Football: a defensive battle on both fronts
Liz Klimas
Issue date: 10/30/08 Section: Sports
Saturday's game against Wayne State University in Detroit was a defensive show for both the Chargers and the Warriors, but Wayne State proved stronger that day. They seized victory 14-7 and gave the Chargers their fifth loss of the season.
"It gets at you more when you have that chance to win than when you get waxed," head coach Keith Otterbein said of the close game.
Hillsdale heads into their home game this weekend against Ferris State University with a 4-5 record in the GLIAC while Wayne State held their No. 2 conference position and grabbed a 7-2 GLIAC record.
The low scoring game was a tribute to both defenses keeping the other team's offense out of the red-zone and was also the lowest scoring game for the Chargers in the last two years. Before last weekend, the Chargers average 31.5 points per game against Wayne State.
"Both teams moved the ball down the field but the defenses just stepped up," sophomore quarterback Troy Weatherhead said.
Otterbein said in a defensive struggle no one person can account entirely for the team's success. He said junior Evan Brown and seniors Eric Weber, Alex Wojcik, Tom Korte and Palmer Schoening were a few of the integral players on the Chargers defensive end.
Hillsdale broke out of the Warriors' grasp to put the first points on the board mid-way through the first quarter with a 36-yard pass from Weatherhead to senior receiver A.J. Kegg.
Though Hillsdale punched in the first touchdown, it was their last time in the end zone for the day. Charger defense held the Warriors out of the end zone until late in the second quarter when Wayne State's running back Joique Bell scored on a two-yard plunge.
There was a shutout from both end zones in the third quarter, and the fourth only rendered one touchdown, again by Bell.
While the Warriors scored more, the Chargers had more total offensive yards, 341 to Wayne State's 309. In contrast, the Warriors had no turnovers while the Chargers had two interceptions and a fumble at Wayne State's one-yard-line. Otterbein said the fumble hurt the team the most.
"Our defense moved the ball well . . . but three turnovers compared to their zero - you can't win football games like that," Weatherhead said. "They ended up getting a lot of points off of our turnovers."
The Chargers take on Ferris State University - 6-3 in the GLIAC - at home Saturday for their final home match of the season. Weatherhead said they hope to finish off with a winning season, going 7-4.
Otterbein said Ferris will put up a stout defense - literally.
"They are going to line up and use their physical presence," he said. "This Saturday, we got to block 'em, stay on our blocks longer, protect the quarterback that much longer. We have to keep them off balance."
"It gets at you more when you have that chance to win than when you get waxed," head coach Keith Otterbein said of the close game.
Hillsdale heads into their home game this weekend against Ferris State University with a 4-5 record in the GLIAC while Wayne State held their No. 2 conference position and grabbed a 7-2 GLIAC record.
The low scoring game was a tribute to both defenses keeping the other team's offense out of the red-zone and was also the lowest scoring game for the Chargers in the last two years. Before last weekend, the Chargers average 31.5 points per game against Wayne State.
"Both teams moved the ball down the field but the defenses just stepped up," sophomore quarterback Troy Weatherhead said.
Otterbein said in a defensive struggle no one person can account entirely for the team's success. He said junior Evan Brown and seniors Eric Weber, Alex Wojcik, Tom Korte and Palmer Schoening were a few of the integral players on the Chargers defensive end.
Hillsdale broke out of the Warriors' grasp to put the first points on the board mid-way through the first quarter with a 36-yard pass from Weatherhead to senior receiver A.J. Kegg.
Though Hillsdale punched in the first touchdown, it was their last time in the end zone for the day. Charger defense held the Warriors out of the end zone until late in the second quarter when Wayne State's running back Joique Bell scored on a two-yard plunge.
There was a shutout from both end zones in the third quarter, and the fourth only rendered one touchdown, again by Bell.
While the Warriors scored more, the Chargers had more total offensive yards, 341 to Wayne State's 309. In contrast, the Warriors had no turnovers while the Chargers had two interceptions and a fumble at Wayne State's one-yard-line. Otterbein said the fumble hurt the team the most.
"Our defense moved the ball well . . . but three turnovers compared to their zero - you can't win football games like that," Weatherhead said. "They ended up getting a lot of points off of our turnovers."
The Chargers take on Ferris State University - 6-3 in the GLIAC - at home Saturday for their final home match of the season. Weatherhead said they hope to finish off with a winning season, going 7-4.
Otterbein said Ferris will put up a stout defense - literally.
"They are going to line up and use their physical presence," he said. "This Saturday, we got to block 'em, stay on our blocks longer, protect the quarterback that much longer. We have to keep them off balance."
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