Hallett and Heidelberg Combination Produces Season Opening Win

From the day that head coach Mike Hallett stepped onto the Heidelberg College campus he was geared to restore the winning tradition that the football program was known for. It did not take long for Heidelberg to begin restoring that winning way as the Berg posted a 37-26 victory against Oberlin College today at Frost-Kalnow Stadium in Tiffin, Ohio. Not only did Hallett open his tenure at Heidelberg victorious, but helped to erase a 36-game losing streak that dated back to Oct. 4, 2003.

It was a combined team effort in the hard fought victory for Heidelberg. The Berg offense marched 63 yards on 11 plays, scoring on a Jemar Lewis (Bedford Heights, Ohio / Bedford) three-yard run to open the contest. Newcomer Jesse Hawkins (Georgetown, Ky. / Scott County) made it 7-0 following one series. Not to be outdone, the defense shined in its first appearance on the gridiron, with a Fran Cavotta (Highland Heights, Ohio / North Olmstead) hard hit that forced a fumble that was recovered by sophomore Matt Grieves (Huron, Ohio / Huron).

Heidelberg’s Steve West (Huron, Ohio / Huron) connected with tailback Aaron Jonhenry (Berea, Ohio / Berea) to complete the Berg’s second possession of the game in the end zone. A Hawkins extra point pushed the Berg’s advantage to 14-0. Oberlin would cut its deficit in half with a 10-yard touchdown reception from Chris Schubert.

Hawkins opened the second quarter with a 28-yard field goal and on Heidelberg second series of the quarter, Lewis picked up his second touchdown of the game on a one-yard run. Oberlin threatened as time was coming to a close in the opening half, but a Brian West (Huron, Ohio / Huron) broken up pass sandwiched between a sack by Grieves and another by Horace Smith (Hollywood, Fla. / South Broward) deflated the Yeoman attack, giving Heidelberg a 24-7 lead and the games momentum heading into the intermission.

In the third quarter, each team traded six points apiece. Freshman Vaughn Klein (Galloway, Ohio / Central Crossing) picked up his first career interception and returned it 33 yards which set up a five-play, 19-yard drive capped off by a Lewis eight-year touchdown run. Also recording a pick off the arm of Oberlin’s Greg Mangan was senior linebacker Matt Nero (Cortland, Ohio / Lakeview).

Heidelberg gave up 13 points in the final quarter, but added seven of its own to push the final score to 37-26 in favor of the host school. Cavotta picked off Mangan to set up Heidelberg’s final scoring drive of the game. Steve West connected with Dawond Roddy (Sidney, Ohio / Sidney) for a 63-yard touchdown reception and Hawkins connected on the PAT to close out Heidelberg’s scoring on the day.

For the game, Heidelberg had a solid combination of a running and passing game, picking up 221 and 210 yards, respectively, while the Berg’s defense held Oberlin to just 47 yards on the ground, but gave up 367 yards passing. Oberlin had five turnovers, including four interceptions, for the contest.

Offensively, Steve West went 15-for-18, good enough for 210 yards and two touchdowns. Roddy picked up a team-high 96 yards on four receptions, while Lucas Bauer (Huron, Ohio / Huron) had 62 yards and a team-best five catches. Leading the way out of the backfield was Kenny Sims (Garfield Heights, Ohio / Garfield Heights) with 89 yards, while Lewis picked up 53 yards and three touchdowns.

The Berg defense was led by defensive back Julius Higginbotham’s (Elyria, Ohio / Elyria) career-high 10 tackles, followed by nine apiece from Nero and Brian West. Junior Mack Lee (Port St. Lucie, Fla. / Centennial) recorded a career-high eight tackles and had one sack. Seeing his first action in a ’Berg uniform was Charlie Peffley (Hicksville, Ohio / Hicksville) and made the most of his debut, finishing with four tackles and an interception capped off with a 48-yard return. Grieves finished the day with three sacks.

Oberlin was led by Schubert’s 135 yards on 10 catches and three touchdowns. Mangan completed 28-of-51 passes and finished with 367 yards and four touchdowns. Defensively, Kris DeVant led Oberlin with 13 tackles.

Heidelberg will begin its trek through the Ohio Athletic Conference on Sept. 15 when John Carroll University travels to Tiffin to play under the lights at Frost-Kalnow Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 7:00 p.m.