For the third straight season, as the autumn leaves change colors and October begins to turn to November, the Hillsdale College football team is hitting its stride.

The Chargers picked up a third straight victory and their first home win of the season on Saturday, demolishing visiting Thomas More in a 38-17 victory at Frank "Muddy" Waters Stadium. Hillsdale raced out to a massive lead, scoring touchdowns on four of their first five possessions to build a 28-3 lead, and led by as much as 38-10 before the Saints were able to get a late fourth quarter touchdown against the Chargers' second-string defense to make the final score a little closer.

For Hillsdale, it was the same recipe for success as the previous four weeks, a stretch where Hillsdale went 3-1. The Chargers had an excellent day on the ground, rushing for 273 yards and four touchdowns, and excelled at shutting down Thomas More's rushing attack, holding the Saints to -4 yards on the ground on 15 carries. The rushing total marks the third time in four games that Hillsdale exceeded 270 yards on the ground, a sign of just how potent the Chargers rushing attack has gotten in recent weeks after struggling early.

Senior Logan VanEnkevort sparked Hillsdale's rushing renaissance when he moved back to tailback against Northwood on Oct. 5, and he had another excellent day for the Chargers on Saturday against the Saints, putting up his third 100-plus yard rushing day of the season with 125 on 25 carries. VanEnkevort's running set up quarterback Colin McKernan in goal-to-go situations, with the redshirt freshman QB scoring two short yardage touchdowns and finishing with 49 total yards. Shea Ruddy added an eight-yard rushing touchdown in the second quarter to cap an 11 play, 84 yard drive, and junior Kyle Riffel chipped in a two yard rushing touchdown as well for the Chargers.

Hillsdale's offense dominated time of possession, holding the ball for an astounding 44:53, nearly three quarters of the contest. Along with a stellar rushing day, Hillsdale got an efficient showing in the passing game by McKernan, who went 14 for 22, the best completion percentage of his career, for 170 yards through the air, and added a four-yard passing touchdown to Connor Pratt to his two rushing scores. McKernan spread the ball around, connecting with nine different receivers, including with freshman Ryan Skura on a 46-yard completion to help set up a touchdown, and with Pratt five times for 26 yards, including the TD.

The Chargers' time of possession advantage was partly its offense, but Hillsdale's defense deserves credit for forcing Thomas More off the field consistently. The Saints went 3 and out on five of nine drives and only pieced together three drives of 60 or more yards, two of them in the fourth quarter with Hillsdale in total control of the game. Vince Francescone nearly had a pick-six for the Chargers, with a 41 yard interception return before the half, while Jake Maloney had six tackles and a sack assist, and Matt Soderdahl chipped in three tackles and two pass breakups.

Neal Likens and Hunter Sperling each had a solo sack for Hillsdale as well, and Kaden Evans shared a sack with Maloney for the Chargers.

Hillsdale is now 4-5 overall, and alone in fourth place in the G-MAC with a 4-3 record. The Chargers still have a shot to finish with a winning record after an 0-4 start, but will get a stiff test in their final home contest as 7-2 Tiffin comes to town for a 1 p.m. kickoff on Nov. 9. The Dragons have won five straight and are in line for a NCAA Playoff berth if they can win their final two games, but the Chargers are positioned to play spoiler if they can upset the Dragons at home. It's also senior day for the Chargers, as Hillsdale will honor its 18 graduating seniors and two graduating student managers before kickoff.

Photo by Austin Thomason