Senior running back Michael Herzog scored his sixth touchdown of the year. Courtesy | Anthony Lupi
After starting its 2023 season with four straight losses, the Hillsdale Charger football team pulled off its first win of the year against its G-MAC rival the Northwood University Timberwolves 40-18 Sept. 30.
Defense was the name of the game for the Chargers in their first win, ending the game with two interceptions, three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, and a safety. The first turnover was an interception by senior defensive lineman Zachary Tokie, who caught the ball after Northwood’s pass was tipped by senior defensive lineman Trevor DeGroote. It was Tokie’s second career interception.
“I have to thank Trevor for that one, he tipped it up for me,” Tokie said. “It really felt great to win. All credit to Northwood. They’re a great team, and they played their butts off, but we came out and executed our game plan, and it went really well.”
Senior captain and defensive lineman Riley Tolsma was another big contributor to the defensive effort for Hillsdale, finishing with 11 total tackles, including two sacks. Tolsma leads the team with three sacks on the year. Redshirt freshman linebacker Jacob Vance also had 12 total tackles of his own, which was the most by any Charger that day.
Senior quarterback Jake Burger, in his first start of the season, got the Charger offense rolling early with a 77-yard drive that ended in a 10-yard touchdown run from senior wide receiver Logan VanEnkevort to take an early 7-0 lead.
“We really needed a win today, we got it, and that’s what matters,” Burger said. “There wasn’t much difference between this week and the last four, just a couple more picked-up assignments.That’s what won us the game.”
Burger finished 6-19 on completions with a total of 85 passing yards, including one passing touchdown. He also finished with 47 rushing yards, including a 30-yard run during the first possession.
Senior running back Michael Herzog continues his stellar final season. He finished the game with 98 rushing yards and got his sixth touchdown of the year in the second quarter to give Hillsdale a 14-7 lead.
“Defense definitely stepped up for us today with the three turnovers, and offensively we just kept our foot on the gas pedal,” Herzog said. “I just gotta keep coming out here and playing well. I need to be patient behind my blocks, and the reason I have six touchdowns is because of the big fellas up front so if they keep doing their job, I’ll keep doing mine, and we’ll keep rolling.”
Through five games, Herzog leads the G-MAC in all-purpose yards with a total of 818 and is tied for first in rushing touchdowns. Also contributing to the offensive charge for Hillsdale was freshman wide receiver Shea Ruddy, who had two touchdowns on the day, one coming on a 65-yard run in the third quarter to give Hillsdale a 24-10 lead.
Ruddy’s second touchdown came on a pass from junior quarterback Gordie Lafontaine, who made his Charger debut late in the fourth quarter, with his first career completed pass and touchdown. Lafontaine sealed the deal for Hillsdale on a fourth down 21-yard passing touchdown, locking in a 40-18 final score. Sophomore tight end Josh Lee also had his first career touchdown, coming on a 7-yard throw from Burger in the fourth quarter.
“I’m overfilled with joy seeing the young guys get a piece of what we’ve been doing. It’s great to see,” Herzog said.
The Chargers look to carry the momentum of their first win into their Oct. 7 game against another conference rival, the Tiffin University Dragons. Their next home game will be the following Saturday against the Kentucky Wesleyan College Panthers.