Grand Valley State shut down the Hillsdale College Chargers in the second half of Saturday night's football game, resulting in a 46-14 win for the Lakers.
Hillsdale is now 1-4 overall and 1-3 in the GLIAC with the loss, while GVSU improves to 4-1 on the season.
An interception by Spencer Nehls, returned to the one-yard line, led to a CJ Mifsud making the score 21-14. Mifsud's sneak was the last play from scrimmage in the half, and Hillsdale appeared to have momentum heading into the second half. But the 25-minute break between the second and third quarters proved to be too long to sustain that momentum.
GVSU scored on its first drive of the second half, making the score 28-14. The Chargers could not manage a first down on either of their first two drives of the third quarter, the latter which resulted in a bad snap on a punt, giving GVSU a safety, increasing the Charger deficit to 30-14.
Grand Valley State would go on to score 22 unanswered points in the pivotal third quarter, leaving no doubt in the result. The Lakers dominated the second half on both sides of the ball, outgaining the Chargers 279-18 in total yards over the final two quarters of the contest.
The Lakers ran 25 more plays from scrimmage than the Chargers, and converted 6-of-12 third-down conversions. Hillsdale was 4-for-14 on third downs, and GVSU held a 27-10 edge on first downs in the game.
Two notable players made their collegiate debuts in this game for Hillsdale. True freshman Austin Sandusky, a record-setting running back at nearby Morenci High School, started at cornerback. Redshirt-freshman quarterback Chance Stewart also made his charger debut in the second half. Stewart is a transfer from Western Michigan. Stewart completed two passes for 16 yards in limited duty.
Redshirt-freshman Joe Reverman led Hillsdale in rushing for the first time in his career, going for 27 yards on 6 carries. Ryan Potrykus caught 3 passes for 27 yards, while tight end Joe Srebernak caught his first touchdown in nearly two years, a 17-yard pass from Mifsud in the second quarter.
Safety Austin Koneval led the Hillsdale defense with 10 total tackles. Linebackers Scotty Penola, Jay Rose and Dan Shanley each racked up 8 total tackles, while Penola had two tackles-for-loss. Drew Mallery recorded a sack for the Chargers.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE: Grand Valley State has defeated Hillsdale four years in a row and now leads the all-time series 28-11…The Chargers have been whistled for six penalties in four games, the best rate in all of NCAA Division II…Hillsdale's penalties have cost it 60 yards of field position, while its opponents have been called for 33 penalties for 249 yards in four games…Sandusky had 7 total tackles in his collegiate debut…GVSU had six players rush for more yards than Hillsdale's leading rusher in the game.
UP NEXT: Hillsdale hosts Ohio Dominican at 2:30 p.m. Saturday. It will be Parents' Weekend at Hillsdale College.
PHOTO CREDIT: Anders Kiledal