Dragons to face playoff-like atmosphere at No. 20 Hillsdale

Tiffin University coach Dave Walkosky called today's season finale at Hillsdale his winless team's playoff game.

For the opponents, that's especially true. The No. 20 Chargers know they are not guaranteed a Division II playoff spot. A win over the Dragons would go a long way in accomplishing that. It would be Hillsdale's first postseason appearance.

"They think they're gonna get a playoff game; great record," Walkosky said of the 8-2 Chargers. "They are no doubt the best team in the conference right now."

After beating then-top ranked Grand Valley State, 27-24, Oct. 10, the Chargers have run off three straight wins. They beat their last two opponents, Wayne State and Ferris State, by a combined score of 104-28.

One of the keys to the Chargers success is the play of quarterback Troy Weatherhead, a junior who has thrown for 2,498 yards while completing almost 65 percent of his passes (209 of 320). He has thrown 14 touchdowns and averages almost 250 passing yards a game.

"He throws the ball on the run better than any quarterback we have in this conference," Walkosky said. "He's not super-mobile, but he scrambles and gets first downs."

The main recipients of Weatherhead's passes are A.J. Kegg and Andre Holmes, who have a combined 126 receptions for 1,617 yards and nine scores.

The Chargers' running game is led by back Vinnie Panizzi, who has rushed for 1,200 yards on 234 carries, averaging almost 118 yards a game.

Walkosky's squad has faced run-heavy teams in two of the last three weeks, in Northwood and Michigan Tech. Against the Chargers, they'll be facing a balance.

"Northwood just ran it on us," Walkosky said. "This team can run and throw, against everybody. That's why they're winning.

"We've got our hands full. We're glad it's a big game, we're glad we're playing for something."

Though it hasn't shown up in the win column, the Dragons have been executing better in past weeks. It lost to 21-17 to Indianapolis and 21-14 to Michigan Tech in the last two games.

"The last several weeks, since the Grand Valley game, I think you've seen our team get better," Walkosky said. "There are signs of greatness throughout, in each section of the football team."

Quarterback Nate Scully embodies that. The true freshman has started all but two games for the Dragons, and has shown ability and inconsistency. But in the last several weeks, his turnovers are down and he has looked more comfortable in the pocket.

He and the Dragons offense will be facing what Walkosky calls a "very aggressive" defense.

"Their linebackers fly to the football," Walkosky said. "We've got to try to get our tailbacks to the next level, make one guy miss, because I think you get some big plays on them if you get out to the second level."

Kickoff is at 1 p.m.