Schedule
Hillsdale College (3-1, 2-0 G-MAC) at Kentucky Wesleyan (1-3, 0-2 G-MAC) | 7 p.m. ET Saturday, Oct. 1| Steele Stadium | Owensboro, KY
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Live Stats | Webcast | Tickets
Tickets note: All tickets must be purchased online at the link above – there will be no in-person option for purchasing tickets on gameday. Tailgating for the contest is restricted to a designated tailgating lot that requires a separate purchase – see the ticket link above.
Additional Info
Hillsdale Roster | KWC Roster | 2022 Hillsdale Stats | 2022 KWC Stats | G-MAC Schedule | G-MAC Standings | Game Notes
Last Week
Big offensive plays and stout defense helped the Chargers pick up a hard-fought road victory over Missouri S&T on Saturday, 17-10. Hillsdale broke a 3-3 tie with two seconds left in the first half thanks to a 76-yard touchdown pass from Luke Keller to Isaac TeSlaa, then the pair hooked up again on a 25-yard touchdown to put the Chargers ahead for good early in the fourth quarter. The Chargers defense, led by senior Kyle Kudla, held S&T scoreless on three drives in the final 10 minutes of the game to secure the victory and improve to 3-1 on the season.
Scouting the Opposition
Although the Chargers and Panthers have both been in the G-MAC since 2017, due to scheduling quirks and the impact of the pandemic, Hillsdale will be traveling to Kentucky Wesleyan for the first time this Saturday.
The Panthers enter the game at just 1-3 overall, but comparative results for both teams with Lake Erie and Missouri S&T set this one up as a close, competitive contest despite the records and the series history between these two teams.
KWC is known for its high octane passing attack and has put up solid numbers offensively this year. The Panthers have used two quarterbacks, with senior Wiley Cain starting the first two contests and putting up 629 yards and four touchdowns on a 55.9% completion percentage, and junior Christian Arrambide starting their most recent two games with similar numbers – 502 yards and three touchdowns on a 53.1% completion percentage.
Whichever quarterback is on the field will have access to several quality playmakers, led by senior David Florence, who was second-team All-G-MAC in 2021 and has a team-high four receiving touchdowns so far. Brennen McGuire and Peyton Peters are also off to solid starts for the Panthers.
As an Air Raid team, KWC runs the ball less than most squads, but does have two capable running backs in Jatorian Dillard and Landon Newman that split carries.
Up front, returning third-team All-G-MAC left tackle Christian Ealey is one of three returning starters on the line for the Panthers.
On the defensive side of the ball, KWC has had an up and down year, though it's clear the Panthers are talented. KWC has looked strong defensively against William Jewell and Missouri S&T the last two weeks, bouncing back from two tough outings to start the season.
Senior linebacker Jalen Humphrey is the team's lone returning first-team All-G-MAC player from 2021 and the leading tackler so far, while All-G-MAC third team safety Ramond Jackson is second. Junior Jaden Santos-Lopez is the team's top pass rusher in its 3-4 alignment, and junior Keon McGhee has also been disruptive up front.
While KWC has been solid defensively in terms of yardage and points conceded, it's struggled to force takeaways, with just one interception and one fumble recovery in four games. If the Panthers can find a way to generate more big plays, it could take a solid defense to a scary one.
Cole Cawthorne and Blake Vivrette have split the kicking job so far for KWC, combining to go 4 for 9, though with makes from 48 and 49 yards. Vivrette is also the team's punter, averaging 38.2 yards per punt.
The Panthers are coached by Tyrone Young, who is in his first year as a head coach after leading KWC's defense for two seasons as a coordinator prior to taking the job. Prior to his time in Owensboro, Young also served as an assistant at King's College, Lock Haven and Anderson University, following a four-year playing career at Kentucky Christian University.
The Series
Hillsdale is 4-0 all time against Kentucky Wesleyan, with an average margin of victory of 19.5 points in those four contests. The most recent meeting between the two teams was last November, when Hillsdale took a 31-12 victory at home over the Panthers.
Other Notes
- While both of the Chargers' 2021 All-Americans graduated this past spring, several decorated players return for Hillsdale this fall, led by sophomore wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa, a second-team All-G-MAC player and the Chargers' leading receiver in 2021. Junior tight end Michael Harding, sophomore cornerback Jackson Gillock and sophomore placekicker Julian Lee also return after earning third-team All-G-MAC honors in 2021.
- A huge part of the success of the Chargers defense last year came from forcing turnovers – interceptions in particular. Hillsdale led all of NCAA Division II last season with 20 interceptions in regular season contests – with Notre Dame (OH) only surpassing them thanks to extra postseason opportunities to add more to their tally. Hillsdale has continued that trend through the first four weeks of the season, intercepting a G-MAC best five passes so far, as well as recovering two fumbles.
- Sophomore wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa is off to an impressive start to the season. His 572 total receiving yards and eight touchdowns lead not only the G-MAC but also rank highly nationally, as he leads the nation among NCAA DII players in receiving touchdowns, and is fifth in receiving yardage. TeSlaa has received G-MAC Offensive Player of the Week honors twice in three weeks, for a 189 yard, three touchdown game against Walsh on Sept. 10, and for a 177 yard, two touchdown contest against Missouri S&T on Sept. 24.
- Senior tailback Michael Herzog missed the last two seasons while recovering from a devastating knee injury, but he's making up for lost time now that he's back on the field. His 371 rushing yards are third in the G-MAC through four games, and is 31st nationally among all NCAA DII players.
- In just his third game on the defensive line, sophomore Riley Tolsma had a performance to remember against Truman State, recording 2.5 sacks to help the Chargers stay in the game. Two of Tolsma's three sacks directly ended offensive drives for the Bulldogs, forcing them to punt. His 2.5 sacks are the most in a single game by a Charger since Dan Shanley recorded three against Kentucky Wesleyan in 2019, and he's currently second in the G-MAC and tied for 11th nationally in total sacks for the season with 4.5.
- Senior Kyle Kudla is in his third season as a starting linebacker for Hillsdale, and so far it's been one of his best. The Avon, Ohio native earned G-MAC Defensive Player of the Week honors for his performance in the team's 17-10 win at Missouri S&T on Sept. 24, finishing with eight tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, a sack and a pass breakup. On the season, Kudla's 37 total tackles are second in the G-MAC and in the top 30 nationally at the NCAA DII level.
- The Charger football program continued to shine academically this past season, with graduated Hillsdale seniors Cole Johnson and Alex Anschutz becoming the first football players in Charger history to repeat as CoSIDA Academic All-Americans. In addition, 57 of Hillsdale's 119 players received Academic All-G-MAC honors for posting a 3.3 or better cumulative GPA.
- The Charger football program has long been known for its strong family tradition, and that continues in 2022 with a set of brothers in the starting lineup. On the offensive line, twin brothers Nick Affholter and Benjamin Affholter (Quincy, MI/Reading) will hold down interior line spots for the second straight season. Both are the sons of Brad Affholter, a multi-year starter on the Charger offensive line in the mid-90s. There are several other sibling duos on the team – twin brother Josh Lee and Sam Lee (Toledo, OH/Central Catholic) join the squad as freshmen this year, and sophomore tight end Ben Hinrichs is joined by his younger brother, Christian (Escondido, CA/Classical Academy). Along with those sibling pairs, several other players on the roster have older brothers, fathers or grandfathers who suited up for previous Charger teams.
- With 125 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.