The Hillsdale College football team made a showdown victory against fellow G-MAC title contender Walsh look easy on Saturday, jumping out to a 35-7 halftime lead and rolling to a 42-27 victory on Homecoming.

The Chargers racked up 530 yards of offense and possessed the ball for nearly 45 full minutes to build a massive early lead. Hillsdale's time of possession of 44:52 was the largest by a Chargers team since Hillsdale held the ball for 44:53 in a 38-17 win over Thomas More in 2024.

Quarterback Eli Boyce led the Chargers with a career-best performance, going 20 of 35 for 267 yards and two touchdowns, while adding 133 yards rushing and four touchdown runs on the ground to play a role in all of Hillsdale's points on the day. Boyce became the first Hillsdale quarterback to rush for over 100 yards in a game since Luke Keller in a 31-21 win at Walsh in April of 2021, and the first Charger with four or more rushing touchdowns in a game since Harlon Hill finalist Michael Herzog rushed for five scores in a 35-17 win against Ohio Dominican in 2023

The Chargers scored on six of their first seven drives to build a 35-7 lead at the half and a 42-14 lead in the third quarter. Boyce opened the scoring on the opening drive with a 55-yard touchdown pass to Shea Ruddy, then gave Hillsdale a 14-0 lead on a three yard touchdown run with 43 seconds left in the first quarter.

Early in the second quarter, Boyce connected with Ruddy again, on a three-yard touchdown pass to give Hillsdalea 21-0 lead. Boyce would rush for two one-yard touchdowns in the second quarter and a 12-yard run in the third to help Hillsdale pull away for good.

The Chargers finished with 245 yards on the ground, with Ben Ngishu adding 61 yards to Boyce's 33, and Tutt Carrico chipping in 26 yards on two carries.

Ruddy caught seven passes for 100 yards and two touchdowns for his second-straight 100 yard receiving game, Tutt Carrico chipped in five catches for 79 yards, and Ryan Skura added three catches for 30 yards.

Luke Penola led Hillsdale defensively with six tackles, Jonah Jensen chipped in five and Ryan Niksa added four as Hillsdale forced four first half three and outs to start the game and pull away. 

The win is a big one for the Chargers (5-1, 3-1 G-MAC) as it keeps Hillsdale in second place, a game back of leader Northwood, in the conference title race. It also sets up two huge contests at home the next two weeks, as Hillsdale prepares to battle the other two teams currently tied for second, Findlay (5-1, 3-1 G-MAC) and Tiffin (4-2, 3-1 G-MAC). Up next for the Chargers are the rival Oilers, who come to Frank "Muddy" Waters Stadium for a 1 p.m. contest on Oct. 17. Hillsdale is looking to snap a four game losing streak to the Oilers and continue their best start to a season since 2018 with a victory on home turf.