JCU (1-1, 1-0) @ Heidelberg (1-1, 0-1)

Saturday, Sept. 26 at 7:00 p.m.
Frost-Kalnow Stadium (6,500) - Tiffin, Ohio
Radio: WHEI 88.9 FM (Matt Karlovec - play-by-play, Matt Cotman - color)
Radio: WTTF-AM 1600 (Jon Kerns - play-by-play)
 
Game Notes: John Carroll @ Heidelberg
Listen Live: WHEI 88.9
Live Stats
 
Top Story: The Heidelberg University football team will look to return to the win column on Saturday when it entertains John Carroll University under the lights at Frost-Kalnow Stadium. Saturday’s outing will mark the 2009 home opener for the Berg, but it is sandwiched between two sets of two-game road swings to open the year. Heidelberg will look to avenge a close 17-15 setback at John Carroll a season ago. Following the John Carroll game, the Berg will open the month of October at Otterbein College Oct. 3. Following its contest with the Cardinals, Heidelberg heads to Ada, Ohio for an Oct. 10 showdown with the Polar Bears of Ohio Northern University.
 
Quick Stat of the Evening: Making a statement from the onset of the 2009 season has been Heidelberg’s passing game led by two-year starter Andrew Miller. In two games, Miller has completed 36-of-77 passes for 616 yards. Highlighting his resume in 2009 is a career-best 381 yards on 25 completions at Capital Sept. 19. Of his 25 completions, 15 were for first down, which ties the single-game record. It is just the second 300-yard game of his career. The junior signal caller has connected with four different wide receivers to score seven touchdowns. Not to be outdone, Miller has also converted two, two-point conversions. A season ago, Miller set a new single-season record for passing touchdowns at 20 and he is well ahead of his pace from 2008. In the first two games last year Miller completed 27-of-48 passes for 307 yards and four touchdowns. Leading his list of receiving threats is Mike Preston with 12 catches and four TD’s, while Mitch White is in his first year as a primary receiver and has already snagged nine catches for 161 yards. Both have eclipsed 100-yards receiving in a game for the first time in their careers already this season. Preston has posted over 100 yards in both outings, while White finished with over 100 yards last week at Capital.
 
Saturday’s Opponent: John Carroll and Heidelberg will square off on Saturday for the 24th time in the history of the two programs. The series began in 1929 with the Blue Streaks holding the Berg scoreless in a 20-0 win. Heidelberg evened the series with a 41-0 win in 1930 and went up one with a 6-0 win in 1932. Following its meeting in 1932 the two teams did not face one another until1989 and have challenged each other every year since. JCU leads the overall series 20-3 and have won the last 15-consecutive meetings. It has been almost 16 years to the day since the last time Heidelberg topped John Carroll. The Berg beat JCU 28-17 on Sept. 25, 1993.
 
Last Time Around: The last time around for John Carroll and Heidelberg resulted in a close 17-15 win by the Blue Streaks in University Heights last year. JCU had a 17-9 lead heading into the fourth quarter. Heidelberg held the Blue Streaks scoreless in the final 15 minutes, while finding the end zone with 3:07 left in the game. Heidelberg quarterback Andrew Miller rolled out of the pocket and headed for the right corner of the end zone for a game-tying two-point conversion. Miller leaped into the air and was met in midair and held out of the end zone. JCU held onto the ball over the final 3:07 for the win. Heidelberg edged JCU in total yard 302-281, holding the Blue Streaks to just 95 yards rushing.
 
Going Deep: Despite graduating its top-two receivers from last year Heidelberg has been very efficient through the air. Through two games thus far, Heidelberg junior quarterback Andrew Miller has completed 36 passes to 11 different receivers. In its season opening win over Westminster Sept. 5 Miller had 11 pass completions to seven different receivers and returned in game two to complete 25 passes to eight different receivers.
 
New Faces: In 2009 Heidelberg gave its defense a new look and along with the new look, the Berg has some new faces among its linebacker core. Gaining their first collegiate starts this season has been sophomores John Irwin and Craig Sykes. Irwin and Sykes have each started both games at outside linebacker and have not disappointed. Both rank in the top-10 on the team in tackles. Irwin has 12 to his credit followed by Sykes with eight. Also providing depth at linebacker is fellow classmate and new face Andy Fadenholz with four tackles.
 
A “PRESTO”-n Offense: Junior wide receiver Mike Preston has found himself in the end zone at a quick and efficient rate in 2009. In two games, Preston leads the berg with 12 catches for 274 yards. His 274 yards have come in the form of two 100-yard outings. Preston has also registered two touchdowns in each of the first two games. Prior to the season-opener, Preston had not registered a 100-yard receiving game or had multiple touchdowns in one game. He has already tied his touchdown total from a season ago, and in his first year he did not record a TD.