#1 Mount Union (5-0, 4-0) @ 'Berg (1-4, 0-4)
Saturday, Oct. 17 at 1:30 p.m.
Frost-Kalnow Stadium (6,500) - Tiffin, Ohio
Radio: WHEI 88.9 FM (Matt Karlovec - play-by-play, Matt Cotman - color)
Game Notes: Mount Union @ Heidelberg
Listen Live: WHEI-88.9
Top Story: The Heidelberg University football team returns to Tiffin to host nationally ranked Mount Union College on Saturday, Oct. 17 at 1:30 p.m. Saturday’s game marks the first of four home games for the Berg over the course of its last five weeks of the season, but also marks the third-straight nationally ranked team the Berg has faced. Dating back to the 2008 season, Heidelberg has played eight of it previous 10 contests on the road, which concluded last week at No. 18 Ohio Northern University. Next up for the Berg is a home contest with Baldwin-Wallace College on homecoming day, Oct. 24. A brief road stint at Wilmington College for Halloween precedes two home contests to close out the year.
Quick Stat Of The Afternoon: When Heidelberg and Mount Union take to the gridiron on Saturday it will be a battle between familiar foes. Not only have these two schools been playing against each other since 1940, but both head coaches are familiar with each other‘s coaching styles. Heidelberg third-year head coach Mike Hallett played under the tutelage of Mount Union head coach Larry Kehres, who is in his 24th season in Alliance. Hallett was a defensive tackle for Mount Union and Kehres’ first national championship team in 1993. Hallett was a two-time All-OAC selection and won the Paul Hoernemann Award given to the conference’s top defensive lineman. The award is named for former Heidelberg head coach Paul Hoernemann who had a record of 102-18-4 as a coach from 1946-59. Hoernemann was also inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. On Sept. 26, Hallett was formally inducted into Mount Union’s Athletic Hall of Fame.
Saturday’s Opponent: Heidelberg and Mount Union will face off on the gridiron for the 53rd time on Saturday. The Purple Raiders lead the overall series 39-13 that dates back to 1940. Mount Union had posted 20-straight wins over the Berg. The last time that the Berg has upended Mount Union was a 24-14 victory in Tiffin in 1988.
Change of Venue: On Oct. 6 Heidelberg announced that it will host its final two home games on campus at Mayer Field. A summer ago, Mayer Field was upgraded to synthetic turf and had lighting installed, as well as rod iron fencing. The upgrades are Phase I of a planned Recreation and Wellness Center on campus. The decision to host the two games on campus is a collaborative event to the week-long inauguration celebration of 14th president Robert Huntington November 3-7 and an added element to this year’s commemoration of Founders Day on November 11.
Last Time Around: A season ago in Alliance, Mount Union jumped out to a 21-0 lead after one quarter and never looked back en route to a 49-0 shutout victory. Heidelberg quarterback Andrew Miller was held to just 40 yards passing, while Jemar Lewis picked up 68 yards on the ground. For the Purple Raiders, quarterback Greg Micheli had 193 yards through the air and three touchdowns and Nate Kmic had 134 yards on the ground and three touchdowns. For the game, Mount Union outgained the Berg 472-105.
Finding “Sims”: At Ohio Northern, running back Kenny Sims came alive out of the backfield for the Berg. The senior posted his first 100-yard rushing game on the year with 144 yards in 26 carries. In the first half, Sims found the seams that the offensive line made for him and picked up 105 of his yards on the day.
Showtime: Heidelberg will have two games aired on tape delay on SportsTime Ohio, its Oct. 24 game with Baldwin-Wallace College and its Nov. 14 game with Muskingum University. The game with B-W will air that evening at 7:00 p.m. and again on Oct. 28th at 5:00 a.m. The game versus the Muskies will be shown at 1:00 a.m. on Nov. 15 and again at 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 18.
Hall of Fame: Heidelberg will induct its 24th class into its Athletic Hall of Fame on Oct. 24th. Included in the list of 2009 inductees is All-American offensive lineman Christopher Dillon, a 1993 graduate, and Anthony “Tony” Munafo ’57 and Jesse Williams ’30. All three represented Heidelberg on the gridiron. Also on the list of inductees is basketball standouts Mark Chrislip ’76 and Bill Dufur ’90. John Abbott will be recognized as a honorary “H” Association member for his lifetime service to the athletic department.