Blowout energizes chargers
An overwhelming win against SJC pumps up Chargers for trip ahead
Liz Klimas
Issue date: 9/4/08 Section: Sports
With one overwhelming win under their belt, the Hillsdale College football team makes the trek to Michigan Technological University this weekend.
They seek to conquer a team they haven't beaten on away games since 1996.
Michigan Tech visited Muddy Waters Field last year, where the Chargers deftly sent them packing, 36-0, with their tails between their legs.
In 2006 the Chargers traveled to the Upper Peninsula and kept the score close but fell short, losing 13-7.
This year, with an 11-hour trip and a half-dozen movies in store, Hillsdale aims to break the trend of losing while on the Huskies' turf.
Senior linebacker and co-captain Tom Korte said last weekend's win against the St. Joseph College Pumas was a warm-up.
He said he thinks the ending score against Tech will be a better indicator of where Hillsdale may end up in the GLIAC this year.
"We're looking at Tech as the first real game," Korte said. "This game will show us how good we really are."
The Chargers beat the Pumas 49-6 christening Muddy Waters Field with its first win of the season. Last year, the Chargers were able to shut out the Pumas 49-0.
Sophomore quarterback Troy Weatherhead took the field completing 19 of 22 passes for 237 yards. Senior A.J. Kegg also kept the offense going with career highs of two touchdowns and nine receptions for 129 yards.
On the defensive side, the Chargers only slipped once as the Pumas went for a 71-yard touchdown.
"We played really well and a lot of guys on the [defense] got to play," Korte said.
This weekend's game is the season's first conference game, and Otterbein also said it will allow the Chargers to see just where they stand.
"There are still a lot of question marks and things to prove as a football team," he said.
Otterbein said the Chargers will be watching the Huskies' quarterback Steve Short specifically.
"Their quarterback is a play-maker type of guy," Otterbein said. "He's the key to their success."
On the Chargers' side, Otterbein said he hopes to create many problems for the Huskies by using a
variety of weapons.
Otterbein referenced the St. Joseph game, saying they tried to cover senior Aaron Waldie, and while they did that, they left senior A.J. Kegg open.
"Balance and diversity in the system will allow good things to happen," Otterbein said. "We will make good decisions on where to put the football."
Weatherhead said the team does their best to stay relaxed and focused on the ride up.
After arriving Friday night, the team will practice to loosen their limbs, watch film and gear up for Saturday.
"By the time we get to Saturday, we are so excited to play - especially after that bus ride," Weatherhead said.
Korte said the long trip home is incentive enough to win.
"We hate to lose up there and have to take that ride home," he said.
PRESEASON?POLL
After the Charger's record-breaking season last fall, the preseason polls ranked them higher than previous seasons
The GLIAC Coaches Preseason Poll placed Hillsdale in a fifth-place tie with Michigan Tech. The Chargers pulled into ninth place the fall of 2007 poll while Michigan Tech ranked sixth.
Though the Chargers play their fifth-place counterpart this weekend, Otterbein said the game is no more important than any other game.
Senior linebacker and co-captain Tom Korte said the team expected to rank higher in the GLIAC preseason poll after last season's success.
"This shows the league doesn't give us a lot of respect," Korte said. "It just adds fuel to the fire. We don't need extra fuel, but we'll take it."
The Chargers also weighed in at 23rd for the Division II preseason poll, after being ranked 25th in the nation before losing to Saginaw Valley State University last season.
Korte and Jared Veldheer, also a senior captain, were also named to the Sporting News' Division II Preseason All-American Team. Hillsdale and Grand Valley State University are the only GLIAC schools with two players on the All-American Team.
They seek to conquer a team they haven't beaten on away games since 1996.
Michigan Tech visited Muddy Waters Field last year, where the Chargers deftly sent them packing, 36-0, with their tails between their legs.
In 2006 the Chargers traveled to the Upper Peninsula and kept the score close but fell short, losing 13-7.
This year, with an 11-hour trip and a half-dozen movies in store, Hillsdale aims to break the trend of losing while on the Huskies' turf.
Senior linebacker and co-captain Tom Korte said last weekend's win against the St. Joseph College Pumas was a warm-up.
He said he thinks the ending score against Tech will be a better indicator of where Hillsdale may end up in the GLIAC this year.
"We're looking at Tech as the first real game," Korte said. "This game will show us how good we really are."
The Chargers beat the Pumas 49-6 christening Muddy Waters Field with its first win of the season. Last year, the Chargers were able to shut out the Pumas 49-0.
Sophomore quarterback Troy Weatherhead took the field completing 19 of 22 passes for 237 yards. Senior A.J. Kegg also kept the offense going with career highs of two touchdowns and nine receptions for 129 yards.
On the defensive side, the Chargers only slipped once as the Pumas went for a 71-yard touchdown.
"We played really well and a lot of guys on the [defense] got to play," Korte said.
This weekend's game is the season's first conference game, and Otterbein also said it will allow the Chargers to see just where they stand.
"There are still a lot of question marks and things to prove as a football team," he said.
Otterbein said the Chargers will be watching the Huskies' quarterback Steve Short specifically.
"Their quarterback is a play-maker type of guy," Otterbein said. "He's the key to their success."
On the Chargers' side, Otterbein said he hopes to create many problems for the Huskies by using a
variety of weapons.
Otterbein referenced the St. Joseph game, saying they tried to cover senior Aaron Waldie, and while they did that, they left senior A.J. Kegg open.
"Balance and diversity in the system will allow good things to happen," Otterbein said. "We will make good decisions on where to put the football."
Weatherhead said the team does their best to stay relaxed and focused on the ride up.
After arriving Friday night, the team will practice to loosen their limbs, watch film and gear up for Saturday.
"By the time we get to Saturday, we are so excited to play - especially after that bus ride," Weatherhead said.
Korte said the long trip home is incentive enough to win.
"We hate to lose up there and have to take that ride home," he said.
PRESEASON?POLL
After the Charger's record-breaking season last fall, the preseason polls ranked them higher than previous seasons
The GLIAC Coaches Preseason Poll placed Hillsdale in a fifth-place tie with Michigan Tech. The Chargers pulled into ninth place the fall of 2007 poll while Michigan Tech ranked sixth.
Though the Chargers play their fifth-place counterpart this weekend, Otterbein said the game is no more important than any other game.
Senior linebacker and co-captain Tom Korte said the team expected to rank higher in the GLIAC preseason poll after last season's success.
"This shows the league doesn't give us a lot of respect," Korte said. "It just adds fuel to the fire. We don't need extra fuel, but we'll take it."
The Chargers also weighed in at 23rd for the Division II preseason poll, after being ranked 25th in the nation before losing to Saginaw Valley State University last season.
Korte and Jared Veldheer, also a senior captain, were also named to the Sporting News' Division II Preseason All-American Team. Hillsdale and Grand Valley State University are the only GLIAC schools with two players on the All-American Team.
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