Chargers look to send seniors out on a high note with win over Warriors

Paul Costanzo
Hillsdale Daily News
November 5, 2005

Two teams that have found late–season success will collide on Saturday when Hillsdale College hosts Wayne State.

Hillsdale is riding a two–game win streak, while the Warriors have won three of their last four games after an 0–5 start.

A win for either team could spark an upbeat offseason and perhaps start the program in the right direction.

Hillsdale coach Keith Otterbein feels that his team might have already played their game in which the program turns the corner, at least that is his hope.

“Two weeks ago against Tiffin, we said that that was the game,” Otterbein said. “We were able to build upon that against Mercyhurst.”

While turning the program in the right direction is a constant goal, the main goal of this very game is to send the 18 seniors that have given their blood, sweat and tears to Hillsdale College football for the last four or five years, out of the program with a win.

“The first thing we want to do is send out our seniors with a win,” Otterbein said. “It’ll be hard –to say goodbye–. We’ll celebrate with our banquet –today– and we’ll honor our seniors.”

Otterbein said that this class has brought more that a win–loss total to the college but a good work ethic and a lot of pride.

And the underclassmen know it.

“They know what these guys have done,” Otterbein said. “They’ve seen the hard work that they’ve put in.”

Getting past Wayne State, however, is not a given.

The Warriors are very athletic, especially on offense.

Junior receiver Nick Body is ninth in Division II with 6.7 receptions per game.

He is also averaging 81.2 yards a game.

Running back Chris Middlebrooks is averaging nearly 100 yards per game this season.

“They have a good mix on offense,” Otterbein said. “They have a lot of skill.”

That balance has kept the Warriors in a lot of games they have played. Grand Valley had one of their tougher tests of the season with Warriors and Wayne State came away with a win over Michigan Tech.