In the 50^th all-time Traveling Trophy game on Saturday (Nov. 7) afternoon, Ashland University's football team lost at Hillsdale, 28-17.
 
With one more regular-season game to go in 2026, the Eagles are 3-7 overall and 3-5 in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference. The Chargers improve to 7-3, 5-3.
 
Ashland went out to a 10-0 lead on Saturday, thanks to early-second quarter scores by freshman kicker Nate Russell (a 28-yard field goal) and freshman wide receiver Andrew McKnight (a 15-yard touchdown pass from freshman quarterback Darrell Shumpert).
 
Hillsdale, however, countered before halftime with two touchdowns to go on top at 14-10. Cole Canter threw touchdown passes of 25 yards to Will Simpson and 56 yards to Shea Ruddy.
 
After Ashland re-took the lead at 17-14 approaching the halfway mark of the third quarter when Shumpert found junior tight end Jonathan Merimee for a four-yard score, Ruddy responded on the ensuing kickoff with an 85-yard return major.
 
The Chargers extended their advantage to 11 points with 9:54 to play when Luke Penola returned an interception 20 yards for a TD.
 
Both junior tailback Willtrell Hartson (21 carries, 112 yards) and sophomore tailback Chris Maloney (19 carries, 105 yards) finished with 100-yard rushing games on Saturday.
 
Ashland's 2026 campaign will finish on Nov. 14 at 2 p.m. at Lake Erie (4-6, 2-6).