WHO: Michigan Tech University (0-0) at #19 Hillsdale College (0-0)
WHERE: Frank "Muddy" Waters Stadium - Hillsdale, MI
WHEN: 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 7
THE SERIES: Hillsdale leads 19-9
LAST MEETING: Michigan Tech won a thriller, 31-30 in overtime in Houghton...In that game the Chargers led 24-16 with less than three minutes left when the Huskies drove for the game-tying touchdown in the final moments, then pulled out the victory in the extra session.
LINKS: Live Stats | Webcast | Tickets | G-MAC Standings | G-MAC Statistical Leaders | G-MAC Football Schedule | Hillsdale College Game Notes - Week 1 | Michigan Tech Game Notes - Week 1
GAME PREVIEW: #Team127 takes the field for the very first time this Saturday, playing its season opener at home for the fifth year in a row...The Chargers have won three straight home openers, defeating Indianapolis in 2016, Michigan Tech in 2017 and Mercyhurst in 2018...This year's Chargers lost four All-Americans off last year's conference title team, but return tons of experience on both the offensive and defensive lines, where veterans like Mark Konkle, Mitchell Albert, Brandon Hill (offense) and Nate Chambers, Joe Royer and Nate Canterbury (defense) all return...Also back on offense are returning starters David Graham (tailback), Martin Petersen (tight end) and Konnor Maloney (wide receiver)...Both of Hillsdale's starting linebackers, Nate Jones and Dan Shanley are back, and both have two-plus years of starting experience...Drake Temple, Jason McDonough and Alex Anschutz bring a wealth of experience to the secondary, so while the Chargers lost some record-setters and All-Americans, they return plenty of players who are experienced, tough and know how to win...The Chargers and Huskies have hooked up for some classic games over the years, with both teams pulling out unlikely wins over the other...In 2017 Hillsdale scored 21 straight points in the fourth quarter to rally for a 31-27 win over MTU...The Huskies returned the favor last year, rallying from 8 down late in the fourth quarter to pull out a 31-30 overtime win...Although these teams reside in different regions, this does count as a regional game for both teams due to both being based in the same state.
EXTRA POINTS:
- Redshirt-freshman Luke Keller has been named the Chargers' starting quarterback...He is the first freshman to start a season-opener at quarterback for Hillsdale since Bill Skelton back on August 31, 2000...Skelton's counterpart in that game? Saginaw Valley State's Matt LaFleur, now the head coach of the Green Bay Packers
- Hillsdale is ranked 19th in the AFCA Division II Preseason Top 25 Poll
- The only other freshmen to start a game at quarterback at Hillsdale under coach Keith Otterbein are: Mark Nicolet (2004), Brad Otterbein (2006) and Chance Stewart (2015)
- David Graham enters his third season as Hillsdale's starting running back, and his 1,990 career rushing yards rank him ninth on the Chargers' career list
- Hillsdale is 12-5 in home openers under head coach Keith Otterbein
- Michigan Tech has been Hillsdale's home opener opponent two other times: 2009 (37-35 Hillsdale win) and 2017 (31-27 Hillsdale win)
- The Chargers have won 7 straight home games and haven't lost at home since Oct. 13, 2017
- The Chargers have won 12 straight G-MAC games, by far the longest conference winning streak in G-MAC history
- Head coach Keith Otterbein ranks third in school history with 108 career victories on the Charger sideline...The top two on that list are Frank "Muddy" Waters with 138 and Dick Lowry with 134