TIFFIN, Ohio—Fresh off a 41-20 win at Otterbein University last weekend, the Heidelberg University football team will return to Tiffin to play its first home game in nearly a month when it hosts Capital University in an Ohio Athletic Conference game Saturday, Oct. 1 during its annual Homecoming and Fellows Day. Kickoff from Mayer Field is slated for 2 p.m.
Following the game, five former Heidelberg student-athletes will be inducted into the H Association Hall of Fame. Michael James ’73 (football), Paul Ward ’89 (football, wrestling), Aaron Koch ’98 (tennis), Kelly (Gregg) Perez ’00 (cross country/track & field) and Ryan Wise ’03 (soccer) will be enshrined in the hall of fame.
A schedule of other events planned to celebrate Homecoming can be found at the following URL: http://www.heidelberg.edu/alumni/homecoming11.
The Student Princes enter the game 2-1 overall and 1-1 in the OAC following a 41-20 win over Otterbein University last Saturday in Westerville in the 20th edition of the Rhine River Classic. In that game, the Berg racked up 496 total yards of offense, including 303 rushing yards. Sophomore second-team All-OAC running back Germany Woods (Cleveland/Lakewood St. Edward), who averages 119.3 rushing yards per game to rank 25th in the nation, ran for 101 yards, his second 100-yard performance of 2011.
Freshman quarterback Michael Mees (North Ridgeville) completed 14-of-25 passes to 10 different receivers and totaled 187 yards and three touchdowns. Several members of the defense came up with big plays that thwarted potential Otterbein scores, including a fumble recovery by sophomore linebacker Dawson Gore (Bellevue) and interceptions by junior defensive back Tyler Levanduski (Elyria/Amherst Steele), senior defensive back Tony Gordon (Euclid) and sophomore defensive back Chase Bauer (Amelia/McNicholas).
The Berg averages 31.7 points and nearly 430 yards of total offense per game, including 215.0 rushing yards and 214.7 passing yards. The defensive unit allows 27.7 points and 431 yards per game, including 151.0 rushing yards and 279.7 passing yards.
Capital comes to Tiffin sporting a 2-1 overall and 2-0 OAC record after scoring 14 points in the fourth quarter to edge Baldwin-Wallace College, 14-11, last week in Berea. The Crusaders score 22.7 points and total 349.7 yards of offense per game, including 76.7 rushing and 273.0 passing yards per contest. The defense gives up 22.7 points and nearly 400 yards per game, including 58.3 rushing and 339.3 passing. Its 58.3 rushing yards allowed per game is 11th in NCAA Division III.
Against the Yellow Jackets, quarterback Chase Carris ran for a touchdown and passed for another to carry the Crusaders. Carris, who is 10th in the nation with a 180.26 passing efficiency rating, is 38-of-49 passing this season for 442 yards and four TDs. The ground attack is led by Josh Anderson, who averages 45.0 yards per game and has scored one TD in 2011. Matt White leads all receivers with 21 receptions, 315 yards and four TDs. The defense is anchored by Troy Spiker, who has team-highs of 29 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks, and has forced and recovered a fumble.
Heidelberg leads the all-time series with the Crusaders, 32-31-1, dating back to 1928.
Live stats for Saturday’s contest will be available at the following URL: http://www.heidelberg.edu/statcrew/fb/xlive.htm.
Following Saturday’s Homecoming game, the Berg returns to the road on Oct. 8 to face Muskingum University in an OAC game at 1:30 p.m.