The Collegian

Issue date: 9/18/08 Section: Sports

This week the Chargers head to the University of Indianapolis for what players are calling revenge. Last year, Indy stole a sure win from the Chargers in the fourth quarter coming back from a 16-point deficit and scoring a touchdown in the last 13 seconds to win 34-30.

While Indianapolis looks forward to their first home game this week after spending three weeks away, the Chargers hope to deliver an unpleasant homecoming.

"Indy stole a game from us last year," Tom Korte, a senior linebacker, said. "We thought we had that one in the bag. We are looking forward to upsetting them, especially at their place."

This week the Chargers have been working on correcting mistakes to eliminate ending drives with a turnover or a punt. The emphasis has been on getting into the end zone.

"The fact that we have let one go with these guys [Indianapolis] makes things a little bit sore," head coach Keith Otterbein said. "It will be easier to keep our guys focused because they do have that in the back of their mind. They know this game is important."

The team will work to keep penalties down after last week's eight for a total loss of 88 yards and several personal fouls. Otterbein said the fouls were uncharacteristic of the Chargers. Northwood University had zero penalties.

"There were some stupid penalties that kept some of Northwood's drives alive," Otterbein said. "We need to make sure we are playing smart football. You want to be aggressive but there is a fine line. They have a split second to decide how aggressive to be."

Players and coaches were glad the Muddy Waters Field is Astroturf for Saturday's game. After a morning downpour, the rain ceased only an hour before the Chargers' win against Northwood. The Chargers are now 1-1 in the GLIAC and 2-1 overall.

The Chargers beat a team they had not overcome for seven years, 26-7, and while the scoreboard shows a near shutout, it was neck-and-neck for the majority of the game.

"It was a weird game," Otterbein said. "It felt like we were moving the ball, being effective and playing well, but we weren't putting many points on the board."

The Chargers, for the second week in a row, thrived as a fourth quarter team. Though, they failed to triumph over Michigan Tech two weeks ago, they still scored 20 points in the fourth for a strong comeback.

Against the Greyhounds, the Chargers were up only six points until the fourth when they broke away with two touchdowns.

"I think we just have a lot of endurance and are always ready to play," quarterback Troy Weatherhead, a sophomore, said of the team's ability to perform well in the fourth. "At that point in the game you can see what they're doing and capitalize on their consistent mistakes."

Otterbein said while the Chargers have performed well in the final quarter, the Greyhounds pulled the same stunt last year against Hillsdale.

"The last 18 minutes of last year's game we needed to make one play, and we would have won that football game, and we would not be talking of revenge now," Otterbein said. "We need to do a better job at the end of the half of sustaining drives. We need to make their offense stand on the sidelines and watch."

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