Keith Otterbein won his 40th game as head coach of the Hillsdale College football program on Saturday to give him 100 career wins. He won 60 games while the head coach at Ferris State during the 1980's and 90's.
Otter moves to 40-39 at Hillsdale, 2 games into his 8th year. He is 17-8 in his last 25 games with the Chargers. At Ferris State, Keith ended his tenure on a 30-6 run and was 60-39-3 from 1984 to 1994.
Tradition • Character • Service
Sunday, September 06, 2009
Saturday, September 05, 2009
Hillsdale vs. Michigan Tech, a few numbers
Check out some of these numbers from today's offensive output.
Hillsdale scores 37 for second week in a row.
Hillsdale QB Troy Weatherhead, 24 of 32 for 324 yards, 3 TD, no INT, 23 yards rushing, longest completion was 53 yards to Andre Holmes.
Hillsdale receivers: AJ Kegg 9 catches for 88 yards, 22 yard long, 3 carries for 20, Andre Holmes 7 rec for 153 yards, 1 TD, 53 yard long, Matt Patillo 4 for 33, 1 TD, Mike Blanchard 2 for 50, 1 TD.
Hillsdale rushing led by Vinnie Panizzi 21 carries for 96 yards, 1 TD.
Kicking Mark Petro, 3/4 FG, 4/4 PAT, Andrew Wilburn, 2 punts (45 and 55 yards).
HC totals 155 rushing, 324 passing, 479 total yards.
Hillsdale D: Mat Szula 6 solos 4 assists 1 tfl, Nick Galvan 6 solos 2 assists, David Bakker 5 solos 4 assists.
Hillsdale scores 37 for second week in a row.
Hillsdale QB Troy Weatherhead, 24 of 32 for 324 yards, 3 TD, no INT, 23 yards rushing, longest completion was 53 yards to Andre Holmes.
Hillsdale receivers: AJ Kegg 9 catches for 88 yards, 22 yard long, 3 carries for 20, Andre Holmes 7 rec for 153 yards, 1 TD, 53 yard long, Matt Patillo 4 for 33, 1 TD, Mike Blanchard 2 for 50, 1 TD.
Hillsdale rushing led by Vinnie Panizzi 21 carries for 96 yards, 1 TD.
Kicking Mark Petro, 3/4 FG, 4/4 PAT, Andrew Wilburn, 2 punts (45 and 55 yards).
HC totals 155 rushing, 324 passing, 479 total yards.
Hillsdale D: Mat Szula 6 solos 4 assists 1 tfl, Nick Galvan 6 solos 2 assists, David Bakker 5 solos 4 assists.
Hillsdale.edu: Chargers win home opener in offensive battle with Michigan Tech
Chargers win home opener in offensive battle with Michigan Tech
Head Coach Keith Otterbein earns 100th win
Hillsdale College Release
Today’s GLIAC matchup featured two of the most powerful offenses in league as the Hillsdale College Chargers defeated the Huskies of Michigan Tech 37-35.
The win today was a milestone for head coach Keith Otterbein picking up his 100th career victory as a head coach.
The Chargers are now 1-0 in the GLIAC while the Huskies fall to 0-1.
Michigan Tech took advantage of their first possession, moving the ball 69 yards on 11 plays. Quarterback Steve Short found Bobby Slowik in the end zone on a 29-yard pass for the first score of the game.
The Charger offense, picking up where it left off last week, opened the day with a scoring drive of their own. Senior Vinnie Pannizi gave the Chargers good starting field position returning the Michigan Tech kick to the 40-yard line.
Weatherhead found Senior AJ Kegg on third down of the opening series for a 19-yard gain to extend the drive. After a seven yard rush by Panizzi and a 12 yard reception by Junior Mike Blanchard, Weatherhead found Andre Holmes in the end zone to tie the game at 7-7.
Hillsdale picked up a 20-yard field goal thanks to the leg of Mark Petro, before the Chargers and Huskies traded touchdowns to make the score 17-14.
Petro added a second field goal, this time from 24-yards, to close out the half.
Hillsdale and Michigan Tech would trade scores during the second half, but Hillsdale never relinquished the lead.
Full Release
Head Coach Keith Otterbein earns 100th win
Hillsdale College Release
Today’s GLIAC matchup featured two of the most powerful offenses in league as the Hillsdale College Chargers defeated the Huskies of Michigan Tech 37-35.
The win today was a milestone for head coach Keith Otterbein picking up his 100th career victory as a head coach.
The Chargers are now 1-0 in the GLIAC while the Huskies fall to 0-1.
Michigan Tech took advantage of their first possession, moving the ball 69 yards on 11 plays. Quarterback Steve Short found Bobby Slowik in the end zone on a 29-yard pass for the first score of the game.
The Charger offense, picking up where it left off last week, opened the day with a scoring drive of their own. Senior Vinnie Pannizi gave the Chargers good starting field position returning the Michigan Tech kick to the 40-yard line.
Weatherhead found Senior AJ Kegg on third down of the opening series for a 19-yard gain to extend the drive. After a seven yard rush by Panizzi and a 12 yard reception by Junior Mike Blanchard, Weatherhead found Andre Holmes in the end zone to tie the game at 7-7.
Hillsdale picked up a 20-yard field goal thanks to the leg of Mark Petro, before the Chargers and Huskies traded touchdowns to make the score 17-14.
Petro added a second field goal, this time from 24-yards, to close out the half.
Hillsdale and Michigan Tech would trade scores during the second half, but Hillsdale never relinquished the lead.
Full Release
Friday, September 04, 2009
Week 2 Podcast, Otter on the Huskies
The Chargers open their home slate. Tech comes to town and the main man gives us a peek into the inner workings of preparing for a top opponent.
Hillsdale Head Coach Keith Otterbein joins the program this week.
Click to listen. September 4: Hillsdale vs. Michigan Tech
Detroit News: GLIAC Foes Take Aim at King
GLIAC foes take aim at king
David Goricki / The Detroit News
Grand Valley State has been king of the mountain in the GLIAC this decade, winning six conference championships and four national titles (2002, '03, '05 and '06). The Lakers have won four consecutive conference titles and enter the season with a 40-game conference winning streak.
Can anyone in the GLIAC knock Grand Valley State from the top spot?
• Ashland held a 36-21 third-quarter lead last season before Grand Valley State scored 27 straight points to earn a 48-42 victory. Grand Valley State went on to dominate Ashland in the second-round of the D-II playoffs, 40-7.
• Wayne State played Grand Valley State tough in the regular-season finale. The Warriors held a 10-3 third-quarter lead before falling 24-10.
Simply, Grand Valley State has the poise and experience to win close games.
Grand Valley State also is loaded with talent, led by the nucleus of QB Brad Iciek , RB James Berezik and WR Blake Smolen .
Ashland moves to improve defense
Ashland has one of the most potent offenses in the country, led by first-team QB Bill Cundiff , RB Dawon Harvey and WRs Joe Horn and Nick Bellanco .
Ashland averaged 34.8 points, but had trouble stopping opponents, allowing 29.5 points a game.
With the defensive deficiency in mind, and the fact Ashland is opening a 5,217-seat stadium, coach Lee Owens is hoping to give fans a new look.
So, Owens hired 67-year-old Tim Rose as defensive coordinator. Rose has 29 years of Division I experience and was coach at Miami of Ohio (1983-89) and defensive coordinator of Toledo, where the Rockets improved from 98th in the nation in defense to 23rd his first season (2005).
Owens hopes for the same kind of quick fix at Ashland.
Will Wayne State make playoffs?
Wayne State made a major climb in the standings last season, improving from three to eight victories.
The next question is obvious: Can the Warriors take the next step and make the Division II playoffs?
Well, it could be tough to beat Grand Valley State and Ashland, but Wayne State could still make a playoff appearance if it wins the rest of its games, including a big test against Hillsdale.
With All-America RB Joique Bell in the lineup, anything is possible.
Bell holds conference season records for rushing yards and points scored.
Watch out for Hillsdale
Hillsdale finished 7-4 last season and is picked to finish sixth in the preseason conference coaches poll.
Still, Hillsdale is considered a threat to upset any of the contenders with its explosive offense led by 6-foot-8, 310-pound All-American tackle Jared Veldheer .
QB Troy Weatherhead returns, and is accurate -- 66.1 percent -- and efficient -- 2,874 yards, 21 TDs.
But what makes Weatherhead an even bigger threat is the return of WR A.J. Kegg (74 receptions, 9 TDs) and RB Vinnie Panizzi (1,086 yards, 11 TDs).
All-America K Mark Petro was 15 for 19 on field goals last season.
The Sporting News rated Veldheer, Petro and DL Drew Berube (10.5 sacks) as All-Americans.
Story Link
David Goricki / The Detroit News
Grand Valley State has been king of the mountain in the GLIAC this decade, winning six conference championships and four national titles (2002, '03, '05 and '06). The Lakers have won four consecutive conference titles and enter the season with a 40-game conference winning streak.
Can anyone in the GLIAC knock Grand Valley State from the top spot?
• Ashland held a 36-21 third-quarter lead last season before Grand Valley State scored 27 straight points to earn a 48-42 victory. Grand Valley State went on to dominate Ashland in the second-round of the D-II playoffs, 40-7.
• Wayne State played Grand Valley State tough in the regular-season finale. The Warriors held a 10-3 third-quarter lead before falling 24-10.
Simply, Grand Valley State has the poise and experience to win close games.
Grand Valley State also is loaded with talent, led by the nucleus of QB Brad Iciek , RB James Berezik and WR Blake Smolen .
Ashland moves to improve defense
Ashland has one of the most potent offenses in the country, led by first-team QB Bill Cundiff , RB Dawon Harvey and WRs Joe Horn and Nick Bellanco .
Ashland averaged 34.8 points, but had trouble stopping opponents, allowing 29.5 points a game.
With the defensive deficiency in mind, and the fact Ashland is opening a 5,217-seat stadium, coach Lee Owens is hoping to give fans a new look.
So, Owens hired 67-year-old Tim Rose as defensive coordinator. Rose has 29 years of Division I experience and was coach at Miami of Ohio (1983-89) and defensive coordinator of Toledo, where the Rockets improved from 98th in the nation in defense to 23rd his first season (2005).
Owens hopes for the same kind of quick fix at Ashland.
Will Wayne State make playoffs?
Wayne State made a major climb in the standings last season, improving from three to eight victories.
The next question is obvious: Can the Warriors take the next step and make the Division II playoffs?
Well, it could be tough to beat Grand Valley State and Ashland, but Wayne State could still make a playoff appearance if it wins the rest of its games, including a big test against Hillsdale.
With All-America RB Joique Bell in the lineup, anything is possible.
Bell holds conference season records for rushing yards and points scored.
Watch out for Hillsdale
Hillsdale finished 7-4 last season and is picked to finish sixth in the preseason conference coaches poll.
Still, Hillsdale is considered a threat to upset any of the contenders with its explosive offense led by 6-foot-8, 310-pound All-American tackle Jared Veldheer .
QB Troy Weatherhead returns, and is accurate -- 66.1 percent -- and efficient -- 2,874 yards, 21 TDs.
But what makes Weatherhead an even bigger threat is the return of WR A.J. Kegg (74 receptions, 9 TDs) and RB Vinnie Panizzi (1,086 yards, 11 TDs).
All-America K Mark Petro was 15 for 19 on field goals last season.
The Sporting News rated Veldheer, Petro and DL Drew Berube (10.5 sacks) as All-Americans.
Story Link
Thursday, September 03, 2009
D2football.com: Tony Nicolette Breaks down HC - MTU as his Game of the Week
Tony Nicolette
D2football.com
September 3, 2009
Michigan Tech (0-0, 0-0) at Hillsdale (0-0, 1-0)
This tilt pits a pair of teams with high hopes and expectations. Both have spent each of the last two post-seasons sitting at home after having opportunities to be in the playoff field. I won't go so far as to label a game this early in the season as a "must-win", but both teams sure need it to gain some early confidence and momentum against a quality opponent.
Tech Keys:
- Hit'em Quick - The Huskies need to find a way to come out smokin' and establish an early lead. They have yet to play, and are at a disadvantage from that perspective. Finding a way to jump on Hillsdale early and take they Chargers away from their game plan is a must.
- Strong defense - Tech gave up a lot of yards and almost 30 points per game last year. Hillsdale's offense is just too potent to stop entirely, so they'd better find a way to keep HC from finishing drives and putting up points.
Hillsdale Keys:
- Get after Short - QB pressure is a given, but at times Steve Short has been more prone than most to mistakes. When he doesn't play well, Tech struggles. Finding a way to keep him off the field and guys like Vinnie Panizzi on it give HC a big advantage.
- Stop the Ground Game - If Short isn't at his best, allowing Tech's line and Phil Milbrath to run over you isn't an especially appealing alternative. You can't just stop one component of the offense when playing Tech. Shutting down both facets is necessary as the Huskies have/can win relying on either route.
Prediction - Again, this isn't a "must-win" situation but I really think that both teams see this as the exact type of game in which they have to prove to themselves and the rest of the league that they mean business. The opponent is a expected to finish in the top half of the league so having the advantage in terms of head-to-head could play into both their playoff and league standings.
In all likelihood, Hillsdale is going to move the ball in this one. How their defense looks could tell the story. If they allow Tech to get a rhythm on offense this could be a wild one like last year. I like Hillsdale at home (where their defense almost always plays better), and with a game under their belts. Hillsdale 30, Tech 21.
Full Gliac Column
D2football.com
September 3, 2009
Michigan Tech (0-0, 0-0) at Hillsdale (0-0, 1-0)
This tilt pits a pair of teams with high hopes and expectations. Both have spent each of the last two post-seasons sitting at home after having opportunities to be in the playoff field. I won't go so far as to label a game this early in the season as a "must-win", but both teams sure need it to gain some early confidence and momentum against a quality opponent.
Tech Keys:
- Hit'em Quick - The Huskies need to find a way to come out smokin' and establish an early lead. They have yet to play, and are at a disadvantage from that perspective. Finding a way to jump on Hillsdale early and take they Chargers away from their game plan is a must.
- Strong defense - Tech gave up a lot of yards and almost 30 points per game last year. Hillsdale's offense is just too potent to stop entirely, so they'd better find a way to keep HC from finishing drives and putting up points.
Hillsdale Keys:
- Get after Short - QB pressure is a given, but at times Steve Short has been more prone than most to mistakes. When he doesn't play well, Tech struggles. Finding a way to keep him off the field and guys like Vinnie Panizzi on it give HC a big advantage.
- Stop the Ground Game - If Short isn't at his best, allowing Tech's line and Phil Milbrath to run over you isn't an especially appealing alternative. You can't just stop one component of the offense when playing Tech. Shutting down both facets is necessary as the Huskies have/can win relying on either route.
Prediction - Again, this isn't a "must-win" situation but I really think that both teams see this as the exact type of game in which they have to prove to themselves and the rest of the league that they mean business. The opponent is a expected to finish in the top half of the league so having the advantage in terms of head-to-head could play into both their playoff and league standings.
In all likelihood, Hillsdale is going to move the ball in this one. How their defense looks could tell the story. If they allow Tech to get a rhythm on offense this could be a wild one like last year. I like Hillsdale at home (where their defense almost always plays better), and with a game under their belts. Hillsdale 30, Tech 21.
Full Gliac Column
Michigan Tech Preview from Hillsdale.edu
Charger football team welcomes Michigan Tech for 2009 home opener
Hillsdale College Release
Sept. 2, 2009 - Rarely has a GLIAC football game been played so early in the season that could potentially mean so much to the two squads involved. But such are the stakes in Saturday's game between Hillsdale College and Michigan Tech University.
Hillsdale’s 2009 home opener also serves as the season opener for the Huskies. These are two teams that finished in the upper tier of the GLIAC in 2008, and it would surprise very few people if either of these teams finished in the top three in the conference standings in 2009.
Hillsdale (1-0) comes into the game off a fairly clean season-opening win, 37-7, over St. Joseph’s College in Indiana. In that game, the Chargers executed well on both sides of the ball. Hillsdale had 426 total yards compared to 182 for the Pumas. The Chargers generated 26 first downs while allowing only eight, and scored four rushing touchdowns, and were 7-for-7 on field goal and extra point opportunities.
But the Huskies will provide a much tougher test for the Chargers today. Since 2004, Michigan Tech has established itself as one of the most consistent football programs in the GLIAC, finishing over .500 each season since then. Last year, MTU was 8-3, with two of its three losses coming to playoff teams (Grand Valley State and Ashland).
Full Release
Hillsdale College Release
Sept. 2, 2009 - Rarely has a GLIAC football game been played so early in the season that could potentially mean so much to the two squads involved. But such are the stakes in Saturday's game between Hillsdale College and Michigan Tech University.
Hillsdale’s 2009 home opener also serves as the season opener for the Huskies. These are two teams that finished in the upper tier of the GLIAC in 2008, and it would surprise very few people if either of these teams finished in the top three in the conference standings in 2009.
Hillsdale (1-0) comes into the game off a fairly clean season-opening win, 37-7, over St. Joseph’s College in Indiana. In that game, the Chargers executed well on both sides of the ball. Hillsdale had 426 total yards compared to 182 for the Pumas. The Chargers generated 26 first downs while allowing only eight, and scored four rushing touchdowns, and were 7-for-7 on field goal and extra point opportunities.
But the Huskies will provide a much tougher test for the Chargers today. Since 2004, Michigan Tech has established itself as one of the most consistent football programs in the GLIAC, finishing over .500 each season since then. Last year, MTU was 8-3, with two of its three losses coming to playoff teams (Grand Valley State and Ashland).
Full Release
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