Every year we talk about how crazy this league is, and just when it seems like we've seen it all...we get yesterday. Nothing short of unbelievable, and on a lot of levels...numerous upsets, amazing performances, and a final result for the year that may have seemed unlikely even just a few days ago. After the dust cleared, we are now left with an outright GLIAC Championship for Hillsdale College. Congratulations to Head Coach Keith Otterbein and the Chargers for an incredible season of hard work and perseverance, and for laying claim to Hillsdale's first overall league crown since they shared with three others back in 1992.

Hillsdale 42, Tiffin 0

Hillsdale let Tiffin hang around in last year's finale...nothing like that in this one. The Charger defense pitched its first shutout in four years to lead the way, including notching five sacks and holding the Dragons to -14 yards rushing for the day. All six HC touchdowns came via the ground, including four from Joe Glendening as a part of his 188-yard afternoon. It was just another day at the office for JG, who surpassed the 1,600-yard mark for the year and sealed up the 2011 GLIAC rushing crown.


Ferris State 30, Northwood 14

The Woodies were absolutely in this game. They only trailed by seven at halftime, and moved the ball quite well at times...I mean, Cameron Jackon's 204 rushing yards wasn't a figment of everyone's imagination. After all of that the ultimate credit is owed to the Ferris defense for forcing four three-and-outs and two turnovers on NU's seven second-half possessions, including a pick-six by Jordan Morgan with a couple of minutes to go to put the game out of reach.


Michigan Tech 21, Northern Michigan 18

"Throw out the records in a rivalry" held-up once again in this one, especially in the first half as neither team could find the scoreboard. Tech took over after that, however, scoring on long touchdown drives on three of its first four second-half possessions. Steve Worth hauled in eight balls for 126 yards and a score for the Huskies, and he was aided by teammate Akeem Cason posting 135 yards and a TD on the ground.


Lake Erie 45, Ashland 42

It's hard to doubt that The Storm remembered the 87-17 drubbing the took at Ashland last year, and they exacted a certain amount of revenge in this one by sending Ashland to a 6-5 finish after the Eagles had in the playoff discussion just ten short days ago. Despite Taylor Housewright's fantastic passing performance (330 yards and four TD's) and Anthony Capasso's amazing receiving day (13 for 205, 3 TD's), the Eagles were done in by what had been their most reliable group for most of the year: their defense. LEC racked-up 502 yards of offense, 361 of them courtesy of the running and throwing of Sean Bedevelsky. The senior signal-caller also contributed to five touchdowns in his final game for The Storm.


Ohio Dominican 38, Indianapolis 26

The one thing Indianapolis had done better than anyone in the country heading into yesterday was protect the ball, having only turned it over three times in their first ten games. They doubled that total against the Panthers, and those three giveaways proved the difference as each ended drives that had crossed mid-field AND all three were turned into touchdowns by ODU. Senior running back Mike Noffsinger concluded his career with a 108-yard, two TD afternoon and led his club to a great 7-4 record that included the Panthers winning five of their last six games.


Grand Valley 49, Saginaw Valley 24

Early in the fourth, Grand Valley had stretched its lead to eleven only to see Tim Hogue return the ensuing kick-off 88 yards and set up a short Saginaw Valley touchdown drive. With the margin back to four, it looked like another fantastic finish might be coming to add to the lore of this series...it didn't happen. GV safety Erik Thompson one-upped Hogue by returning the next kick 100-yards for a score, and the Cardinals never recovered as they turned the ball over on two of their final three possessions from there and the Lakers turned the fourth quarter into a romp. Saginaw really had no answer for the Laker offense for most of the day as GV racked-up 541 total yards, including a bruising 317 on the ground led by Chris Robinson's 175 yards and three TD's. Despite yielding a few big plays, the Laker defense also had a solid day by sacking the elusive Jonathon Jennings three times (after he electrified the crowd with an early 60-yard TD gallop) and generating four SV turnovers.


Findlay 43, Wayne State 42 - OT

Was there a local medical-supply company running a promotion on oxygen tanks and accessories at this one? One could only hope as darn near everyone there probably needed help breathing after this see-saw battle came to a close. Neither team led by more than seven at any point, both teams added touchdowns in the last three minutes of regulation, and a gutsy call by UF on the road to go for the victory on a two-point conversion at the end of the first overtime period capped a wild afternoon in downtown Detroit. While the Oilers are a predominantly a run-first outfit, Clay Belton was slinging it all over the lot on Saturday...and primarily to a pair of sophomore pass-catchers that the Warriors simply didn't seem to have any way to stop. Wide-out Seth White caught eleven passes for 111 yards and two scores, while tight-end Jaryd Brown nabbed nine dimes for a a buck-45 and another TD...and all of those stats were a pre-cursor to Brown snaring a pass from Belton for the two-point conversion that sent UF to the victory and assured a winning record for Coach Rob Keys in his first season.