Loss in final quarter
Liz Klimas
Issue date: 9/11/08 Section: Sports
It was a cool day in northern Michigan last weekend. The Charger football team was grateful after practicing all week in 90 degree heat.
Unfortunately for the Chargers, a steady mist of rain, a couple mistakes and a highly energetic Michigan Tech offense proved to be a devastating combo. The Chargers lost 36-39 despite an explosive fourth-quarter comeback. They now stand at 0-1 in the GLIAC.
"It was a terrible ride home," senior co-captain Tom Korte said of the 11-hour treck back to Hillsdale after the loss. "We looked to prove a point and it just wasn't our day."
The Chargers are more than ready to redeem themselves on home turf after their loss. This weekend they play Northwood University.
"I am looking forward to going and playing them right now," quarterback Troy Weatherhead, a sophomore, said excitedly. "We're going to need to play mistake-free football to beat Northwood."
Head coach Keith Otterbein said Northwood runs an option-style offense, which the Chargers do not see often. Option offense is mainly a running scheme. Otterbein said this type of offense will force the defense to make a choice.
"We can simulate the speed and precision they execute it with, but adjusting to game speed is going to be critical," he said.
Northwood's passing game has also improved. To attack them at the core, Otterbein said, will create trouble for them and possibly force turnovers.
"When they have trouble hanging onto the ball, they're offense struggles," he said.
Otterbein has been enforcing the fundamentals this week during practice.
"We're going to be pretty basic when it comes to what we're going to do," Otterbein said. He added part of the reason for this is they don't have many tapes of Northwood's one-game season to watch.
To cap off last weekend's game, Korte said when the team heads up to Michigan Tech "crazy things can happen."
"Everything was wet. There were mistakes and fumbles left and right," Korte said. "We showed a lot of heart coming back though."
Unfortunately for the Chargers, a steady mist of rain, a couple mistakes and a highly energetic Michigan Tech offense proved to be a devastating combo. The Chargers lost 36-39 despite an explosive fourth-quarter comeback. They now stand at 0-1 in the GLIAC.
"It was a terrible ride home," senior co-captain Tom Korte said of the 11-hour treck back to Hillsdale after the loss. "We looked to prove a point and it just wasn't our day."
The Chargers are more than ready to redeem themselves on home turf after their loss. This weekend they play Northwood University.
"I am looking forward to going and playing them right now," quarterback Troy Weatherhead, a sophomore, said excitedly. "We're going to need to play mistake-free football to beat Northwood."
Head coach Keith Otterbein said Northwood runs an option-style offense, which the Chargers do not see often. Option offense is mainly a running scheme. Otterbein said this type of offense will force the defense to make a choice.
"We can simulate the speed and precision they execute it with, but adjusting to game speed is going to be critical," he said.
Northwood's passing game has also improved. To attack them at the core, Otterbein said, will create trouble for them and possibly force turnovers.
"When they have trouble hanging onto the ball, they're offense struggles," he said.
Otterbein has been enforcing the fundamentals this week during practice.
"We're going to be pretty basic when it comes to what we're going to do," Otterbein said. He added part of the reason for this is they don't have many tapes of Northwood's one-game season to watch.
To cap off last weekend's game, Korte said when the team heads up to Michigan Tech "crazy things can happen."
"Everything was wet. There were mistakes and fumbles left and right," Korte said. "We showed a lot of heart coming back though."
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