THE REMATCH
Andy Buss
Issue date: 11/19/09 Section: Sports
The Hillsdale Chargers will not be a welcome guest Saturday in Allendale as they venture to the home of the team they upset so terribly earlier this season.
It was Hillsdale that stopped Grand Valley State University's 48-game winning streak. It was Hillsdale that stopped Grand Valley's 45-game conference winning streak. And it was Hillsdale that got to the playoffs by dethroning the then No. 1 Lakers.
"To a certain extent, they're looking for a rematch," junior receiver Mike Blanchard said. "And they got one."
Despite the added animosity in Saturday's second-round Division II playoff game, the Chargers know they have to stay on task and follow the game plan. Neither team has lost since that October upset, but that is about to change.
"We have to know we can't play outside ourselves," Blanchard said. "We gotta play within ourselves and within our system."
No matter the approach, Grand Valley is a formidable opponent. The school has four national championships since 2002 and is seed No. 2 in the region just behind reigning national champion University of Minnesota at Duluth.
In the first go-around, senior linebacker Mat Szula had a monstrous game with nine tackles and an assisted tackle for a loss. Unfortunately, with an injured shoulder, Szula will be unable to contribute this week-on the field.
"I'm a cheerleader now," he said. "I yell at the guys, motivate them. I tell the linebackers what I see on the field."
Coming off the school's first D-II playoff win ever, Hillsdale head coach Keith Otterbein said his team played great, but noticed an aspect in need of improvement.
"Minnesota State [University] did a great job in special teams," he said. "If I was to think of what one thing we didn't do well today, it'd be kick coverage."
The Chargers had fantastic fan support in Mankato, Minn., Saturday in the win. Otterbein said he is expecting nothing different at Grand Valley.
"We're looking for the same next week," he said in his postgame press conference Saturday.
The school has already chartered a number of buses to bring students to the game. Saturday will be an all-out battle both on the field and in the stands for supremacy.
If Grand Valley's athletic web site is any indication, this is not an ordinary playoff game: Before viewing any part of the site, viewers are treated to a massive picture of Szula tackling a Laker with the word "REMATCH" across the top.
"They're going to be jacked up," Otterbein said. "There's no question."
-Nathan McClallen contributed to this article
It was Hillsdale that stopped Grand Valley State University's 48-game winning streak. It was Hillsdale that stopped Grand Valley's 45-game conference winning streak. And it was Hillsdale that got to the playoffs by dethroning the then No. 1 Lakers.
"To a certain extent, they're looking for a rematch," junior receiver Mike Blanchard said. "And they got one."
Despite the added animosity in Saturday's second-round Division II playoff game, the Chargers know they have to stay on task and follow the game plan. Neither team has lost since that October upset, but that is about to change.
"We have to know we can't play outside ourselves," Blanchard said. "We gotta play within ourselves and within our system."
No matter the approach, Grand Valley is a formidable opponent. The school has four national championships since 2002 and is seed No. 2 in the region just behind reigning national champion University of Minnesota at Duluth.
In the first go-around, senior linebacker Mat Szula had a monstrous game with nine tackles and an assisted tackle for a loss. Unfortunately, with an injured shoulder, Szula will be unable to contribute this week-on the field.
"I'm a cheerleader now," he said. "I yell at the guys, motivate them. I tell the linebackers what I see on the field."
Coming off the school's first D-II playoff win ever, Hillsdale head coach Keith Otterbein said his team played great, but noticed an aspect in need of improvement.
"Minnesota State [University] did a great job in special teams," he said. "If I was to think of what one thing we didn't do well today, it'd be kick coverage."
The Chargers had fantastic fan support in Mankato, Minn., Saturday in the win. Otterbein said he is expecting nothing different at Grand Valley.
"We're looking for the same next week," he said in his postgame press conference Saturday.
The school has already chartered a number of buses to bring students to the game. Saturday will be an all-out battle both on the field and in the stands for supremacy.
If Grand Valley's athletic web site is any indication, this is not an ordinary playoff game: Before viewing any part of the site, viewers are treated to a massive picture of Szula tackling a Laker with the word "REMATCH" across the top.
"They're going to be jacked up," Otterbein said. "There's no question."
-Nathan McClallen contributed to this article
Be the first to comment on this story