Heidelberg Falls to Marietta in a Tale of Two Halves

It was a tale of two halves in an Ohio Athletic Conference football game today between Heidelberg College and Marietta College at Frost-Kalnow Stadium. Heidelberg controlled the first half, while Marietta bounced back in the second half to take home a 31-23 victory. Marietta improves to 2-6 overall and 2-5 in the OAC, while the Berg falls to 3-5 overall and 2-5 in league action.

Heidelberg controlled the first half, recording 303 yards, while holding the Pioneers to just 56. The Berg held a 13-7 lead at the intermission following 10 second quarter points. The second half featured the Pioneers offense picking up 312 yards, while the Berg managed 178 total yards of offense. Both teams traded touchdowns in the third, but Marietta went on to outscore Heidelberg 17-3 in the final stanza to post the win. For the game Heidelberg finished with 481 yards of offense, including 357 yards through the air, and Marietta picked up 368 yards.

On its opening drive, Heidelberg marched 52 yards in 12 plays and finished with a Jesse Hawkins (Georgetown, Ky. / Scott County) 36-yard field goal to reach the scoreboard first. Marietta scored on an 80-yard kickoff return to pull ahead 7-3 before its offense even reached the field. Heidelberg reached Marietta territory on its next two possessions, but could not reach the end zone and entered the second trailing 7-3.

In the second, Heidelberg held Marietta scoreless, while putting 10 points of its own on the board. A 13-yard run from Jemar Lewis (Bedford Heights, Ohio / Bedford) and a Hawkins PAT gave Heidelberg the lead, 10-7, with 7:34 to play before the half. With seven seconds on the clock, Hawkins added a 20-yard field goal to make it 10 second quarter points.

Marietta threatened on its first possession in the second half, but Heidelberg outside linebacker Vaughn Klein (Galloway, Ohio / Central Crossing) forced a Marietta fumble that was received by fellow linebacker Brian West (Huron, Ohio / Huron) at Heidelberg’s own two-yard line. Two possessions later Heidelberg jumped out to its largest lead of the game at 20-7 following a Steve West (Huron, Ohio /Huron) pass to Dawond Roddy (Sidney, Ohio / Sidney) for a 16-yard TD and a Hawkins PAT.

The Pioneers closed out the game scoring on its final four possessions, including three touchdowns and a 31-yard field goal compared to just a 34-yard field goal from Hawkins to take home the OAC victory.

The setback spoiled a career-day for quarterback Steve West. He threw for a career-high 357 yards (25-for-38) and one touchdown. His leading receiving threats were Roddy with 89 yards in six catches and one TD, while Lucas Bauer (Huron, Ohio /Huron) had six receptions for 66 yards. Picking up 85 yards on five catches was freshman Mike Preston (Maple Heights, Ohio / Euclid).

Defensively, Klein led Heidelberg with nine tackles, including seven solo stops. Fran Cavotta (Highland Heights, Ohio / North Olmsted) recorded seven tackles and Matt Grieves (Huron, Ohio / Huron) and Brian West each finished with six apiece.