Spring Break
Playoffs on the horizon after big win
The trouncing of Wayne State Saturday leaves the Chargers with grand hopes
Nathan McClallen
Issue date: 10/29/09 Section: Sports
When the latest AFCA Division II Top 25 poll came out Monday, the Hillsdale College football team saw itself ranked at No. 22, the highest ever for the Chargers at the Division II level. They also moved up two spots in the Super Region 3 rankings, to number three.
This jump comes after an impressive 45-14 win last weekend over Wayne State University. The victory was Hillsdale's first as a Division II ranked team, but they have already won three games versus ranked opponents this season.
Head coach Keith Otterbein said the momentum the Chargers gained by scoring on all four of their drives in the first half overwhelmed the Warriors.
"I think they were expecting, and certainly we were expecting, a tough, hard-fought battle right down to the fourth quarter," he said. "Then, boom! We exploded on them."
Junior wide receiver Andre Holmes scored the first three touchdowns of the game on passes from junior Troy Weatherhead. The third touchdown was a 68-yard catch and run, where Holmes broke free thanks to a huge block, a "de-cleater," from sophomore Bren Burquist.
Holmes finished with five catches for 119 yards and a career-high three touchdowns, good enough to earn his first-ever GLIAC Offensive Player of the Week.
The quick offensive output, and the 28-0 lead at the half, helped the defense suppress the nation's No. 1 rusher in Joique Bell, according to senior team captain Mat Szula. Bell finished with 165 yards, but was held to four yards on four carries in the decisive first quarter.
Szula said it was a "bend but don't break" type of success.
"They would gain some yards but then we'd stop them, so they weren't able to sustain a long drive," he said.
Sophomore Joe Vear had 10 tackles to lead the defense, while freshman Nick Galvan and senior Marcellus Wade had 8 total tackles each.
This weekend the Chargers travel to Ferris State University, a team that is 1-8 on the season.
Otterbein said his players knew that Ferris State was a good team after Grand Valley State University had trouble beating them.
"You can't take someone lightly because of their win-loss record, because it's such a fine line between winning and losing, especially in this league," he said.
Senior defensive lineman Mark Yassay said they are treating this week just like every other week.
"We're going to learn what we did wrong, and get better," he said.
After this weekend, the team faces Tiffin University at home to close the regular season. If they win both games, Szula would like to think they will make the postseason.
"All that we can control is whether or not we win," he said. "The computer formulas will work themselves out."
This jump comes after an impressive 45-14 win last weekend over Wayne State University. The victory was Hillsdale's first as a Division II ranked team, but they have already won three games versus ranked opponents this season.
Head coach Keith Otterbein said the momentum the Chargers gained by scoring on all four of their drives in the first half overwhelmed the Warriors.
"I think they were expecting, and certainly we were expecting, a tough, hard-fought battle right down to the fourth quarter," he said. "Then, boom! We exploded on them."
Junior wide receiver Andre Holmes scored the first three touchdowns of the game on passes from junior Troy Weatherhead. The third touchdown was a 68-yard catch and run, where Holmes broke free thanks to a huge block, a "de-cleater," from sophomore Bren Burquist.
Holmes finished with five catches for 119 yards and a career-high three touchdowns, good enough to earn his first-ever GLIAC Offensive Player of the Week.
The quick offensive output, and the 28-0 lead at the half, helped the defense suppress the nation's No. 1 rusher in Joique Bell, according to senior team captain Mat Szula. Bell finished with 165 yards, but was held to four yards on four carries in the decisive first quarter.
Szula said it was a "bend but don't break" type of success.
"They would gain some yards but then we'd stop them, so they weren't able to sustain a long drive," he said.
Sophomore Joe Vear had 10 tackles to lead the defense, while freshman Nick Galvan and senior Marcellus Wade had 8 total tackles each.
This weekend the Chargers travel to Ferris State University, a team that is 1-8 on the season.
Otterbein said his players knew that Ferris State was a good team after Grand Valley State University had trouble beating them.
"You can't take someone lightly because of their win-loss record, because it's such a fine line between winning and losing, especially in this league," he said.
Senior defensive lineman Mark Yassay said they are treating this week just like every other week.
"We're going to learn what we did wrong, and get better," he said.
After this weekend, the team faces Tiffin University at home to close the regular season. If they win both games, Szula would like to think they will make the postseason.
"All that we can control is whether or not we win," he said. "The computer formulas will work themselves out."
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Andy Losik
posted 10/31/09 @ 10:00 AM EST
There has been some confusion over when Hillsdale became a Division II school. Between 1990 and 1999 some sports had moved to D2 while others remained NAIA. (Continued…)
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