Ex-Charger Ross Named to World Cup Bobsled Team

Former Charger tailback Jason Ross was named today to the United States World Cup Bobsled team. This will be Ross's second season on the circuit.



Official Release: United States Bobsled and Skeleton Federation
October 31, 2005

Lake Placid, NY – After some great racing over the past two weeks at the Verizon Sports Complex in Lake Placid, New York and at the Calgary Olympic Park in Calgary, Canada the 2005-2006 United States Men’s Bobsled World Cup Team was officially announced. The team will be highlighted again by 2002 Olympic Silver Medalists’ Todd Hays (Del Rio, TX), Bill Schuffenhauer (Salt Lake City, UT) Garrett Hines (Atlanta, GA) and Randy Jones (Atlanta, GA). Also being named to the team was 2002 Olympic Bronze Medalist Mike Kohn (Chantilly, VA) and 2002 Olympian Steve Mesler (Buffalo, NY).
The rest of the 2005-2006 Men’s Bobsled World Cup team will consist of veterans: Steve Holcomb (Park City, UT), Ivan Radcliff (Houston, TX), Pavle Jovanovic (Tom’s River, NJ), Brock Kreitzburg (Akron, OH), Lorenzo Smith III (Kankakee, IL), Rocky Lanz (Gainesville, GA), Jason Ross (Napoleon, MI), Alex Sprague (Indianapolis, IN) and Curt Tomasevicz (Shelby, NE).

The Men’s Bobsled World Cup season will officially get underway in Calgary, Canada with the 2-man competition (Nov. 11th) and the 4-man to follow on Saturday (Nov. 12th). After that the team will be back in the United States for races on November 19th (2-man) and 20th (4-man) in Lake Placid, New York.

Trick Play Provides Chargers Big Treat

The first half of today's Hillsdale - Mercyhurst football game was horrifyingly ugly football for both teams. The second half may be the prettiest thing Charger fans have seen in a long, long time.

The Chargers went up 3-0 with a 27 yard Menchinger fieldgoal on their first possession. Hillsdale would punt the next 4 times they had the ball and miss a fieldgoal on the 5th.

Mercyhurst had a 9 play 90 yard drive for their only 1st half score while punting 4 times themselves and having a fieldgoal blocked by the Chargers' Alex Wojcik. Mercyhurst 7 Hillsdale 3.

A number of penalties by both teams added to the carnage.

Menchinger gave the Chargers a little boost with a 28 yarder to draw Hillsdale within a point at halftime. Mercyhurst 7 Hillsdale 6.

The second half got off in a big way as Hillsdale went 77 yards on 4 plays, topped by a 39 yard Nicolet to Chris Clay touchdown.

Mercyhurst took advantage of a Charger missed fieldgoal and added a touchdown of their own to regain the lead 14-13 with 4:28 left in the 3rd.

That lead was short lived as Hillsdale's Chad Gurica broke open on the ensuing kickoff and took it 93 yards for 19-14 Charger lead. The two point conversion attempt was no good.

The Charger defense held Mercyhurst to zero yards on the Lakers' next possession. It only took Hillsdale 6 plays to go 64 yards as Phil Martin exploded for a 44 yard touchdown. Menchinger's kick was good and put Hillsdale up 26-14.

Mercyhurst wasn't dead yet. The Lakers pinned Hillsdale deep before blocking Matt Vanover punt and recovering on the Hillsdale 6. Four plays later, the Lakers were within 5.

With Hillsdale clinging to a 26-21 4th quarter lead and the momentum squarely in the hands of Mercyhurst, the Chargers went to their bag of tricks. Hillsdale faced 3rd down just shy of midfield when quarterback Mark Nicolet handed off to Brett Neller. Neller stopped, set up and found a streaking Nicolet who didn't stop until 53 yards downfield for the touchdown. Matt Menchinger's extra point sealed the deal 33-21 with 2:30 left.

Neller added an exclamation point with a 31 yard touchdown run one minute and twenty-seven seconds later. Menchinger capped the scoring for a 40-21 final.

Hillsdale put up 415 yards of offense today. Martin led the ground game with 126 yards on 23 carries. 112 of those came on 11 second half carries. Nicolet was 13 of 27 for 172 yards passing. He also led the team in receiving with the 53 yard touchdown. Keith Recker caught 2 balls for 44 yards. Clay had just the one 39 yard touchdown catch.

The Charger defense held Mercyhurst to 72 rushing yards on 44 carries. Steve Balone led the team with 13 tackles. He had 2 1/2 of the Chargers' 7 sacks. Andrew Daugherty had a pair of those himself.

Hillsdale moves to 4-6 on the year and 3-6 in the GLIAC. They host Wayne State next Saturday in the season finale at 2:30 PM.

Hillsdale - Mercyhurst Live Stats

Mercyhurst is offering live stats on their website for today's game from Erie, PA.

Live Stats

WCSR is using the Mercyhurst feed today. Click to listen.

Hillsdale.edu/chargers::Mercyhurst Preview

Hillsdale College Release

Hillsdale Game Notes

Oct. 27, 2005 - The Hillsdale College football team seeks its second straight victory Saturday with a 1:30 p.m. game against Mercyhurst College in Erie, Pa.

This marks Hillsdale's second visit to Pennsylvania this season. The first was a Charger victory, 43-9 over the host Gannon Golden Knights.

The Lakers (1-7 overall, 1-7 GLIAC) are one team Hillsdale has had much success against in recent years. The Chargers broke a five-game losing streak last year in a 21-17 home win over Mercyhurst. Hillsdale also recorded its most lopsided win in recent years in the 2002 season finale, 56-7, over the Lakers.

However, Mercyhurst comes into the game with some momentum. The team won its first game of the season last week, 28-24 over the University of Indianapolis. The Lakers scored 14 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to pull out the come-from-behind win.

The Chargers are also coming off a victory, 24-7 over the Tiffin University Dragons in a non-league tilt. Hillsdale punter Matt Vanover was named the GLIAC Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance. It was the second time this season a Charger special teamer from Adrian has won the honor, with senior Chad Gurica being the first.

Sophomore quarterback Mark Nicolet continues his improvement, after taking over as the starter a month ago. Nicolet threw for 181 yards and ran for another 98 in the win over the Dragons last week. He also ran for a touchdown and threw for another.

Hillsdale wraps up the 2005 season at home Saturday, Nov. 5 against Wayne State.

Mercyhurst.edu::Lakers Return Home for Hillsdale

Mercyhurst College Release

Mercyhurst Game Notes

Mercyhurst (1-7, 1-7 GLIAC) will look for its second straight win when GLIAC foe Hillsdale (3-6, 2-6 GLIAC) visits Tullio Field on Saturday, October 29 at 1:30.

Last week, the Lakers got three touchdowns from Calvin Kelly - tying a school record - including one in a fourth quarter comeback that lifted Mercyhurst to its first win of the year. Jim Kokrak made a Laker season-high 19 tackles and was named the GLIAC Defensive Player of the Week.

Hillsdale, meanwhile, defeated non-conference Tiffin by a score of 24-7. The Chargers snapped a four-game losing streak with the win.

Hillsdale leads the all-time series 4-3, winning three straight games between the two schools. Last year, Phil Martin scored on a five-yard run with 3:22 left to lift the Chargers past Mercyhurst. He also scored on a 47-yard scamper and had 135 yards on the ground. Justin Adams led the Lakers with 134 yards and matched Martin with two scores. The running backs dominated the game. Both teams racked up over 200 yards on the ground, but neither offense passed for 100. Ben Bluemle had 17 tackles and an interception. Mercyhurst's last win came on October 27, 2001 with a 44-31 win at Tullio Field. Games between the teams tend to be high scoring. The winner has run up at least 35 in five of the seven meetings.

Date: October 29, 2005
Event: Hillsdale at Mercyhurst
Kickoff: 1:30 PM
Stadium: Tullio Field, (2,300)
Location: Erie, Pa.
Mercyhurst's Record: 1-7, 1-7 GLIAC
Hillsdale's Record: 3-6, 2-6 GLIAC
Series: Hillsdale leads 4-3

Charger Basketball Takes on the Big East

Hillsdale will travel to the 'Nati and take on the Bearcats as UC makes its debut this season in the new (Very) Big East.

Lots of Hillsdale alumni, including the famous Will Cover are already planning a big bash to celebrate the Chargers' appearance on their biggest stage ever. Be part of it!

Thursday, November 3, 2005
Fifth Third Arena, Cincinnati OH

Come see your Hillsdale Chargers take on NCAA powerhouse, the University of Cincinnati Bearcats. Tickets are available through the Hillsdale College Alumni Office (517) 607-2461. Prices are $25 lower level, $20 mezzanine, and $10 upper level.
All proceeds go to support the Hillsdale College Men’s Basketball Program

There will be an alumni reception for the team from 5:00-6:30 PM at the Vernon Manor Hotel, 400 Oak St., Cincinnati, Ohio.

GO CHARGERS!!

Detroit News::Northwood Stresses Family

Here is an article from the Detriot News' Terry Foster about the Northwood program and especially former Charger great Pat Riepma. Riepma is head football coach, athletic director and architect of the amazing football renaissance at Northwood.

Northwood Stresses Family, October

Riepma played quarterback at Hillsdale in the early 1980's, was a position coach, offensive coordinator of the 1992 MIFC championship team, and Sports Information Director before beginning his tenure at Northwood in 1993. He and Hillsdale head coach were Keith Otterbein were Charger teammates and Alpha Tau Omega fraternity brothers.