Throughout the Hillsdale College football team's three-game winning streak, their defensive discipline in limiting big breakdowns and forcing opponents to string together long drives to score played an important role.
In Saturday's home contest with Lake Erie, the Chargers couldn't duplicate their previous success at limiting explosive plays, and it proved costly in a 33-14 defeat at the hands of the Storm that dropped Hillsdale to 3-4 on the season and 2-1 in G-MAC play.
Lake Erie had three touchdowns of 49 or more yards on the day, including both second-half touchdowns that helped the Storm pull away in the victory. Those big plays, along with disjointed execution offensively, kept Hillsdale from taking advantage of the momentum of an early lead.
The Chargers struck first in the opening quarter after a three-and-out by both teams, as redshirt freshman tailback Logan VanEnkevort broke multiple tackles on a 41 yard touchdown run that put Hillsdale up 7-0 in the first six minutes of the game.
After Lake Erie marched down the field on a 15 play, 69 yard touchdown drive, two huge special teams plays ensured the Chargers stayed out in front. First, senior Alex Anschutz blocked Lake Erie's extra point try following the touchdown, maintaining Hillsdale's 7-6 lead.
Then, Hillsdale junior Josh Peroni returned the ensuing kickoff 89 yards for a touchdown, Hillsdale's first kick return touchdown in a game since Todd Frickey's 91 yard score against Malone on Sept. 21, 2013. That play gave the Chargers a 14-6 edge with 1:31 left in the first quarter.
But Hillsdale couldn't hold on to the lead as the Charger offense struggled to get traction. Hillsdale finished with 179 yards of total offense on the day, 118 in the final three quarters, and just 10 first downs.
That allowed Lake Erie to dominate the time of possession, holding the ball for over 38 minutes and wearing down the Hillsdale defense. The Storm scored twice in the second quarter, including a 65-yard touchdown pass from Gerald Gardner to Peyton Brown, to take a 20-14 lead into halftime, then added two more fourth quarter touchdowns on a 49-yard touchdown pass from Gardner to Brown and an 86 yard touchdown run by Devin Brown to pull away.
Hillsdale's defense and special teams continued to create opportunities for the Chargers to get back in the game. Senior safety Joe Schneider picked off his fourth pass of the season late in the third quarter to give the Chargers the ball at the Lake Erie 41 trailing 20-14, and Hillsdale junior cornerback Mason Dooley also blocked a punt with 5:31 to play that gave the Chargers the ball at the Lake Erie 24 trailing 26-14. But where the Charger offense had been so good in previous weeks capitalizing on opponent miscues, it couldn't come away with points on either drive in this contest.
Charger quarterback Garrit Aissen finished 8 of 22 for 93 yards and two interceptions, connecting with redshirt freshmen Isaac TeSlaa three times for 53 yards, Jack Robinson two times for 20 yards, and Austen Williams two times for 16 yards.
VanEnkevort led the Chargers with 71 yards rushing on seven attempts, including the score, and Robinson added eight carries for 24 yards as well.
Defensively, Anschutz led Hillsdale with 12 tackles to go with his PAT block, and juniors Zach Herzog and Kyle Kudla each chipped in seven tackles. Senior Nate Chambers earned his sixth sack of the season and finished with six tackles, including three tackles for loss, and senior Jonathan Burton chipped in six tackles, including one for loss as well.
The Chargers must regroup quickly as Hillsdale hits the road next weekend to take on G-MAC leader Findlay, the only remaining unbeaten team in conference play, in a noon kickoff. Although the Chargers are just 3-4, Hillsdale could get right back in the G-MAC title race if they find a way to upset the Oilers, but it will be a difficult task on the road.
Photo by Anthony Lupi '22