Soccer
There is not any doubt who the perfect return man within the Nice Midwest Athletic Convention has been by way of 4 weeks of the 2024 soccer season.
On Saturday, Hillsdale School sophomore Shea Ruddy strengthened his declare together with his finest day but in Hillsdale’s 28-21 street loss to Findlay, and that efficiency was sturdy sufficient to earn the large receiver G-MAC Particular Groups Participant of the Week recognition.
Ruddy was accountable for all three of Hillsdale’s touchdowns within the contest towards the Oilers, however it was his 93-yard kickoff return for a landing within the fourth quarter that sealed his G-MAC honor. The return was Hillsdale’s first kickoff return TD since Josh Peroni’s effort on Oct. 16, 2021 towards Lake Erie, and simply the second by a G-MAC participant in 2024, in addition to the longest kick return so far.
Ruddy’s landing wasn’t a fluke return. The sophomore put up 158 yards on 5 kickoff and punt returns towards Findlay, including to his 93-yard rating a 34-yard return on the opening kickoff of the second half that helped arrange Hillsdale’s first landing of the competition. His 428 yards on kickoff returns up to now leads not solely the G-MAC by almost 150 yards, however at present tops your entire nation on the NCAA DII degree.
Ruddy is also a menace on punt returns, with a G-MAC-leading 14 yards per punt return, and an efficient large receiver, with 344 yards and 4 touchdowns on simply 10 catches.
The sophomore’s all-around efficiency as a receiver, rusher and returner have made him one of the prolific gamers within the nation so far, with 895 all-purpose yards, main the nation by almost 200 yards on the NCAA DII degree. His 223 yards per recreation is the very best amongst any participant in FBS, FCS, and NCAA DII, and third behind two NCAA DIII gamers by way of the fourth week of the season.
Ruddy will look to assist the Chargers choose up their first win of the season this Saturday as Hillsdale travels to Northwood for a 1 p.m. kickoff.
Picture by Elaine Kutas