November 3, 2012 – For the first time in more than six years, the Hillsdale College football team suffered a second straight loss Saturday afternoon.
The Chargers dropped a 42-14 decision to Michigan Tech University in Houghton to fall to 6-4 overall and 6-3 in the GLIAC on the season. Hillsdale will wrap up the 2012 campaign next Saturday in Midland against Northwood University for a noon contest.
The Huskies (6-3) made big plays at key moments throughout the contest, outgaining Hillsdale 439-268. Michigan Tech had six offensive plays that covered at least 19 yards and had an 81-yard interception return for touchdown as part of its win.
This marks the end of a three-game losing streak to the Chargers by the Huskies, and the first win by MTU in the series since 2008.
The highlight for the Chargers came early in the game, when senior RB Joe Glendening became the school's all-time leading rusher, on a four-yard carry on the team's third play from scrimmage. Glendening finished the game with 74 rushing yards, giving him 4,561 in his career. He shatters the record previously held by Hillsdale College Athletic Hall of Famer Scott Schulte, a record had stood for 19 years.
Led by QB Tyler Scarlett (247 passing yards, 4 touchdown passes), the Huskies scored on their opening possession, marking the first time all season Hillsdale didn't score first in a game. Hillsdale fought right back, when redshirt-freshman WR John Haley caught his first career touchdown pass, a 33-yard strike from senior QB Anthony Mifsud, to tie the game 7-7 less than five minutes into the first quarter.
Michigan Tech would answer with two straight touchdowns, then Glendening found the end zone for a school-record 61st time, cutting the lead to 21-14 in the second quarter. But the Chargers wouldn't score again, as the Huskies put together an impressive two-way performance throughout the second half.
One of the keys to Michigan Tech's win was winning the third-down battle. The Huskies converted 9 of 14 chances on third down while limiting Hillsdale, who had led the GLIAC in that category coming into the game, to just three conversions in 12 tries. The Huskies also won the time of possession battle, 32:17 to 27:43.
Mifsud completed 12 of 22 passes for 171 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions on the day. Haley led the team in receiving for the first time in his career, hauling in three passes for 59 yards.
Defensively, junior LB Brett Pasche had an interception, while fellow linebackers Devin Moynihan and Steven Embry had 11 tackles apiece.
Photo courtesy of David Armbruster