Even quarters were good. Odd quarters were bad. Either way, it added up to a loss for the Hillsdale College football team Saturday night in Detroit.
Wayne State University dominated the first and third quarters, and defeated the Chargers 41-30 at Detroit's Adams Field. The loss drops Hillsdale to 3-2 overall and 2-2 in the GLIAC, while the Warriors improved to 4-1 on the season.
The Warriors used big plays to start each half and got off to flying starts in the first and third quarters. Wayne State jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the game's first eight minutes, immediately putting the Chargers behind the eight ball. Hillsdale responded with 10 straight points to tighten the game in the second quarter.
But Wayne State seized back control when it stuffed a fake punt attempt by the Chargers, then followed up with a 65-yard touchdown pass from QB Donovan Zezula, making the score 21-10 at halftime.
Wayne State opened the third quarter just as it had opened the first, marching right down the field for consecutive touchdowns, opening up a big lead.
Another score early in the fourth quarter made it a 41-10 game, but this Chargers team didn't throw in the towel, and though its 20 fourth-quarter points might not have resulted in a win, it proved the team has fight and character regardless of the score.
Sophomore wide receiver Trey Brock caught two of his three touchdown passes in the fourth quarter, capping another huge game. Brock hauled in 10 passes for 146 yards and three scores, the first three-touchdown game by a Hillsdale wide receiver since Andre Holmes had three touchdown receptions against Wayne State back on Oct. 24, 2009.
Hillsdale outscored Wayne State 30-13 in the second and fourth quarters, but got outscored 28-0 in the first and third quarters.
Sophomore quarterback Chance Stewart set new career-highs in completions and attempts, going 31-for-53 for 307 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions. However, he was sacked four times by the Warriors, the most any team has sacked Hillsdale quarterbacks this season.
Sophomore running back Joe Reverman had 87 rushing yards on 13 attempts, with a 37-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. His attempts were limited due to Wayne State's early lead in the game.
John Terry intercepted a pass and Austin Sandusky recovered a fumble, forced by Carter Wilson, to help the defense come up with big plays. Freshman linebacker Zach VanValkenburg notched a career-high 7 total tackles for the Chargers, while Terry and sophomore Wyatt Batdorff matched his total of 7 tackles.
UP NEXT: Hillsdale is off next week, and plays at the University of Findlay at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15.
PHOTO CREDIT: Carly Gouge