Chargers Look to Pressure Tiffin

"We think our defensive line matches up really well with their offensive line," Hillsdale Head Coach Keith Otterbein stated while discussing tomorrow's lone non-conference game of the year. "We need to get back to where we were putting a lot of pressure on the other teams' quarterback and getting lots of sacks and tackles for loss."

That pretty much summarizes what Charger fans would like to see as well. Most would throw in "offensive explosion" and payback as well. Hillsdale travels down to Tiffin University for a 4:00 PM kickoff with the independent Dragons. Tiffin handed Hillsdale a bitter, bitter 15-13 loss last season at home.

Last week in a 28-7 loss to St. Joseph's college, Tiffin's Donnie Johnson and Matt Root combined for just 92 yards passing, going a combined 9 of 30 and each throwing a pick. Andy Dion, Andrew Daugherty, Aaron Hoekje, and Eric Weber will do all they can up front to keep that pace going. Defensive backs play a big role in that pressure as well. If Chad Gurica and Nick Sutherland can lock down receivers Sean Ostrowski and Austin Clopton, Hillsdale should be able to throw the clamps on a passing game averaging just over 89 yards per game through the air.

Tiffin features Garion Corbin in the backfield who is 68 yards shy of the century mark on the season. He has 8 touchdowns in 8 games. Corbin carried the ball 30 times for 104 yards last week. On the season, the Dragons have relied largely on the run to a tune of 257.9 yards per game! Charger linebackers Matt Britton, Steve Balone, and company will look to neutralize Tiffin's ground attack.

Everyone who supports the Blue and White would love to see the offense get rolling again. The Chargers have faced some tremendous defenses over the last month and want to establish their running game early.

"We have to get in there and establish the run right away," Otterbein said. "We need to bust one or get to the second level where we can make guys miss."

Defensively the Dargaons have yielded just under 140 yards rushing per game and 152.9 yards passing per game. Phil Martin and the Hillsdale offense would love to stretch those numbers.

Tiffin is four and four on the season having played a wild collection of opponents. They opened and lost to the GLIAC's Findlay 31-10, then were blanked 38-0 by 1AA non-scholarship Dayton. They turned the tide and picked up their first win 30-7 against 1AA non-scholarship Butler. Division II's Edinboro beat the Dragons 42-7 before Tiffin picked up their second win vs. Division 3 Alma 56-23. The Dragons continued winning with shutouts of first-year programs Central State and Seton Hill by a combined score of 103-0 before their St. Joseph's loss last week.

Regardless of numbers Hillsdale cannot take anything for granted and must remain focused on the job at hand. "W

"We had another great week of practice," Charger offensive line coach Nate Shreffler said.

"Through all of this, the thing are kids have been the best at," Otterbein also stated, "is being resillient."

The game can once again be heard live over the Internet on WCSR Radio.