The Hillsdale College football team forged an identity of being a second half team in the 2021 season.
It looks like that identity has carried over to the 2022 squad.
For the second straight week, the Chargers overcame a seven-point halftime deficit, outscoring visiting Walsh 28-3 in the second half to roll to a 35-17 victory in Hillsdale's home opener, and improve to 2-0 in G-MAC play.
After scoring just one touchdown on five of six first half drives, the Chargers finished their first four drives of the second half in the end zone, with only a kneeldown drive to run out the clock with two minutes to play in the fourth quarter keeping them from a perfect showing after the half.
Hillsdale set the tone right out of halftime, taking the kickoff and going 68 yards in 10 plays, punctuated by a one-yard touchdown run from senior tailback Michael Herzog to tie the game at 14-all.
After Walsh answered back with a 20-yard field goal to retake the lead, the Chargers seized control of the game for good. Hillsdale went 64 yards in just three minutes and 36 seconds, capping the drive with a 26 yard pass from senior quarterback Luke Keller to Isaac TeSlaa for another go-ahead score to put the Chargers up 21-17 with 14:08 to play. It was TeSlaa's second receiving touchdown of the game, after getting the Chargers on the board with 4:30 in the second quarter with a 32-yard touchdown reception from Keller.
After the Hillsdale defense forced a turnover on downs at midfield, TeSlaa struck again, hauling in a deep ball down the sideline from Keller and shedding his defender for a 53-yard score, his third of the night, to give Hillsdale a 28-17 lead with 9:41 to play.
Then, after sophomore defensive back Drew Ransom's strip sack helped force a Walsh three-and-out, Hillsdale put the game out of reach with a 10 play, 40 yard drive that took 5:03 off the clock and was finished by Herzog, who scored a 16-yard touchdown on a powerful, tackle-breaking run to give Hillsdale the final margin of victory with 2:52 to go.
Both Teslaa and Herzog had excellent nights offensively for the Chargers. Teslaa caught eight passes for 189 yards and three touchdowns in what is a top 10 all-time performance for a receiver at Hillsdale in terms of yardage. Herzog, meanwhile, finished with 134 yards and two touchdowns on the ground on 19 carries, becoming the first Charger to go over 100 yards rushing since the April 10, 2021 game at Walsh in the spring 2021 season, and putting up the most yards by a Charger running back since David Graham's 161 yards on the ground against Concord on Oct. 5, 2019.
Keller finished 12 of 24 passing for 205 yards and an interception while posting his second-straight game with three passing touchdowns.
A solid defensive effort, especially in the second half, helped Hillsdale take the victory as well. Senior Kyle Kudla tied for the team lead in tackles with nine, 1.5 for loss, and added an interception as well, and sophomore Sam Zemis also picked off a pass for the Chargers.
Vince Francescone added nine tackles as well, Julius Graber chipped in eight, and Kendall Tobin added six tackles, two for loss as well. Riley Tolsma and Ransom each finished with a sack for the Chargers.
On special teams, sophomore kicker Julian Lee was 5 for 5 on extra points for the second straight week as well for Hillsdale.
The Chargers improve to 2-0 with the victory, Hillsdale's first 2-0 start since 2017, and the Chargers are also one of four 2-0 teams remaining in the G-MAC, along with Tiffin, Ashland and Northwood.
Next, Hillsdale hosts Truman State for a non-conference clash at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 17 as part of the G-MAC/GLVC crossover. Hillsdale is looking for revenge after dropping a regular season contest and a bowl game rematch to the Bulldogs in the 2021 season, and also for what would be their first 3-0 start to the season since 2007 with a victory.