Preview: Chargers look to build momentum with trip to G-MAC newcomer Thomas More

Oct 18, 2023

Schedule

Hillsdale College (2-5, 2-3 G-MAC) at Thomas More (4-3, 3-2 G-MAC) | 12 p.m. ET Saturday, Oct. 21 | Republic Bank Field | Crestview Hills, Kentucky

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Last Week

Hillsdale played its best game of the season to stun favored Kentucky Wesleyan in a 44-14 home rout last Saturday. The Chargers ran for 327 yards on the ground, the most by a Hillsdale team since 2015, and led 31-0 in the first half before the Panthers were able to find their first points of the contest. Michael Herzog had another huge game on the ground, rushing for 143 yards and three touchdowns, and Caden Goggins and Jack Robinson each added a rushing touchdown as well, while quarterback Garrit Aissen hooked up with Jonathan Metzger for a 40-yard passing touchdown.

Scouting the Opposition

Picked to finish last in the G-MAC in their initial season in the conference and at the NCAA DII level, the Saints have been the surprise team of 2023, holding a realistic shot at a winning campaign with four games to play in the regular season.

Thomas More has outperformed expectations thanks to a defense that's consistently ranked as one of the G-MAC's best in 2023. The Saints allowed the second fewest passing yards of any G-MAC squad through week seven, led by safeties Colton Sandhaus, who has a team-leading three interceptions, and Kolton Reeves, who has two pass breakups as well. Cornerback Christian Rice also has two interception and edge Jackson Gear leads a solid pass rush as well for Thomas More.

The Saints also have a solid unit against the run, led by linebacker Del Thomas, who has 52 tackles, four for loss, and two fumble recoveries. Defensive end Tanner Lawrence and linebackers Isaac Abdon and Trey Brausch also play important roles.

Offensively, Thomas More runs through the chemistry between dual-threat quarterback Rae'Von Vaden and tailback Jaden Hall. The pair are an effective duo in the run game, combining for 860 yards and eight touchdowns on the ground, and Vaden also can make opponents pay with his arm, with 782 yards and seven touchdowns on the year, though accuracy is a problem with five interceptions and just a 51.4% completion percentage. Tight end Mike Kirch is Vaden's go-to target in the passing game, especially in the red zone, and leads the team in yardage and receiving touchdowns (4). Evan Brown, Freddie Johnson and Preston Agee also contribute in the passing game for the Saints.

Thomas More's solid start has been enhanced by a solid performance in special teams. The Saints have one of the G-MAC's top kickers in Luke Iden, who's 7 of 8 on field goals in 2023, and arguably the G-MAC's best punter in Elgin Phillips, who is leading the conference with an average of 43 yards per punt.

Thomas More is coached by Chris Norwell, who's in his second season as the head coach of the Saints but his 15^th with the program after a long stint as Thomas More's defensive coordinator prior to taking the top job. A graduate and former football player at the University of Illinois, Norwell joined the Saints coaching staff after spending time as an undrafted free agent in the NFL in 2008.

The Series

This is the first-ever meeting between Hillsdale and Thomas More, who haven't shared the same division of the NCAA or NAIA since 1990 and never met before that point. Thomas More was an NAIA member from 1947 to 1989 and had a successful run at the NCAA DIII level from 1990 to 2018, winning 13 conference championships and qualifying for the NCAA playoffs eight times in that span. A five year stretch back in the NAIA prior to moving up to NCAA DII was less successful, with just one winning season in five campaigns.

Other Notes

Senior tailback Michael Herzog is one of the top running backs statistically in the nation, not just in the G-MAC. His 771 rushing yards and 12 rushing touchdowns not only lead the G-MAC in both categories, but rank seventh and tied for third, respectively, among all players at the NCAA DII level. Herzog had a breakout season last year, putting up 940 yards and eight touchdowns on the ground and earning first team All-G-MAC honors. Now, he's aiming to be the first Chargers running back to go over 1,000 yards in a season since All-American David Graham in 2019, and needs 229 yards over the next four games to reach that goal.
Senior tight end Michael Harding earned a prestigious honor by being named a semifinalist for the National Football Foundation's William V. Campbell Trophy earlier this month. Harding, a three-time All-G-MAC tight end, was nominated for the award, considered by many to be the academic equivalent of the Heisman Trophy, both for his outstanding play on the football field and his impressive achievements in the classroom. Finalists for the award will be announced on Oct. 25. Hillsdale's last Campbell Award finalist was quarterback Mark Nicolet in 2008.
Junior Riley Tolsma is ramping up the pass rush for the Chargers in recent weeks, with 3.5 of his team-leading 4.5 sacks coming in the last three games, including a 1.5 sack performance in Hillsdale's win over Kentucky Wesleyan last weekend. Tolsma also leads the Chargers in tackles for loss with eight, and is tied for second in total tackles with 33. Tolsma led the Chargers last season with 7.5 sacks and 11.5 tackles for loss, and was named a team captain this offseason.
Hillsdale has turned to a young receiving corps this season, with encouraging results. In just his second season with the Chargers, Sam Lee leads the team with 28 catches for 357 receiving yards and two touchdowns, while two true freshmen, Shea Ruddy and Jonathan Metzger, are also playing important roles. Ruddy became Hillsdale's first true freshman with a 100-plus yard receiving game since All-American Trey Brock in 2015, and has two receiving touchdowns and a rushing score on the season, while Metzger caught a 40-yard touchdown pass for his first career score against Kentucky Wesleyan last week. All three players have a bright future with the Chargers.
2018 graduate Zach VanValkenburg recorded his first career NFL sack on Sunday, Oct. 8 in the Los Angeles Rams' 23-14 loss against the Philadelphia Eagles. VanValkenburg was the G-MAC Defensive Lineman of the Year in 2018 while leading the Chargers in sacks and helping Hillsdale win a 2018 G-MAC title and make the NCAA DII Playoffs. After graduating from Hillsdale, VanValkenburg went on to play two seasons at the University of Iowa while getting his masters degree. He was signed by the Las Vegas Raiders in 2022 but did not make the final roster. In January, he was signed by LA and made the 53-man roster for the 2023 season in August, becoming the first Charger since Jared Veldheer's retirement in 2021 to appear in an NFL game.
The Charger football program has long been known for its strong family tradition, and that continues in 2023 with multiple sets of brothers on the roster. On the offensive line, twin brothers Nick Affholter and Benjamin Affholter (Quincy, MI/Reading) will hold down interior line spots for the third straight season, and are joined on the roster by younger brother Zac Affholter, a true freshman lineman. All three are sons of Brad Affholter, a multi-year starter on the Charger offensive line in the mid-90s and an assistant coach with the team in 2023. There are several other sibling duos on the team – twin brothers Josh Lee and Sam Lee (Toledo, OH/Central Catholic) return as sophomores this season, as do junior tight end Ben Hinrichs and his younger brother, Christian (Escondido, CA/Classical Academy). Also in 2023, Hillsdale sophomore wide receiver Corban Creason (Coppell, TX/Founders Classical Academy) is joined by his younger brother, Christian, and sophomore offensive lineman John VanOpstall (Jenison, MI/Jenison) is joined by his younger brother, Chris. Along with those sibling pairs, several other players on the roster have older brothers, fathers or grandfathers who suited up for previous Charger teams.
Hillsdale's longest-tenured assistant coach received a prestigious honor in the offseason as Offensive Coordinator Nate Shreffler was named the American Football Coaches Association's NCAA DII Assistant Coach of the Year for 2022. Shreffler is entering his 25^th season with the Chargers and was recognized for both his outstanding contributions to Hillsdale's success on the field, and his work running the Chargers' "Guys With Ties" program that helps teach elementary school kids confidence and proper etiquette through interactions with players on the football team.
With 129 wins to date, Otterbein is third all-time in career coaching victories at Hillsdale, trailing two Charger Athletics Hall of Famers in Frank "Muddy" Waters (138) and Dick Lowry (134). If he maintains his current career pace of wins per season, Otterbein would pass Waters for the all-time record in the fall of 2024.