Hillsdale comes up short to Cal in opener

With three seconds to play Hillsdale's Steven Mette's 48 yard field goal attempt sailed wide left and so did the Chargers' attempt at forcing overtime, dropping their season opener 22-19 to CAL U of Pennsylvania.

Hillsdale dominated the first half defensively and led 13-0 at halftime on two Mette field goals (43 and 28 yards) and a Sam Landry to Evan Bach touchdown of 28 yards.

Cal U also blocked a pair of Hillsdale field goal attempts from 33 and 50. It doesn't take a math major to know that if either had connected we may have at least seen overtime.

The Vulcans made adjustments in their passing game and picked Hillsdale apart on two scoring drives to make it 14-13 with 6:52 left in the game.

The Chargers responded quickly to regain the lead 19-14. Landry found Bach on a 39 yard gain he took to the 1 and Isaac Spence punched in a play later. The two point conversion failed.

Charger defensive back Daniel Pittman looked like the game's hero for a few moments as he stopped Cal's next possession with an interception, handing the ball back to the Hillsdale offense with 4 minutes and change.

Hillsdale needed a couple of first downs and some good clock management to put it on ice but the Chargers went nowhere but back. Two crucial penalties derailed the striking of the dagger. Cal U would drive 80 yards for what eventually proved to be the game winning score.

Landry would get Hillsdale as close as the Cal 31 before the field goal attempt but it was too little too late.

Hillsdale did a lot of great things in the ballgame. They won the turnover battle and Landry was pretty spectacular in his first game as a starter going 26/42 for 359 yards and a score.  The defense held Cal to 31 rushing yards on 28 attempts and picked up a pair each of sacks and interceptions. It's just too bad Team 121 couldn't finish tonight.

Hillsdale opens the GLIAC schedule next week at Ohio Dominican at noon.

Game Stats