Representing the Great Midwest Athletic Conference in the Albanese Candy Bowl on Saturday, the Hillsdale College football team battled GLVC representative Upper Iowa to the end, but couldn't pull ahead in a 37-28 loss at the Brickyard Stadium in Hobart, Indiana. 

The Chargers answered an early score by Upper Iowa with a 26-yard touchdown run by freshman Ben Ngishu five minutes into the first quarter, and pulled ahead with a two-point conversion pass from Ryan Skura to Mason Moulton to take an 8-7 lead. The Peacocks retook the lead on their next drive and took advantage of a Hillsdale turnover on their next possession to go up 17-8 in a high-scoring first quarter.

Hillsdale would never retake the lead after the first, but the Chargers kept the pressure on Upper Iowa with creative offensive playcalling. The Chargers pulled back to a two-point deficit with a 12 play, 75 yard touchdown drive capped by a seven yard scramble for a touchdown by quarterback Colin McKernan. The Peacocks restored their two possession advantage with a touchdown before halftime, but Hillsdale once again closed the gap in the third quarter, taking advantage of an Upper Iowa fumble forced by freshman Jayden Njoroge and recovered by senior Jack Trachet. McKernan cashed in the turnover with a four yard touchdown throw to receiver Shea Ruddy to make it 24-22 Upper Iowa.

With a chance to retake the lead if it could get a stop, Hillsdale just couldn't get off the field against the Peacocks in the fourth quarter. Upper Iowa chewed up over eight minutes of clock on a 16 play, 71 yard drive that put the Peacocks back up 31-22 with 8:42 to play, then landed the knockout blow with a rushing touchdown to put the game out of reach with 1:42 to go.

Even with a seemingly insurmountable deficit, Hillsdale kept fighting. Ruddy returned the ensuing kickoff 97 yards for a score, his third kickoff return touchdown of the season and a Hillsdale-record setting fifth in his career, to cut the deficit to 37-28 and give the Chargers hope. Hillsdale couldn't recover the ensuing onside kick, however, and Upper Iowa kneeled out the rest of the clock to take the victory.

Ngishu led the Chargers offensively with a solid game on the ground, rushing for 78 yards and a score on 15 carries. McKernan struggled at times against a ferocious Upper Iowa pass rush, taking five sacks, but kept battling, throwing for 142 yards and a touchdown to keep Hillsdale in the game and adding his rushing score on the ground. Ruddy led Hillsdale with five receptions for 85 yards and the scoring pass from McKernan.

Defensively, Luke Penola led Hillsdale with nine tackles, 1.5 for loss, and Ryan Niksa added seven tackles, two pass breakups and a forced fumble as well for the Chargers. Ultimately, however, Hillsdale's defense couldn't hold a potent Upper Iowa offense in check, as the Peacocks put up 474 yards, including 331 through the air. 

Hillsdale finishes the season at 6-6 overall. The Chargers will have holes to fill with graduating seniors at key positions, especially on the offensive line, but Hillsdale has a great deal of talent coming back, including its top passer and rusher, its top four pass catchers and a large chunk of its defense, including many of the team's key playmakers. That returning talent will give the Chargers hope that 2026 could be a big season if it can develop its returning players and play with more consistency next season.