Wilmington, Ohio - October 31, 2009 - A solid offensive line set the tone for a solid running game and a Heidelberg University 17-14 victory over host Wilmington College in an Ohio Athletic Conference football match up in Williams Stadium. The win is the second-straight for the Berg that improves to 3-5 overall and 2-5 in the OAC, while Wilmington falls to 1-7, 1-6.
For the second-straight game the senior backfield of Jemar Lewis (Bedford Heights, Ohio / Bedford) and Kenny Sims (Garfield Heights, Ohio / Garfield Heights) each eclipsed 100 yards rushing. Lewis led the way with 168 yards in 27 carries. He found the end zone twice, for scores of three and two yards. Sims registered 111 yards in 18 attempts.
After a scoreless first quarter, Lewis put the Berg on the scoreboard with his first score. Jesse Hawkins (Georgetown, Ky. / Scott County) added the point after to give the Berg a 7-0 lead with 11:38 left in the second.
Wilmington knotted the game with a three-yard rushing TD by Marc Otter at the 6:13 mark of the second quarter. A successful point after assisted with the Quakers tying the game.
The scoreboard did not move in the third quarter, but Lewis changed the score in favor of the Berg at the 12:26 mark of the fourth quarter. The Berg went 76 yards in nine plays and Lewis ran the ball in from two yards. Hawkins PAT was good to put the Berg on top 14-7.
On the Quakers ensuing possession, Heidelberg safety Fran Cavotta (North Olmsted, Ohio / North Olmsted) picked off Wilmington QB Billy Blackburn to give the Berg the ball back. Heidelberg capitalized on the turnover, as Hawkins connected on what would prove to be an eventual game-winning 33-yard field goal.
Wilmington's Blackburn punched one in from a yard out when the Quakers got the ball back, but strong clock management by the Berg down the stretch gave Heidelberg a road win.
For the game, Heidelberg outgained the Quakers 409-263. Of Heidelberg’s 409, they had a season-best 293 on the ground.
Andrew Miller (Dalton, Ohio / Dalton) completed 6-of-19 passes for 116 yards to assist with Heidelberg's ground game. Mike Preston (Maple Heights, Ohio / Euclid) had 91 receiving yards in four catches.
Leading the Berg defense was Wayne Glisson (Huntington Beach, Calif. / Fountain Valley) with a game-high 11 tackles, including nine solo stops. Andy Fadenholz (Grafton, Ohio / Keystone) finished with seven and one sack for seven yards. Also picking up a sack for nine yards, to go along with five solo tackles was the reigning OAC Defensive Player of the Week Dewayne Lindsey (Dayton, Ohio / Meadowdale).