Chargers' 'do or die' time
Liz Klimas
Issue date: 11/8/07 Section: Sports
Charger football players lingered on the field in Findlay, Ohio, Saturday afternoon soaking in the unseasonably warm November sunshine and their 45-7 victory over University of Findlay.
The team broke six school records this past weekend, and find themselves facing their final step toward potentially making it into the playoffs this weekend.
"It's been a long time since the games in November meant something [for the playoffs]," junior Aaron Waldie said. "We all know what is on the line this week. It's either do or die for us."
Quarterback and senior Mark Nicolet led the team to three new school records: he is the first quarterback in Hillsdale football history to throw more than 3,000 yards in a single season; he set a new single-season record with 29 passing touchdowns and aided the team in reaching 411 points for the season.
"Anyone on offense or defense would give up any record to make the playoffs," Nicolet said. "We weren't talking about breaking records, when we made our goal. If we win our game 10-7 Saturday, that would be fine. A team goal is always greater than an individual goal."
After one touchdown in the first quarter, the Chargers kicked their game into high gear in the second. Waldie scored the last five Charger touchdowns of the game. While the offense didn't put points on the board in the fourth, the defense stopped the Oilers and allowed them to score only once in the second.
"Once we got one we continued to pour it on," Nicolet said. "We buried them."
Waldie, in scoring five touchdowns, broke the school record for number of touchdown receptions in one game; in the process he shattered the school record for the most touchdown receptions in a season with 17. Waldie was also named GLIAC Offensive Player of the Week Monday and leads the GLIAC in receiving yards and touchdown catches.
Defensively, junior Tom Korte led the team with 11 tackles and one interception. Senior Jared Kell acquired an interception, and junior Marcellus Wade, freshman Cody Henderson and senior Josh Hutchison each had six tackles.
Hillsdale will hit the field against Saginaw Valley State University in their last home and final game of the season. The Chargers have not lost at home this year.
"Hillsdale has to beat Saginaw to have a chance at the playoffs," head coach Keith Otterbein said. "If we win and then fall short because the system goes a certain way, so be it. But we have to win to even have that chance."
Saginaw pulls in at fourth place in the GLIAC trailing the Chargers who place in third. Hillsdale places seventh in the Division II Northwest Regional Rankings. The top six schools in the region, based on number of wins and strength of schedule will go to the playoffs Nov. 17.
"If the students are going to come, if they are going to listen to the editorial in The Collegian written two weeks ago, this is the time," Nicolet said. "We really need them there."
Hillsdale College Collegian 2007
The team broke six school records this past weekend, and find themselves facing their final step toward potentially making it into the playoffs this weekend.
"It's been a long time since the games in November meant something [for the playoffs]," junior Aaron Waldie said. "We all know what is on the line this week. It's either do or die for us."
Quarterback and senior Mark Nicolet led the team to three new school records: he is the first quarterback in Hillsdale football history to throw more than 3,000 yards in a single season; he set a new single-season record with 29 passing touchdowns and aided the team in reaching 411 points for the season.
"Anyone on offense or defense would give up any record to make the playoffs," Nicolet said. "We weren't talking about breaking records, when we made our goal. If we win our game 10-7 Saturday, that would be fine. A team goal is always greater than an individual goal."
After one touchdown in the first quarter, the Chargers kicked their game into high gear in the second. Waldie scored the last five Charger touchdowns of the game. While the offense didn't put points on the board in the fourth, the defense stopped the Oilers and allowed them to score only once in the second.
"Once we got one we continued to pour it on," Nicolet said. "We buried them."
Waldie, in scoring five touchdowns, broke the school record for number of touchdown receptions in one game; in the process he shattered the school record for the most touchdown receptions in a season with 17. Waldie was also named GLIAC Offensive Player of the Week Monday and leads the GLIAC in receiving yards and touchdown catches.
Defensively, junior Tom Korte led the team with 11 tackles and one interception. Senior Jared Kell acquired an interception, and junior Marcellus Wade, freshman Cody Henderson and senior Josh Hutchison each had six tackles.
Hillsdale will hit the field against Saginaw Valley State University in their last home and final game of the season. The Chargers have not lost at home this year.
"Hillsdale has to beat Saginaw to have a chance at the playoffs," head coach Keith Otterbein said. "If we win and then fall short because the system goes a certain way, so be it. But we have to win to even have that chance."
Saginaw pulls in at fourth place in the GLIAC trailing the Chargers who place in third. Hillsdale places seventh in the Division II Northwest Regional Rankings. The top six schools in the region, based on number of wins and strength of schedule will go to the playoffs Nov. 17.
"If the students are going to come, if they are going to listen to the editorial in The Collegian written two weeks ago, this is the time," Nicolet said. "We really need them there."
Hillsdale College Collegian 2007
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