The Hillsdale College football team got back on track at home on Saturday, shaking off a tough loss on the road the previous week with a blazing hot start in a 38-7 win over visiting Thomas More.

Hillsdale scored touchdowns on each of its first three drives and overcame a third-quarter lull to pull away for the victory. 

The Chargers opened the game with the ball and marched 74 yards on eight plays. Undeterred by a penalty that nullified a wide-open touchdown to Andrew Konieczny, four plays later quarterback Eli Boyce found tailback Ben Ngishu on a screen pass to the right for a six-yard touchdown that gave the Chargers an early lead.

Thomas More moved the ball to midfield on the ensuing drive, but after a sack on second and four by Hillsdale's Drake Badger, Colin Morrow forced a fumble on a short screen pass in the backfield by the Saints and freshman Matthew McIlroy pounced on the loose ball to give the Chargers possession.

Hillsdale made immediate use of the short field to strike quickly, as Colin McKernan moved the chains on quick passes to Konieczny and Shea Ruddy to get in the red zone, then scrambled to the end zone himself and powered through a would-be tackler on an 11 yard touchdown run that gave the Chargers a 14-0 lead less than 10 minutes into the game.

The Chargers defense came up big a second time on Thomas More's ensuing possession, as Luke Penola and Cos Davis stopped the Saints running back a yard short of the first down at fourth and two on the Hillsdale 47 to get the ball back. 

Driving the other direction, Boyce found freshman tight end Will Simpson wide open in a seam in the middle of the field for a 30 yard score to give Hillsdale a 21-0 lead.

Hillsdale was in control of the game, but Thomas More asserted itself defensively to slow down the contest, stopping Hillsdale on back-to-back drives to prevent the Chargers from extending the lead and keeping the deficit at 21-0 heading into the half.

A slow start by the Chargers coming out of the break gave Thomas More some momentum, as the Saints recovered a Hillsdale fumble and got on the board with a 44-yard touchdown pass on the ensuing play early in the third quarter. On Hillsdale's next drive, Thomas More picked off a pass, their second interception of the game, and suddenly the Saints were threatening with wind at their sails.

The Chargers defense, however, stepped up once again for Hillsdale. Evan Bienick recovered a Saints fumble to kill the drive off the turnover, and, after the Chargers failed to move the ball and gave Thomas More another shot, Cos Davis and Leighton Scott broke up a deep ball to get the Saints off the field once more.

That proved to be the stand that Hillsdale needed to put the game away. The Chargers capitalized on the ensuing possession, with Shea Ruddy scoring from four yards out on a run to restore Hillsdale's 21-point advantage with 1:15 to play in the third quarter.

The Chargers would tack on two more scores to pull away in the fourth quarter. Konieczny was able to get on the board in the fourth after having his touchdown in the first quarter wiped out, catching a shovel pass from Avery Holt and rumbling four yards for the score to put the Chargers up 35-7, and Dylan DeDario was true from 34 yards on a field goal attempt with 1:18 to go to give Hillsdale a 38-7 lead that would stand as the final.

Hillsdale outgained Thomas More 393 to 188, overcoming a sloppy hame offensively that included three turnovers and nine penalties. Four quarterbacks played for the Chargers, with McKernan going 11 for 15 with 105 passing yards and 23 yards and a touchdown on the ground, while Boyce led Hillsdale in rushing with 66 yards on 10 carries and also was 8 of 13 for 96 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. Holt added 31 yards rushing along with the four-yard touchdown pass.

Ngishu finished with 30 yards on four carries for Hillsdale, and Ruddy added 29 yards and a rushing touchdown on six attempts, while also leading Hillsdale through the air with four catches for 68 yards. Tutt Carrico added five catches for 48 yards as well.

Several players had strong games for the Chargers, who were one long pass away from pitching their second shutout of the season. Luke Penola led Hillsdale with eight tackles, while Evan Bienick chipped in five tackles, two for loss, a sack and two quarterback hurries. Jonah Jensen added four tackles and two pass breakups, Colin Morrow chipped in three tackles, one for loss, and the forced fumble, and Ryin Ruddy picked off a pass as well for the Chargers.

Hillsdale improves to 3-1 overall and 1-1 in G-MAC play while remaining a perfect 3-0 at home. Next week, Hillsdale will travel to Lake Erie for a 1 p.m. kickoff looking to keep themselves in the G-MAC title race with a homecoming clash against currently undefeated Walsh on the horizon if the Chargers can get by the Storm.