Chargers 3 games from playoffs
Liz Klimas
Issue date: 10/25/07 Section: Sports
| |
| |
| |
|
Charger football defeated Mercyhurst University 42-33 Saturday and Wayne State University 35-21 Oct. 13 adding two more wins to their record bringing them to 6-2 in the GLIAC. They face 7-1 Tiffin University in a non-conference game this weekend at home and hope to make it three in a row.
"This game matters only if we lose because it will affect our overall standings," head coach Keith Otterbein said Monday. "The closer we get to our target [making the playoffs] the more tangible it becomes. My message to the team this week will be to stay focused on the task at hand. We need to stay focused during our success and can't be distracted by the goal we set as it gets closer and closer."
The Chargers dug themselves into a hole Saturday against Mercyhurst in Erie, Pa., by allowing the Lakers to score 14 points in the first five minutes.
"There was still a confidence in the team at this point," said co-captain and quarterback Mark Nicolet, a senior. "There was no panic at all. Offensively we knew we were going to score a lot of points."
Hillsdale made one touchdown to narrow the gap in the first quarter, then exceeded and secured a lead for the rest of the game with 21 points in the second. Hillsdale was up 28-21 heading into halftime.
"We were able to run the ball very effectively on offense and the defense made third down stops when we needed it," junior Vinnie Panizzi said. "It was just us doing the right things at the right times."
Panizzi, who scored three rushing touchdowns, said the offense really stepped up their running game to compensate for windy conditions.
"We are usually more pass oriented but with the wind our running game was really effective," senior Brett Lark said.
While the running game was successful, Nicolet threw three interceptions which he said
was humbling after being announced one of 16 Division II semifinalists for the Draddy Award - the National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete Award, given to a player excelling on the field and in the classroom.
"It really put things into perspective," he said. "Throwing three interceptions and the team overcoming those mistakes was a positive thing."
Junior and co-captain Tom Korte was back on the defensive line against Mercyhurst after
sitting out for Wayne State with an injury. Korte was named GLIAC Defensive Player of the Week Monday for his performance against Mercyhurst. He helped seal the Charger's win with two interceptions - one late in the fourth quarter - and a team-high of eight tackles.
"It was great to win another away game," Korte said with Hillsdale now being 2-2 on away games. "We needed to prove to ourselves we could win on the road. We got down early but did not give up and persevered through it."
One thing the team also did well, Otterbein said, was going 6-6 in the red zone.
"Once we got there we were able to put it in the end zone every time."
Over Parent Weekend, the Chargers defeated Wayne State in a back-and-forth game.
Heading into the fourth quarter the Chargers faced a mere one-point deficit. Defense stepped up, keeping the Warriors out of the end zone for the quarter, while Charger offense took 15 points for a final score of 35-21.
"We played well enough but have some things we need to work on for next week," Otterbein said to the Collegian after the Oct. 13 game.
The Chargers play Tiffin at 2:30 Saturday in "Muddy" Waters Field.
"Last year we went to Tiffin and lost a game we probably should have won," junior Aaron Waldie said. "Tiffin is definitely good this year and it is exciting to get the chance to play them again at home."
Be the first to comment on this story