Chargers break the huddle after fall practice.
Courtesy | Hillsdale Athletic Department
The Hillsdale Chargers return its top performers from a year ago, as the team seeks its first Great Midwest Athletic Conference football championship since 2018.
“Our expectation is to win a conference championship, and I truly believe we have the pieces this year to do it,” fifth-year linebacker Jacob Vance said.
Hillsdale ended the 2025 season with a 6-6 record. The Chargers went 5-4 in G-MAC play and concluded the campaign with a loss in the Albanese Candy Bowl Dec. 6, 2025.
On offense, the Chargers return senior quarterback Colin McKernan, the leading passer from last season, and sophomore running back Ben Ngishu, the leading rusher. McKernan played in all 12 games and threw for 2,068 yards and 19 touchdowns. He also added 401 yards on the ground and six rushing touchdowns. Ngishu ran for 794 yards and five touchdowns.
“This is definitely the most excited I’ve been for our offense in my time here,” McKernan said. “We have some great returning players and leaders in all positions, and that is so important if you want to win a championship, which is our ultimate goal.”
The Chargers also return their four leading receivers from the 2025 campaign, who combined for 20 of the team’s 22 total receiving touchdowns. Senior wide receiver Shea Ruddy led the group with 695 yards and seven touchdowns. Juniors Tutt Carrico and Ryan Skura and senior Andrew Konieczny also return.
“Our skill group with wide receivers and running backs are as good as I can remember in the last few years,” head coach Nate Shreffler said.
The Division II Conference Commissioners Association named Ruddy a first team All-American in 2025, as the top return specialist in the nation. Ruddy returned three kickoffs for touchdowns.
“Shea Ruddy is the headliner and the big name,” Shreffler said. “He has been the guy the last couple years that has made a lot of plays for us on offense.”
D2football.com named Vance, who led the Chargers in tackles in each of the last three seasons, and Ruddy, to its annual preseason Elite 100 Watch List.
“Jacob Vance is a returning captain, and he’s a guy that makes everything go over there on defense,” Shreffler said. “He is a pretty vocal guy, and he backs it up with his work, his tenacity and how he approaches the game.”
The Chargers return more than 80 players and are adding 25 freshmen, compared to 27 in last year’s freshman class.
Shreffler said that the experience his team is returning will play a huge role this season.
“It’s huge with the schemes and everything,” Shreffler said. “They also know what it takes physically and mentally to prepare for each contest that we have, and I think the leadership that these men give to the younger guys imparts the knowledge and the culture that we have in the locker room. Having these older guys is like having an extra set of coaches.”
Vance said on the defensive side of the ball, the focus is creating turnovers this season.
“The expectation is to create as many turnovers as possible every week,” he said. “It takes 11 players to make a good defense, so everyone needs to do their job and not try to do too much.”
The G-MAC coaches picked the Chargers to finish fifth in the preseason coaches poll.
The Chargers begin play Sept. 5 at home against McKendree University.
