

“Dillon has been one of our steadiest players the past two years,” Driscoll said. “We ask him to do a lot of things.”

Newcomer Taylor Bonetti had a pair of interceptions last week.

Not a great deal is known about RM-P. The Colonials have played Rockford College and Morford College this season. Their lone win was over the Wisconsin-Milwaukee Club team.

“From the film we’ve seen on them, we know they like to run the football,” Driscoll said. “So, we’ll have to work on that aspect of the game.”