Schedule
Walsh (3-2, 2-1 G-MAC) at Hillsdale College (1-4, 1-2 G-MAC) | 4 p.m. ET Saturday, Oct. 12 | Frank "Muddy" Waters Stadium | Hillsdale, MI
 
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Additional Info
Hillsdale Roster | Walsh Roster | Hillsdale Stats | Walsh Stats | G-MAC Schedule | G-MAC Standings
 
Last Week

The Chargers picked up their first win of the season on the road thanks to a strong second quarter and excellent defense, beating Northwood 14-13 for their 10^th straight win over the Timberwolves. Connor Pratt caught a 14-yard touchdown pass from Colin McKernan to give Hillsdale a 7-3 lead in the second quarter, its first lead of the season, and a Zach Tetler touchdown run later in the quarter gave Hillsdale a 14-3 edge. Northwood hit a field goal before the half and scored on the first drive of the third quarter to cut Hillsdale's lead to one point, but the Chargers shut out Northwood from there and used an over eight-minute clock killing drive in the fourth quarter to secure the victory.
 
Scouting the Opposition

Hillsdale faces a tough defensive test for homecoming against a massively improved Walsh team that's firing on all cylinders offensively after five years of finishing in or near the basement of the league standings.

Keying Walsh is a complete offensive turnaround, as the Cavaliers have gone from the worst scoring offense in the G-MAC in 2023 to the league's premiere rushing attack this season. A big piece of it is mobile quarterback Dalys Jett, who has four rushing touchdowns in four games while also putting up big numbers in the passing game.

Jett missed last week's contest but backup quarterback T.C. Molk rushed for a 68-yard touchdown and was 16-for-16 passing in a 63-34 demolition of Lake Erie as well, so both players present threats for Hillsdale no matter who starts. The quarterbacks pair with a stable of tailbacks, as Cameron Macon, Dante Walker and Jake Gill have all gotten 40 or more carries and done well with the opportunity.

Walsh's dynamic rushing attack opens up the potential for big plays in the passing game, as six different receivers have catches of 40 or more yards already this season.  ODU transfer Garrett Waite and sophomore Anthony Harris lead a group that's focused on chunk plays downfield, to devastating success so far.

The Cavaliers are putting up these numbers behind a retooled offensive line, as only right guard Brandon Kennedy returns from last year's unit. Despite all the new faces up front, Walsh has shown solid chemistry, conceding just seven sacks so far in five games.

Walsh's offense has been excellent, and it's helped compensate for a defense that has yet to match that same level. The Cavaliers have had their moments but have given up 21 or more points three times in five games, and will have to be better down the stretch if Walsh is to make a title push.

The strength of Walsh's defense is the linebacking corps, led by multi-time All-G-MAC player Cam Hollobaugh, the Cavaliers' leading tackler who also has two interceptions on the season, and veteran stalwart Rocco Iacino. The Cavaliers have gotten a strong pass rush this season from ends Chris Jones and Koty Henry, who have seven sacks between them, as well. Cornerbacks Jajuan Jackson and safeties Marvin Conkle and Robbie Page lead a secondary that's shown flashes but has also been a trouble spot at times for Walsh this season.

Walsh has continuity on special teams with returners at kicker in Trent Doerfler, who's 3 of 5 on field goals with a long of 33, and at punter with Garrett Kashner, who's averaging 37.5 yards per punt. Jackson and Waite are the return men for the Cavaliers, and Waite especially has been dangerous with a 92 yard kickoff return TD already this season.
 
The Series
Hillsdale has an 8-0 record all-time against Walsh, including a 28-3 win on the road over the Cavaliers last November. The Chargers have thoroughly dominated the series beyond the record, as Hillsdale has won all eight meetings by double digits, with the closest matchup a 31-21 Hillsdale win at Walsh during the spring 2021 season during the Covid-19 pandemic.
 
Other Notes

• New head coach Nate Shreffler may be in his first season as the man in charge, but the veteran coach is no stranger to the sport and to Hillsdale. Shreffler is entering his 26^th season as a coach for the Chargers after successful stints as the team's offensive line coach (1999-2009) and offensive coordinator (2010-2023). Hillsdale's all-time leading passer, rusher and receiver all played in offenses led by Shreffler, and he was the position coach of Hillsdale's most recent NFL draft pick, Jared Veldheer. A 1993 graduate of Hillsdale College, Shreffler was a three-year starter on the offensive line and an important part of the team's 1992 conference title.
• 2024 marks the second season in a row that Hillsdale has started 0-4, but like 2023, the Chargers have the opportunity for another big turnaround. A win over Northwood in 2023 was the first of six wins in the final seven games to finish with a winning record. Time will tell if Hillsdale can repeat the feat in 2024, but they have the win over Northwood already and a chance to get on a roll this week at home against Walsh.
• The biggest strength on paper for the Chargers is a veteran offensive line, and especially an interior trio who are all entering their third year together as starters. Senior center Nick Affholter, a two-time All-G-MAC player and two-time Hillsdale lineman of the year anchors the unit. He's flanked on the left by guard Eli Haidamous, another All-G-MAC honoree, and on the right by his twin brother, Ben Affholter, who might have been an All-Conference player as well in 2023 if he hadn't missed time while recovering from an injury. Along with that gifted trio, Hillsdale also returns right tackle Carter Cushman as a second-year starter.
• After struggling running the ball in the first four games of the season, Hillsdale's offense had a breakout contest on the ground with 149 yards to help topple Northwood. Key to the effort was senior Logan VanEnkevort, who has spent the last two years as a slot receiver but returned to the backfield against the Timberwolves and had the best rushing day by a Chargers player in 2024. Maintaining that newfound success on the ground will be key to a strong finish.
• Sophomore wide receiver Shea Ruddy is off to a sensational start in 2024, currently sitting in second in the entirety of NCAA DII in All-Purpose yards through five games. A multi-dimensional weapon, Ruddy was named G-MAC Special Teams Player of the Week after a three-touchdown performance in Hillsdale's Sept. 28 loss at Findlay that saw him catch two touchdown passes of 30-plus yards, score on a 93-yard kickoff return and put up 343 yards from scrimmage while finishing as the Chargers' leading rusher and receiver. Continuing to find ways to get the ball in his hands will be a priority for Hillsdale in the back half of the season. 
• Hillsdale's leading tackler in 2023 and Linebacker of the Year Jacob Vance returns for his sophomore season in 2024, after a meteoric rise the year before. As a redshirt freshman, Vance didn't dress for the first two games of the season, and didn't crack the lineup until a week four contest against Findlay. Despite the late start, Vance quickly established himself as one of the Chargers' most reliable defensive players and contributed greatly to Hillsdale's season-ending winning streak. Already in 2024 he leads the team in tackles with 36 and tackles for loss with seven, while also putting up two sacks as well.
• Sophomore Drake Badger has helped boost Hillsdale's pass rush as a disruptive presence on the line for the Chargers. Badger has a team-leading 2.5 sacks in five games this season, and also has broken up three passes and forced and recovered a fumble, along with four tackles for loss. The end will look to step up his game even further to help the Chargers get back on track for the home stretch of the season.
• Hillsdale's two permanent captains this season are VanEnkevort and junior defensive end Landon VanBeek. VanEnkevort was Hillsdale's Special Teams Player of the Year in 2023 and is one of Hillsdale's most versatile players, having played as many as six different positions for the Chargers over the past two seasons. His success on and off the playing field has earned him several accolades, including semifinalist recognition for the National Football Foundation's William V. Campbell Award, the sport's academic Heisman Trophy. VanBeek, meanwhile, has been a critical part of Hillsdale's defensive line for multiple seasons and is making the move to end this fall after excelling on the interior for Hillsdale in 2023.
• The Charger football program continued to shine academically this past season, with eight players earning College Sports Communicators Academic All-District honors, including returners Benjamin Affholter, Bart Bixler and Ty Williams. In addition, 48 Hillsdale football players received Academic All-G-MAC honors for posting a 3.3 or better cumulative GPA through the spring 2023 semester.
• The Charger football program has long been known for its strong family tradition, and that continues in 2024 with multiple sets of brothers on the roster. On the offensive line, twin brothers Nick Affholter and Benjamin Affholter (Quincy, MI/Reading) will hold down interior line spots for the third straight season, and are joined on the roster by younger brother Zac Affholter, a true freshman lineman. All three are sons of Brad Affholter, a multi-year starter on the Charger offensive line in the mid-90s and an assistant coach with the team in 2023. There are several other sibling duos on the team -- sophomore wide receiver Corban Creason (Coppell, TX/Founders Classical Academy) and freshman defensive back Christian Creason; junior offensive lineman John VanOpstall (Jenison, MI/Jenison) and younger brother Chris VanOpstall, and sophomore wide receiver Shea Ruddy (Temperance, MI/Ottawa Lake Whiteford) and freshman defensive back Ryin Ruddy. Along with those sibling pairs, several other players on the roster have older brothers, fathers or grandfathers who suited up for previous Charger teams.