Chargers come up short against MTU and Short

Chargers get close, but can’t find endzone often enough

After starting the game with a 30 yard completion from Mark Nicolet to Chad Gurica, it looked like the Charger offense would have its way with Michigan Tech. The Huskies’ defense would have a stellar first half, stopping deep Charger drives twice on 4th down.

Hillsdale kicked an apparent fieldgoal but Keith Otterbein and his staff took the points off the board when an off-sides penalty by the Huskies gave Hillsdale the first down. Before the Chargers could convert, MTU took the ball away an interception to limit Hillsdale to 6 first half points.

The Chargers’ lone score of the first half was an 18 yard pass from Nicolet to Gurica. Mark Petro’s extra point was blocked. 14-6 Tech at the half.

After MTU’s Lee Marana picked up a fumble by his own QB for a 17 yard touchdown, the Charger defense made its own noise in the second half. Tom Korte sacked MTU quarterback Steve Short on a 4th down attempt. The Chargers then picked up a break a series later when the Chargers recovered a muffed punt.

Hillsdale drew within 2 points midway through the 4th quarter when Nicolet kept an option and snuck in from the 1. On the conversion attempt, throwback pass from Phil Martin to Nicolet was complete but the Charger qb could get into the endzone for the tie.

The Huskies used ball-contol to burn the final 6 minutes, handing Hillsdale its 3rd loss of the season. 14 to 12.

Nicolet had the most accurate day of his career completing 18 of 22 passes for 204 yards, 1 passing touchdown and a rushing touchdown.

Nick Gurica had a huge day catching 9 balls for 141 yards and a touchdown.

Phil Martin beocmes the 2nd player in Hillsdale history to eclipse 3000 yards. He had 59 yards on 20 carries in this game.