ADA – 24 unanswered points and a strong second half by Ohio Northern proved to be too much for the Heidelberg University football team to overcome on Saturday as they fell on the road 34-20. The Student Princes held a 20-10 lead in the 3rd quarter, but the host Polar Bears found their groove and pulled away late.
KEY STATS
Heidelberg had an even 500 yards of offense in the game, but a pair of interceptions and an 0-for-3 mark on four down attempts kept the Berg from scoring when they needed it the most.
Ohio Northern had just 3 points up until 27 seconds remaining in the first half, but from that point on their offense seemed unstoppable as 31 points the remainder of the game made the difference as Heidelberg could not keep up.
Quarterback Jon Sandwisch set a new career-high with 290 passing yards, finishing the game 21-of-37 through the air.
Bryan Lacey had a solid day on the ground for the Berg, finishing the contest with 164 yards on a career-high 31 carries, averaging 5.3 yards per carry.
Despite Heidelberg's inability to stop the ONU offense late, Austin Crow set a new career high with 3.5 tackles for loss, including 1.5 sacks in the game.
Heidelberg is now 4-1 in the Bendo Bowl, which is played in remembrance of Jason and Ronnie Bendekovic, who were assistant coaches for the Berg and ONU.
FIRST QUARTER
Ohio Northern received the opening kickoff of the game, but their drive was short-lived. Dom Scott intercepted a pass on the opening offensive play of the game as Heidelberg took the momentum early.
The Student Princes were unable to capitalize on the turnover as a 40-yard field goal attempt by AJ Morrison sailed wide left.
After the Berg defense forced a three-and-out and ONU managed just a 15 yard punt, Jon Sandwisch stepped up in the pocket and hit Tony Morris in stride for a 39-yard touchdown. The score was Morris' first career touchdown reception. An extra point by Stephen Smith gave the Student Princes a 7-0 lead.
The Heidelberg defense held up on the following Polar Bear drive with a three-and-out. A 13-play, 64-yard drive by the offense set up a 30-yard field goal, which was converted by Smith to make it a 10-0 lead with 5:57 to go in the quarter.
The two sides traded punts at the end of the quarter, as Ohio Northern achieved their first first down of the game near the end of the quarter.
SECOND QUARTER
The Polar Bears faced a fourth down on the first play of the second quarter and got on the scoreboard with a 46-yard field goal, making it a 10-3 lead for the Berg.
Heidelberg wasted no time in getting a response, taking a 10-play, 67-yard drive which ended in a 25-yard field goal by Smith, stretching the lead back out to ten for the Student Princes with 11:39 to go before the half.
Ohio Northern threatened on the ensuing drive, but the Berg defense was able to hold late in the drive, stopping the Polar Bears on a 4th down on their own 30 yard line to take over on downs.
The Student Princes were threatening to score on their next drive, but a pass on fourth down by Sandwisch was picked off and ONU took over on their own 14 yard line.
Late in the quarter, a Smith punt pinned the Polar Bears deep, but they were able to get out of their own end before facing a fourth down near midfield. On fourth down, ONU was able to connect for a 52-yard touchdown pass to make it a 13-10 game headed into halftime.
THIRD QUARTER
Heidelberg opened up the second half with a strong drive, as a 30-yard run by Bryan Lacey set up the Berg with a first and goal from the one yard line. Two plays later, a QB sneak by Sandwisch into the endzone gave the Student Princes the 20-10 lead.
Ohio Northern had a quick strike on the ensuing drive, as the first play of the drive went 75 yards to set up the Polar Bears deep in the red zone. Will Freed called his own number on the next play and ran five yards for the touchdown to cut the Heidelberg lead back down to three.
Following the back-to-back scores, the defense stepped up their game as both teams traded punts. On the next Heidelberg drive, a pass by Sandwisch tipped off the receiver's hands and was picked off by ONU, giving the Polar Bears the ball on the Berg's 33 yard line.
ONU was able to cash in on that turnover as their 8-play drive ended in a touchdown, putting Heidelberg behind for the first time in the game, 24-20.
FOURTH QUARTER
Heidelberg's next drive stalled after three plays, as ONU's defense found their stride. After a punt by the Berg, the Polar Bears scored again, stretching their lead to 31-20 over the Student Princes with 12:26 to play in the game.
Following the score, the Berg was looking for an answer, and they seemed to have found it, as they drove the field with a combination of rushing and passing. After facing a fourth and one deep in ONU territory, a false start forced HU to settle for a field goal. The kick by Smith sailed wide left, however, as the Polar Bears took over holding on to their 11-point lead.
The HU defense was able to hold on the ONU drive, however, as they forced a punt that allowed the Berg offense to take over at their own 14 yard line. The next drive for Heidelberg did not get going, however, as they turned it over on downs after a fourth down rush by Lacey came up just short of the line to gain, giving ONU the ball with just 4:54 to play.
A 7-play, 25 yard drive by ONU took 3:05 off the clock and ended in a field goal as the score went to 34-20 with just 1:49 left in the game.
Heidelberg's offense did not have an answer late, as Ohio Northern took over on downs again and ran out the clock for their 34-20 victory.
QUOTES
Head coach Mike Hallett on the difference in the game: ""We had some turnovers that hurt us. We tipped our own pass and they intercepted it and just some strange things happened today."
Hallett on the play of the offense: " I think we took some strides in terms of offensive consistency, but we've got a ways to obviously."
Hallett on the momentum swing in the second half: "We didn't do enough in the second half offensively to give our defense a chance to get a break so we could move forward."
Hallett on the team moving forward: "It's a work in progress. We're going to continue to work at it. We played three very good football teams that are very dangerous, so we've got to keep working at it and get better."
UP NEXT
Heidelberg will look to bounce back next week as they return home for their Homecoming game against Otterbein. It will be a busy weekend at the Berg, as it also includes the 2015 Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Kickoff against Otterbein is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. at Hoernemann Stadium.