The Hillsdale College football team had a Homecoming game to remember on Saturday, blitzing visiting Kentucky Wesleyan in all three phases to win a 44-0 contest and snap a two-game losing streak.

The shutout was Hillsdale's first since a 30-0 victory over Walsh on Sept. 28, 2019, a day short of six full years ago, and the Chargers' largest margin of victory in a win since a 54-0 shutout of Lake Erie on Nov. 11, 2017.

Hillsdale had its way offensively with the Panthers from the start of the contest, rolling up 472 yards of offense in the victory, including 308 yards on the ground on 6.2 yards per carry.

The Chargers took the game's opening drive 48 yards on 11 plays, finishing with a 15-yard Ben Ngishu touchdown run to take an early lead, and added more points on some trickery, as holder Ryan Skura connected with Collin Davis on a fake extra point for two points to give Hillsdale an 8-0 lead.

Hillsdale scored again on its next drive, converting a fake punt on 4th and 3 and then adding six more points on a 33 yard Connor Pratt touchdown pass from quarterback Colin McKernan.

McKernan would add two more passing touchdowns in the first half, a 33-yard connection with Shea Ruddy and a three yard scoring pass to Tutt Carrico, to give Hillsdale a 28-0 halftime lead.

The Chargers put the game fully out of reach in the second half, with Ngishu running away from the defense on a 40-yard touchdown jaunt for his second score of the day, and freshman Dylan DeDario connecting on a 25-yard field goal. Backup quarterback Eli Boyce put the capper on the day in the fourth quarter with a seven yard run for his first career touchdown to give Hillsdale the final 44-0 edge.

While Hillsdale's offense was firing on all cylinders, the Chargers' defense had an impressive day as well. Hillsdale protected the shutout with two stands inside the five yard line against the Kentucky Wesleyan offense, twice stopping the Panthers at the goal line for turnovers on downs. 

Cos Davis stopped another promising drive for the Panthers with an interception at the five yard line, and Neal Likens also forced a fumble that was recovered by Jack Trachet to end another KWC drive. 

Likens had the fourth down stop on one of the two goal line stands as well for the Chargers, while junior Andrew McCarthy broke up a sure touchdown pass on fourth down to secure the other goal line stop.

Ngishu led a balanced rushing attack for Hillsdale with another impressive day, finishing with 117 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries. McKernan added 75 yards on 10 carries on the ground and was 15 of 21 for 150 yards and three passing TDs as well, while Zach Tetler finished with 50 rushing yards also for the Chargers.

Ruddy was Hillsdale's leading receiver with 42 yards on three catches and his one touchdown, while Pratt also finished with 42 yards and a touchdown on two catches and Andrew Konieczny added four catches for 30 yards.

Scott Eaton, Jr. led Hillsdale defensively with six tackles, 1.5 for loss, and Neal Likens and Drake Badger each added a sack for the Chargers. 

Hillsdale is now 2-2 overall, 1-1 in the G-MAC heading into a crucial stretch of three games that could either put the Chargers into G-MAC title contention or drop them from the race entirely. Hillsdale faces three title contenders in a row, two on the road, beginning with an always-dangerous Tiffin team at 4 p.m. next Saturday in Frost-Kalnow Stadium.