2010 Media Guide

2010 Charger Football
Season Preview:
After a taste of
big-time success in
2009, determined
chargers back for
more in 2010
They say it’s harder to stay at the top than it is to get to the top. That is a
problem the players and coaches with the Hillsdale College football program
are looking forward to tackling.
After seven straight losing seasons from 2000-06, the Chargers have been the
GLIAC’s second-best team since 2007, going 25-10 over the past three seasons.
The high point of that three-year run came in 2009, when the team went 10-3
and qualified for the NCAA Division II playoffs for the first time in school
history.
The challenge for head coach Keith Otterbein and the players now, is to
maintain its spot as a top contender for the GLIAC championship in 2010.
“Last year was what we’ve been working for, as a coaching staff and players,”
Otterbein said. “But since we assembled for spring practice, our focus has been
totally on the 2010 season and doing what it takes to improve on what we accomplished
last year.”
More than half of 2009’s starters return on both sides of the ball in 2010, led
by third-year starting quarterback Troy Weatherhead. A smart and accurate
passer, Weatherhead set several single-game and single-season records in 2009,
including passing yards, completions and attempts. He is the most experienced
starting quarterback in the GLIAC entering 2010, and has grown into a true
leader of the program.
“Troy has done a great job at learning what it takes to lead a football team,
both on and off the field,” Otterbein said. “His knowledge of the offense has
gotten better every year, and he has become a leader off the field, as shown by
his teammates voting him captain.”
Senior offensive lineman Phil Doerfler and junior defensive back Nick Hixson
join Weatherhead as the team’s three captains for the 2010 season. Doerfler
is a focused, hard-nosed lineman who is a true “leader by example.”
Three-year starting running back Vinnie Panizzi graduated, but returning
is sophomore Joe Glendening, who should step into the starting role in 2010.
Glendening is part of a group of skill-position players on offense that, coupled
with Weatherhead’s experience and savvy, give Hillsdale an enviable offense
this season.
Starting wide receivers Andre Holmes and Mike Blanchard return for their
senior seasons, and give the Chargers a contrast in styles, making them tough
to defend. Holmes is tall, speedy, and led the GLIAC in receiving yards last
year. Blanchard, also a kick returner for the team, makes the tough catches in
traffic and gives the team a much different look from his side of the field.
Doerfler leads a veteran offensive line, which also returns starters Patrick
Harbour, D.J. Loy and Reid Meador.
Defensively, Hixson leads a secondary that enters the season as an area of
strength for the team. Veteran Cody Henderson and sophomore Nick Galvan
return to join Hixson in the defensive backfield. Galvan is a fast, ballhawking
safety who became a starter as a true freshman last year. Henderson was also
a starter as a true freshman in 2007, but is coming off an injury-plagued 2009
Quarterback Troy Weatherhead (16) returns for his third season as
the starter in 2010.
campaign.
Expect to see some new faces in starting roles on the defense, like redshirtfreshman
Eric Burke, who enters fall practice as a starter at linebacker. Senior
Kyle Carson, a special teams standout throughout his career, becomes a starter
at linebacker this season, joining veteran Nate English at that position.
Two former linebackers make the move to the defensive line, juniors David
Bakker and Ridge Riebold, to help replenish the position most depleted by
graduation last year. Bakker was one of the defense’s most improved players
in 2009, and has the size, speed and skill set, to contribute immediately at his
new position.
There are some big shoes to fill on special teams for the Chargers. All-GLIAC
kicker Mark Petro and All-GLIAC punter Eric Schweller each graduated. Junior
Andrew Wilburn has gotten spot duty at punter in his first two seasons,
but will take over as the full-time starter this year. True freshman Matt Eltringham
will battle it out with returning veterans Colin McGreevy and Steve
Grant for placekicking duties.
“There’s a perception that we lost a ton of players, because of how talented
some of those players were,” Otterbein said. “But the group of guys we have
this year, have learned what it takes to win, and have played together for years.
I am confident that this is a team that can match up with any opponent in our
conference.”
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