'Berg Drops Hard Fought OAC Opener to JCU

The Heidelberg College football team gave up two touchdowns within John Carroll University’s first three possessions of the second half and could not recover as it dropped its 2007 Ohio Athletic Conference opener 21-6. The setback puts Heidelberg at 1-1 overall and 0-1 in the OAC, while John Carroll improves to 2-0 overall and 1-0 in league play.

John Carroll took a 7-0 lead just over five minutes into the contest on a 45-yard reception by Chuck Sroka. On the ensuing possession Heidelberg looked poised to cut into its deficit, marching 36 yards in nine plays, but a 41-yard field goal attempt by freshman Jesse Hawkins (Georgetown, Ky. / Scott County) was blocked by the Blue Streak defense ending Heidelberg’s scoring threat.

Hawkins would avenge his earlier blocked kick in the second quarter with a 25-yard field goal that went through the center of the uprights to cut Heidelberg’s deficit to 7-3. In the second quarter, the Berg defense and special teams wrecked havoc on John Carroll. On JCU’s first possession of the quarter, the Berg’s Matt Grieves (Huron, Ohio / Huron) blocked a JCU field goal and on John Carroll’s next two possessions Heidelberg forced two Blue Streak fumbles.  Heidelberg’s secondary was responsible for two forced fumbles by way of Julius Higginbotham (Elyria, Ohio / Elyria) and Fran Cavotta (Highland Heights, Ohio / North Olmstead). On the recovering end of two Blue Streak fumbles were Brian West (Huron, Ohio / Huron) and Charlie Peffley (Hicksville, Ohio / Hicksville).

Heidelberg’s offense had a slow start following the intermission and two John Carroll touchdowns in the third quarter proved to be the deciding factor in the final score. JCU scored on a 17-yard pass and an 11-yard run. Hawkins hit from 26-yards out in the final quarter to cut the Blue Streaks lead to 21-6, but that would be as close at the Berg would get.

For the game, John Carroll held a 391-311 advantage in total yards gained. Heidelberg picked up 223 yards in the air, compared to just 88 on the ground. Steve West (Huron, Ohio / Huron) finished 17-for-24 for 223 yards. Steve West’s main threats through the air were freshman Mike Preston (Maple Heights, Ohio / Euclid) and Kenny Sims (Garfield Heights, Ohio / Garfield Heights) with five receptions apiece. Dawond Roddy (Sidney, Ohio / Sidney) picked up a team-high 73 yards, including a 49-yard catch up the left side of the field in the second quarter. Preston’s career outing featured a 72-yard receiving yard performance, highlighted by a 28-yard reception. On the ground, Sims picked up 56 yards to lead the way for the Berg.

Defensively, Cavotta and Brian West led Heidelberg with 11 tackles apiece. Freshman Vaughn Klein (Galloway, Ohio / Central Crossing) picked up nine, while Higginbotham accounted for eight.

Leading the way for John Carroll was Sroka with 95 receiving yards on five catches, while Rai Stover gained 75 yards rushing. Mark Petruziello completed 19-of-30 passes for 246 yards and two touchdowns. Defensively, JCU got 16 tackles from Ken Bevington and nine from Derek Buell.

Heidelberg returns to action with its first road contest on its 2007 slate Sept. 22 at nationally-ranked Capital University. Kickoff is slated for 1:30 p.m.