Hillsdale's Joe the Show is one of 22 regional finalists for the Harlon Hill Trophy

Here are the Super Region 3 candidates for the Harlon Hill Trophy, awarded to the top football player in NCAA Division II.

•     Joe Glendening, Hillsdale RB 293/1412, 4.8 ypc, 23 rushing TD, 159.6 ypg (#1 scoring, #2 rushing)
•     Clay Garcia, CSM QB 244-393-6 int., 59.84%, 18 passing TD, 2880 (#6 total yards, #8 ypg)
•     Jesse Lewis, Pueblo RB 155/735, 4.7 ypc, 6 rushing TD, 73.5 ypg
•     Chris Mills, UIndy QB 224-342-3 int., 65.5%, 2725 yards, 27 passing TD (#8 total yards, #4 TD)
•     Mike Nofsinger, ODU RB 214/1134, 5.3 ypc, 10 rushing TD, 113.4 ypg
•     Jake Spitzlberger, UNK QB 159-266-13 int., 59.77%, 2252 yards, 18 passing TD

Full list and release at harlonhill.com.

Three Chargers get invites to inaugural D2 vs. NAIA Senior Bowl

Regardless of whether Hillsdale gets into the playoffs this weekend, three Charger seniors will have a game to play on Dec. 3rd. The inaugural D2 vs. NAIA Senior bowl will feature Hillsdale offensive tackle Reid Meador and defensive backs Nick Hixson and Joe Vear. More information on the game to be played in Middletown, NY can be found at D2vsNaiaBowl.com.

Glendening needs ho-hum day at Tiffin to etch two huge marks in Hillsdale record books

Joe Glendening 32 celebrates after a touchdown vs. Grand Valley St.
Patrick Heckenlively Photo

Hillsdale's Joe Glendening already holds the record for most rushing attempts in a season with 312. That is nice but it's the kind of record that holds about as much glamor and style as a Ford Focus. A little more, okay way more stylish than that is the single-season touchdown record Glendening broke last week with his four scores against Tiffin. In 2009, Vinnie Panizzi scored 25 in 13 games. Joe Glendening has 27 combined rushing and receiving touchdowns through 9 games.

With a slightly above average day at Tiffin on Saturday, Joe the Show can grab two of the highest profile, longest standing, and most glamorous records on the Hillsdale books.

In 1955, Nate Clark scored 24 rushing touchdowns and set a Hillsdale College record that has stood for 56 seasons. Glendening enters Saturday's game one shy of that with 23 rushing TDs.

In 1992, Scott Schulte set the Midwest Intercollegiate Football Conference on fire with an electrifying 1,582 yards. Joe needs 167 yards to eclipse that single-season mark.

Both Clark and Schulte are Hillsdale College Hall of Famers.

Those may sound like single-game career-high type feats for many backs, but consider the circumstances. Glendening is second in the nation in rushing, averaging 157.3 yards per game and leads the nation in scoring with 18 points per game. So 167 and 2 scores is a rather pedestrian day for a kid who has broken records at every level of competition he's faced. Now factor in the opponent Tiffin's averages. The Dragons are yielding 285 yards per game in rushing alone and 52 points per game.

An interesting tidbit to add to the Schulte record is the fact that Hillsdale's last overall conference title (shared with GVSU, Ferris State, and Butler) came during that record setting 1992 season. A win by the Chargers on Saturday ends that drought although they will likely share the title again. Other similarities include the fact that Schulte set the record during his junior year. Glendening is a junior. Both also missed at least a part of their seasons due to injury.

One similarity we can all do without is the blinding snow storm that capped Schulte and the Chargers' great 1992 season. Hillsdale beat Wayne State 41-14 that day as snow piled up and Muddy Waters  Field was plowed at least twice.

YouTube: Hillsdale's David Bakker sack at Findlay

Thanks to Mitch Bakker for sharing his son Charger David Bakker's sack just before  halftime at Findlay last Saturday.

Super Region 3 Shakeup

A lot of moving and shaking across the region this weekend. No telling where Hillsdale might land but with three teams losing ahead of them, it's going to be up.  We will have to wait until Monday afternoon to see where everyone is.

Super Region 3
Team Region Overall
1. CSU-Pueblo 9-0 10-0 won
2. Nebraska-Kearney 9-1 9-1 won
3. St. Cloud 7-2 8-2 LOST
4. Saginaw Valley 7-2 7-2 won
5. Minnesota Duluth 8-2 8-2 won
6. Ashland 6-4 6-4 LOST
7. Wayne State (Mich.) 8-2 won
8. Indianapolis 7-3 7-3 Lost
9. Minnesota State 8-2 8-2 WON
10. Hillsdale 7-3 7-3 WON    

Big Weekend of GLIAC Football on Tap

With a 5 way tie atop the league standings and only two weeks left in the GLIAC regular season, nearly every game this week will impact the rest of the teams clawing to remain on top.

Here is the league leader slate this weekend with all of the essential links provided by GLIAC.org.


NMU at 1. Saginaw Valley 7PM, stats - video - audio
1. Wayne State at 1. Indy 6PM, stats - video - audio
ODU at 1. Ashland 1PM, stats - video - audio
1. HILLSDALE at Findlay noon, stats - video - UF Audio , Hillsdale radio feed

HDN's Ryan Czachorski reports on Glendening's Status

Hillsdale Daily News sports editor Ryan Czachorski reports via Twitter that Charger running back Joe Glendening is feeling better but is yet to receive clearance for Saturday's GLIAC football matchup with the University of Findlay.

Glendening is the GLIAC's leading rusher and one of the top backs in NCAA Division II