Schedule
Hillsdale College (2-0, 0-0 G-MAC) at #25 Northwood (2-0, 0-0 G-MAC) | 12 p.m. ET Saturday, Sept. 19 | Hantz Stadium | Midland, MI
 
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Additional Info
Hillsdale Roster | Northwood Roster | Hillsdale Stats | Northwood Stats | G-MAC Schedule | G-MAC Standings
 
Last Game
The Chargers had one of their most dominant performances in recent memory in a 49-0 demolition of Wayne State to improve to 2-0 on the season. Hillsdale racked up 621 yards of total offense, just 38 yards shy of the single game program record, thanks in part to a 111 yard, three touchdown day receiving from G-MAC Offensive Player of the Week Tutt Carrico. Ben Ngishu added two touchdowns on the ground and Avery Holt and Hawk Hasselman each rushed for a score as well. Defensively, the Chargers recorded seven sacks to shut out the Warriors, led by Jayden Njoroge's 3.5 sack performance, the most in a single game by a Hillsdale player in over two decades. Ryan Niksa forced a fumble and added two pass breakups, and Leighton Scott picked off a pass as well for the Chargers.
 
Scouting the Opposition
Two old rivals meet in a game with higher stakes beyond the rivalry, as strong starts by both nationally ranked Northwood and Hillsdale mean the winner on Saturday will position itself as a serious contender for the G-MAC crown.

Expectations are high for Northwood, which had its best record in 20 years in 2025, just missed claiming a share of the team's first conference crown since 2004, and brings almost every key player back to make another run at the title in 2026.

Northwood is led by returning G-MAC Offensive Player of the Year and standout quarterback Ethan Hamby, who's off to a great start in 2026 with a 73.5% completion rate and four touchdowns to one interception. He's got a loaded and talented group of receivers to throw to, headlined by returning first-team All-G-MAC honoree Case Boos, as well as Case's brother Lake, Gerry Hanson, Carter Minix and Mitch Rivard, along with tight end Luke Woodke. With so many weapons, Hamby can spread the ball around and keep defenses off balance.

The Timberwolves primarily attack teams through the air but have a solid game on the ground when needed, led by tailback Trent Hill. Hamby can also do some damage with his legs, with 85 yards and a touchdown on the ground so far.

The line had the most attrition to graduation among the Northwood offense this offseason, but the unit has held up well so far, led by returning starters Kevin Brown and Riley Smalarz, and should hold its own on Saturday.

Defensively, Northwood brings a fast and athletic unit that's had an impressive amount of success the last two season. Returning All-G-MAC linebacker Joe Lathers is the team's top tackler and pass rusher, while Aviere Thomas headlines a ballhawking secondary. Jaden Gilstrap and Kanye Jackson complete a strong linebacking corps that is the strength of the defense, while Charlie Lovell and Tyler Marrogy add additional pass rush off the edge. Northwood's 12 sacks through two games leads the G-MAC and put a lot of pressure on opposing offenses to try and hold up.

Kicker Drew Cady was an All-G-MAC honoree last season, and though he's off to a rough start in 2026, making just one of three field goals, he's a perfect 12 for 12 on extra points and has the pedigree of a strong kicker. Punter Austin McIntire is averaging 43.2 with a long of 58, and the returns are handled by Brandon Martin and Carter Minix.

Dustin Beurer is in his fourth season as head coach at Northwood and has turned the Timberwolves around in a short time in charge after prior success at his alma mater Albion College at the NCAA DIII level.
 
The Series
There's a long, history-laden series between these two in-state rivals that have shared a conference for many years. The first meeting between the two programs was a 27-20 Hillsdale win in 1963, and the Chargers have the edge in the season series, 35-18. Hillsdale had a 10-game winning streak from 2010 to 2024 that Northwood snapped last season in a 48-19 victory in Hillsdale. The two institutions play for the Riepma Cup, a traveling trophy named in honor of Pat Riepma, a Hillsdale Hall of Fame quarterback for the Chargers from 1979 to 1982, and a legendary coach and athletic director for Northwood after his playing days.
 
Other Notes

• Hillsdale College athletics will once again stream on FloCollege for the 2026-27 season as the Great Midwest Athletic Conference continues with a media rights deal with FloSports. All 11 Hillsdale College football contests in 2026 will stream with FloSports as a part of its FloCollege brand. FloSports is a subscription-based livestreaming service that hosts 40,000 contests and has deals with over 20 conferences in the NCAA. You can find out more information and sign up to watch the Chargers at this link.
• Hillsdale head coach Nate Shreffler is entering his third season as the man in charge, and the veteran coach is no stranger to the sport and to Hillsdale. Shreffler is entering his 27^th season as a coach for the Chargers, including 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. The Chargers finished with winning records in Shreffler's first two seasons in charge, and he was the first Hillsdale coach to finish above .500 in his debut season since Hillsdale Hall of Famer Dick Lowry in 1980.
• Senior Shea Ruddy set another record two weeks ago on his 96-yard kick return for a touchdown against McKendree, breaking the G-MAC record for career return yards set by current Indianapolis Colt Ashton Dulin. Showcasing the versatility that made him a consensus All-American in 2025, he also added two more receiving touchdowns to lead the Chargers with three scores. An electric player in the return game, Ruddy led all of college football in 2025 with 960 kickoff return yards and three kick return touchdowns while becoming the only NCAA DII player in the nation to finish with a rushing, passing, receiving and kickoff return touchdown in 2025.
• Already a two-time All-American and Academic All-American, Ruddy added another prestigious honor earlier this week by being selected to the 2026 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team. Just 22 college football players from across the country make the team, which honors outstanding efforts in community service among student-athletes. Ruddy was recognized for his work with the emergency room and surgery at Hillsdale Hospital, as well as serving as the chair of Hillsdale's Be The Match bone marrow donor registry drive, and several other charitable efforts. Ruddy is the first Hillsdale player to be recognized as a part of the team since Phil Davignon in 2008.
• Sophomore tailback Ben Ngishu had a historic season opener for the Chargers against McKendree, rushing for 212 yards, the most by a Hillsdale player since All-American David Graham's 232 yard effort against Lake Erie in 2019. Ngishu had touchdown carries of 80 and 78 yards, the two longest touchdown runs by a Charger since Joe "The Show" Glendening's 80 yard score against Ohio Dominican on Oct. 8, 2011. The 2025 G-MAC Freshman of the Year, Ngishu looks poised to build on that campaign with an even bigger one as a sophomore, adding two more touchdown runs against Wayne State last week.
• Through two weekends, Hillsdale's 104 points scored rank as the most by a Chargers offense in two games in the 134-year history of the program. Hillsdale's 621 yards of offense against Wayne State last Saturday came less than 40 yards from setting another record as well.
• Ruddy isn't the only standout receiver the Chargers have, as junior Tutt Carrico is proving to be a prolific player in his own right. After an impressive sophomore campaign that had him rank among the G-MAC leaders in receiving yards and touchdowns, Carrico exploded for three touchdowns and 111 yards receiving against Wayne State last week. It's Hillsdale's first three receiving touchdown performance in a single game since current Detroit Lion Isaac TeSlaa caught three TD passes against Walsh in 2022. Carrico was named the G-MAC Offensive Player of the Week for his game against the Warriors.
• Fifth year linebacker Jacob Vance is another Charger who made the DIIFootball.com Elite 100 preseason watch list and has been a difference-maker for Hillsdale as the team's leading tackler in each of the last three seasons. Vance was named to the All-Super Region 1 team in 2024 and earned first team All-G-MAC honors each of the last two seasons. He was the Chargers' Team MVP in 2025 as well as a team captain, and has a chance to become the first player in program history to be named the team's linebacker of the year in four straight seasons.
• Hillsdale brought back several strong pass rushers from last year's team, and the Chargers have done damage up front so far, with seven sacks against Wayne State falling just shy of the program single game record. Sophomore Jayden Njoroge was responsible for 3.5 of those sacks, the most in a single game by a Charger in over two decades, but he's far from alone, as Drake Badger had double-digit sacks in 2025 and Luke Penola and Jacob Vance are both capable pass rushers from the linebacker position as well.
• Fifth-year senior Ryan Niksa had a stellar 2025 campaign, finishing second in NCAA DII and leading the G-MAC with 16 pass breakups to play a major role for the Chargers defense. A starter at cornerback for Hillsdale, Niksa will look to lead a veteran secondary unit that also includes decorated fifth-year safety Colin Morrow and is aiming for major improvement in 2026.
• Hillsdale has selected four captains for the 2026 campaign: Jacob Vance, who will serve as a captain for the second straight season, along with Ruddy, fifth-year offensive lineman Jesse Mendoza and junior linebacker Luke Penola.
• The Charger football program continued to shine academically this past season, with eight players earning College Sports Communicators Academic All-District honors, including returners Ruddy, Penola, Carrico and senior safety Jonah Jensen. In addition to making the All-District team, Ruddy went a step further, becoming the first football player in Hillsdale College history to be named a CSC Academic All-American two years in a row. In addition, 53 Hillsdale football players received Academic All-G-MAC honors for posting a 3.3 or better cumulative GPA through the spring 2024 semester, and the Chargers led NCAA DII with 17 graduating players earning a spot on the NFF Hampshire Honor Society for their achievements in the classroom.