Heidelberg (2-5, 1-5) @ Wilmington (1-6, 1-5)

Saturday, Oct. 31 at 1:30 p.m.
Williams Stadium (3,500) - Wilmington, Ohio
 
Game Notes: Heidelberg @ Wilmington
 
Top Story: The Heidelberg University football team returns to the road this weekend when they travel to Wilmington College for a 1:30 p.m. match up with the Quakers. The Berg will look to put together a winning streak for the first time in 2009 after posting a 41-36 victory over Baldwin-Wallace College last weekend on homecoming. Saturday’s contest marks the final road game for the Berg this season, as the team closes out the year in Tiffin. Its final two home games will be played on campus at Mayer Field. The games will mark the first football contest on Heidelberg’s campus since 1945. The year closes with a Nov. 7 contest with Marietta College and a Nov. 14 game with Muskingum University.
 
Quick Stat of the Afternoon: The senior backfield for Heidelberg will know its surroundings when they arrive in Wilmington on Saturday. The duo of Kenny Sims and Jemar Lewis excelled at Williams Field the last time the Berg played there. Sims ran for a career-best 172 yards in 20 carries, while Lewis added 133 yards in 23 attempts. In the end the Berg posted a 37-33 victory. The game with the Quakers in 2007 marked the last time the Heidelberg offense had two rush for over 100 yards prior to Sims and Lewis breaking that streak last week against Baldwin-Wallace. The senior backfield will look to keep it going on a familiar field. Overall, Sims and Lewis have combined to produce a 100-yard rusher in Heidelberg’s last three outings.
 
Saturday’s Opponent: Heidelberg and Wilmington will meet for just the ninth time on Saturday. The Quakers hold an 8-1 series advantage. The lone Heidelberg win came in third-year head coach Mike Hallett’s first season in 2007, a 37-33 win in dramatic fashion in Wilmington. In eight meetings, Wilmington has outscored Heidelberg 275-175.
 
’Berg Insider: Heidelberg is coming off a 41-26 victory on homecoming against Baldwin- Wallace College. It was the third-straight win over the Yellow Jackets. The Berg led 35-17 after three quarters of action and despite being outscored 19-6 in the final quarter held on for the win. For the year, Heidelberg is averaging 26.1 points a game, while its opponents average 38.4. Junior signal caller Andrew Miller leads a strong aerial attack for the Berg. Miller has completed 104-of-202 passes for 1,585 yards and 17 touchdowns. The main receiving threats are Mike Preston and Mitch White. Preston leads the way with 36 receptions for 636 yards, while White has 22 catches for 362 yards. On the ground, Kenny Sims and Jemar Lewis have come on strong as of late. The duo has combined for 866 yards and five touchdowns. Defensively, Matt Grieves had 57 tackles, including 11 for a loss and four sacks, while Wayne Glisson had 56 stops, with 46 solo tackles.
 
Last Time Around: A season ago, Wilmington posted a 23-20 victory at Frost-Kalnow Stadium in Tiffn. Heidelberg led 20-10 at the break, but was outscored 13-0 in the second half and suffered the setback. Leading the Berg was Jemar Lewis with 146 yards in 22 carries, while Andrew Miller completed 10-of-22 passes for 110 yards and two touchdowns. For the Quakers, Astin Laury had a game-high 185 yards in 27 attempts. QB Billy Blackburn threw for 69 yards (10-of-14) and two touchdowns. Wilmington T.J. Burbridge had a game-high 15 tackles followed by Heidelberg’s Jamaul Pearson (13) and Justin Dawson (11).
 
Quakers Last Outing: Last weekend Wilmington was blanked by no. 1 Mount Union College, 56-0. The Quakers had just 114 yards of total offense, while giving up 692 yards. Billy Blackburn completed 5-of-17 passes for 42 yards and had four interceptions. On the ground, Marc Otte led the way with 25 yards in 12 attempts, while Darren Howard had 30 yards in four receptions. Chris Medley and Bryce Martin finished with 14 and 13 tackles, respectively.
 
“Miller Time”: Junior signal caller Andrew Miller has come on strong in his second season as the starter under center for Heidelberg. For the year, Miller has thrown for 1,585 yards (104-for-202), which is highlighted by five 200-yard outings. Miller has thrown 17 touchdowns thus far and is just three shy of tying his single-season record of 20 he set a season ago.
 
First Timers: Heidelberg has registered 23 touchdowns in 2009, which are courtesy of 15 different players. Of the 15 scorers, five have found the end zone for the first time in their careers. Leading the way is Clifton Powell with three TD’s, with two coming in one game. Mike Amos has two to his credit, followed by Mario Walton, Anthony Washington and Brett Weideman with one apiece.
 
Overlooked: Heidelberg has numerous players recording career-best seasons on offense, thanks in large part to the offensive line. The line has set the stage for the Berg to rank in the top-five as a team in the OAC in three offensive categories, while individually, the Berg ranks in six different areas on the offensive side of the ball. Anchoring a solid line is 2009 six-game starters center Ryan Morgan, who is flanked on the right by guard Nathan Kater, tackle Derrick Arbogast, along with tackle Paul Dunn and guard Cassady Willford on the left.
 
OAC Honors: 09/07/09: Linebacker Justin Dawson was named the OAC Defensive Player of the Week. Matt Wilde was tabbed the OAC Special Team’s Player of the Week. Dawson and Wilde each picked up their first player of the week honor. 10/26/09: Defensive lineman Dewayne Lindsey was tabbed the OAC Defensive Player of the Week. It was the first of his career.
 
A “PRESTO-n” Offense: Junior wide receiver Mike Preston has found himself in the starting lineup. In seven games, Preston leads the Berg with 36 catches for 636 yards. His 636 yards have four 100-yard outings in the mix. Preston also registered two touchdowns in each of the first two games. Within the OAC, Preston currently ranks third in receptions per game (5.14) and receiving yards per game (90.9).