It may have rained on the homecoming parade, but that didn't dampen the joy felt by the Hillsdale College football team and its fans Saturday night.
Behind an historic performance by redshirt-freshman tailback Joe Reverman, and a big-time game by the offensive line, the Chargers won on homecoming for the first time in five years, 38-24, over Tiffin University at Frank "Muddy" Waters Stadium. Hillsdale is now 2-6 overall and 2-5 in the GLIAC. Tiffin is 5-3 overall after the loss.
Football coaches often talk about establishing the running game as a key component in having success, and Saturday night, the Chargers executed that concept to near-perfection, dominating the line of scrimmage, time of possession and third-down conversions en route to easily its most feel-good win of the season.
The offensive line of Aaron Price, Danny Drummond, Justice Karmie, Jake Bull and Zach VanOrman were a five-man plowing machine, pushing the Dragons off the line of scrimmage throughout the game, not only opening up running lanes for Reverman, but giving redshirt-freshman quarterback Chance Stewart time to throw.
As a team, Hillsdale stayed committed to the ground game from start to finish, even after it trailed at halftime 14-7. The result was a 31-point second half that mixed in just enough of Stewart's passing to make the run game that much more effective.
Reverman set a school freshman rushing record by carrying the ball 38 times for 276 yards and 2 touchdowns in the win. He ran with a low pad level and was able to absorb contact and keep moving forward in all four quarters of the game. Even on plays where he was hit early, he managed to keep forward momentum going, gaining positive yards. On his 38 carries, he only lost 2 yards, a testament to his tenacity and the offensive line's strong play.
Junior running back Jack Wiseman was the first in the end zone, busting through the line for a 23-yard score that tied the game at 7, during a brief but nasty rain storm in the second quarter. Tiffin's explosive quarterback, Antonio Pipkin, threw two first-half touchdown passes to give the Dragons the lead.
But Hillsdale came out of the locker room after halftime playing with purpose and passion on both sides of the ball. Senior Todd Frickey intercepted a Pipkin pass on the first play of the second half to inject the Chargers with life. Four plays later, Reverman scooted into the end zone from 20 yards out, tying the game at 14.
Stewart connected with sophomore wide receiver Brian Newman on a perfectly executing crossing pattern that Newman took to the house from 39 yards out, giving Hillsdale the lead for good, 21-14, with 9:12 left in the third quarter.
After a field goal exchange made the score 24-17, Hillsdale marched 75 yards on eight plays, highlighted by a 42-yard bomb from Stewart and Newman, to go up two scores. Stewart threw a dart to sophomore wide receiver Timmy Mills on third-and-5 from the 7-yard line, and Mills did an outstanding job of twisting out of a tackle and into the end zone to give Hillsdale a 14-point lead.
Tiffin didn't die, as a hobbled Pipkin threw a fourth-down, 37-yard rainbow to Charles Holland to make it a one-score game with 5:10 left in the game.
Two drives later, Hillsdale made a highlight film that makes offensive linemen giddy, as Reverman gashed the Dragon defense for 55 rushing yards on four carries, the last one a 21-yard touchdown that sealed the victory.
Reverman's 276 yards on the ground were more than former All-American Joe Glendening ever had in one game and represent the second-most rushing yards in a game in school history. Jeff Cameron had 295 rushing yards in the 1990 season.
Newman caught three passes for a career-high 97 yards while Trey Brock had three catches for 21 yards.
Stewart completed 11-of-17 passes for 154 yards and 2 scores. Those 11 completions went to seven different receivers.
Defensively, the Chargers were able to harass Pipkin, one of Division II's most productive quarterbacks, all night. Four different players recorded tackles for loss, and Roger Stewart and Drew Mallery each picked up a sack. Sophomore linebacker Scotty Penola was terrific against the run and had 10 total tackles. Sophomore Jay Rose had 9 total tackles, while Austin Koneval and Spencer Nehls had 7 apiece.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE: Hillsdale had struggled all season on third downs, but converted 10-of-16 in the game…The Chargers set a season-high with 35:29 of possession time…Reverman had 12 runs of 7 yards or more…Hillsdale held the ball for 12:44 of the first quarter…Stewart averaged more than 14 yards per completion.
UP NEXT: Hillsdale heads north to take on Saginaw Valley State on Halloween Night.
PHOTO CREDIT: Sarah Klopfer