After its second consecutive winning season, punctuated by a five-game winning streak last year, the Hillsdale football team returned to campus to prepare for the 2025 season Aug. 12.
“Coming off that finish put them in a good mood heading to the break,” head coach Nate Shreffler said. “They’re fired up and ready to get back into the new season.”
Shreffler praised the performance of several players including junior wide receiver Shea Ruddy, who caught 24 passes for 680 yards last season, adding 279 rushing yards on 49 carries. Ruddy led Division II in all-purpose yards through October last year and finished the season third in the division.
“Shea had a pretty dynamic season,” Shreffler said. “He’s going to get the ball in a lot of different ways.”
Athletic Director John Tharp said he is looking forward to the upcoming season, which marks the 70th anniversary of the Chargers’ undefeated 1955 season under former head coach Frank “Muddy” Waters. The Chargers went 9-0 and won the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association football championship.
Tharp says he has seen some of the team’s morning meetings and workouts in the weight room.
“From everything that I’ve seen, there’s been great energy with the team,” he said.
Sophomore quarterback Colin McKernan also said he is excited for the upcoming season.
“The thing I’m most looking forward to is the camaraderie that this team has,” McKernan said. “We have a lot of key returning pieces. A lot of the defense and the entire returning offensive line are very experienced overall. I think this whole idea of a champion season could really come to fruition this year.”
McKernan earned the starting quarterback role last year, compiling 1,455 passing yards across 10 games.
“When you do something for a while, it slows down for you and you understand more routines, reads, and everything you need to know,” McKernan said. “I’ve definitely felt that the game has slowed down for me a ton and I feel way more confident doing what I’m doing. Being able to step into a role of leadership a little bit more has definitely helped.”
McKernan also said he is excited to have most of his teammates back for the season.
“Knowing the guys that you’re around is definitely an important thing in football, especially since you’ve got to rely on them so much,” he said. “Additionally, it’s great to be able to hang out with your friends outside of football, when those friends are still the guys you play with every day.”
The Chargers will play their first game against McKendree University in Lebanon, Illinois Sep. 6. The team’s first home game will be against Michigan Technological University Sep. 13.
