No quarterback-wide receiver combination has ever had the kind of game against a Hillsdale College football team that Saginaw Valley State's Jonathon Jennings and Jeff Janis had Saturday night.
Jennings completed 28 of 39 passes for 541 yards and seven touchdowns, with four of those scoring catches going to Janis as the Cardinals topped the Chargers 47-34 Saturday night at SVSU's Wickes Stadium. Hillsdale is now 4-4 overall and 4-2 in the GLIAC, while SVSU improves to 7-1 and 7-0.
Janis set a record for most receiving yards against the Chargers in a single game with 331, as Hillsdale was unable to find an answer for SVSU's All-American wide receiver. He caught three passes of more than 50 yards in the game, continually beating Hillsdale deep down the field, particularly in the first half.
Each team traded scoring runs of multiple touchdowns each, with the Cardinals opening up a 14-0 lead in the first quarter. Hillsdale responded with a quick touchdown drive, then senior linebacker Brett Pasche (pictured) intercepted a Jennings pass, setting up the Chargers' second score, which came on a 12-yard run by redshirt-freshman tailback Jack Wiseman.
But after tying the game, the Chargers found themselves down 20 at halftime thanks to Janis. The Cardinals scored the final 20 points of the first half. Janis caught two six-yard scoring passes, sandwiched around a 22-yard TD pass from Jennings to tight end Andrew Dillon to make the score 34-14 at intermission.
However, Hillsdale responded impressively in the third quarter, scoring 14 points in a stretch where it only allowed the Cardinals to run three plays to cut the lead to 34-28. But Janis struck again, with two catches for 75 yards on the subsequent drive to make it a two-score game once again.
Despite the loss, Hillsdale piled up 468 yards of total offense, led by a big day from senior quarterback Sam Landry. He completed a career-high 30 passes for 283 yards and three touchdowns. He also carried the ball 18 times for 103 yards, becoming the first Charger quarterback to run for more than 100 yards in a game since Aaron Scholl did it on Aug. 28, 2004.
Redshirt-freshman wide receiver Joe Srebernak broke his career-highs for catches and receiving yards in a game, both set in last week's win over Ferris State. He hauled in nine passes for 120 yards and a touchdown. He was the first Charger receiver to go over the century mark in a game since Nick Hixson did it against Northwood Oct. 29, 2011.
Evan Bach and Evan Sassack also caught scoring passes for Hillsdale. Sophomore John Haley caught seven passes for 67 yards in the game, while Wiseman rushed nine times for 42 yards and a touchdown.
Defensively, Daniel Pittman, Pasche and Steven Embry each led Hillsdale with seven total tackles. Zach Swaffer and Bryan Siegert teamed up for a sack for the Chargers.
Hillsdale plays its final road game of the season next week at Grand Valley State.