Courtesy: Hillsdale College Athletic Department
The Hillsdale football team snapped a three-game losing streak with a 35-10 win against Lake Erie College Oct. 25, moving them to 3-5 overall and 2-4 in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference.
“We were executing at a really high level in all three phases of the game and were able to generate a number of big plays,” head coach Nate Shreffler said. “Good things happen when you have a lot of guys doing a lot of things right.”
Sophomore quarterback Colin McKernan threw for 173 yards, completing 11 of 14 passes,with two touchdowns and no interceptions.
“I felt locked in,” McKernan said. “I was out there battling and having fun. It doesn’t get much better than that.”
Freshman quarterback Eli Boyce added 63 passing yards with one touchdown. McKernan and Boyce also combined for 82 rushing yards, including a rushing touchdown by McKernan on Hillsdale’s first possession of the game.
“When you can run the ball, you have a pretty good chance to be balanced in your offense,” Shreffler said. “Colin McKernan and Eli Boyce did a tremendous job on Saturday, taking what the defense gave us. They made their reads, threw on time, were accurate with their throws, and the wide receivers made the catches. They also did a great job pulling the ball on option plays and hurting Lake Erie with their feet.”
The game also featured a 90-yard kick return touchdown by junior receiver Shea Ruddy, which erased a fumble that resulted in a Lake Erie touchdown on the previous play.
“Anytime you can get a touchdown on special teams, it’s a big deal,” Shreffler said. “But being able to do it after the scoop score really got the momentum back on our sideline.”
Ruddy led the Chargers with 107 receiving yards and 139 return yards, en route to winning the GMAC Football Special Teams Player of the Week.
“It’s a great honor to be selected as special teams player of the week,” Ruddy said. “Though I feel honored, I do wish each one of the guys on the kick return unit could share in the award. We all put so much work into that unit, but I’m the one who gets all the recognition. Those guys are giving it their all every time we’re out there to get me to the end zone. So let this be a shoutout to all the guys on that unit.”
Freshman kicker Dylan DeDario was perfect on five extra point attempts. It was the first time this season the Chargers made all their kick attempts in a game. DeDario credited his recent success to a consistent kicking unit lineup.
“The more our unit works together, the more our timing is going to get better,” DeDario said.
The Chargers’ next game will be on the road against Thomas More University Nov. 1.
