The Collegian

Issue date: 11/12/09 Section: Sports

Media Credit: William Clayton

The Hillsdale College football team will enter uncharted Saturday when they play in the first round of the Division II playoffs. A No. 6 seed in Super Region 3, the Chargers are matched against 10-1, No. 3-seed Minnesota State University, Mankato.

Although his team has won five straight games-the longest win streak in 10 years for the Chargers-head coach Keith Otterbein wasn't sure what the selection committee would think of winning their last two games against opponents with a combined 1-21 record.

"We couldn't control the win-loss record of our last two opponents," he said. "It was pretty scary, because although we were playing pretty dominantly, we had to hope it would be enough to make it."

Hillsdale thoroughly outplayed Tiffin University on senior day Saturday, 59-24, to get its ninth win of the season, the most wins they have had since 1992.

Senior running back Vinnie Panizzi stole the show with 128 yards and five touchdown runs in the first half, made possible by a 35-point outburst by the offense in the second quarter.

The Chargers recovered an onside kick, and had a quick score off of a punt block to end the first half up 49-7.

Panizzi moved into first place all-time with 52 touchdowns in his career, a 54-year-old record previously held by Nate Clark. He also moved into second place on the career rushing list, passing Phil Martin's 3,395 yards.

Otterbein said that Panizzi has improved each year as a result of both getting physically stronger and understanding the offense better.

Out of his 1,306 rushing yards so far this season, 894 yards have been after first contact. This means Panizzi is averaging over 3.5 yards after the first defender hits him. His ability to finish runs with power is his most impressive trait as a running back, according to Otterbein.

Senior captain Jared Veldheer said reaching nine wins is a big accomplishment, but they are prepared for the next challenge.

"If you think about the last five games, both the offense and defense have been doing well," he said. "We've put up almost 200 points on the last three teams we've played."

The Mankato Mavericks are from the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference, which includes defending national champion University of Minnesota, Duluth.

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