Capital tops Heidelberg in OAC Opener

The Heidelberg College football team, under the guidance of second-year head coach Mike Hallett, suffered a 38-17 setback to nationally-ranked Capital University in the 2008 Ohio Athletic Conference opener for both teams. Capital, ranked fifth in the latest national poll, stands at 2-0 and 1-0 in league action, while the Berg sits at 1-1 and 0-1.
 
Lucas Bauer (Huron, Ohio / Huron) settled in as the holder for an attempted Heidelberg field goal, but instead stepped out and connected with Jemar Lewis (Bedford Heights, Ohio / Bedford) for a 10-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter to give the Berg a 17-16 lead, but Capital responded with 22 unanswered points to post the OAC win.
 
After a scoreless first quarter Heidelberg and Capital combined to put 40 points on the board in the second and third quarters. Capital broke the scoreless tie with 6:59 to play in the second on an Evan Blake 48-yard pass from Marty Assman. Heidelberg’s Xavior Purnell Springfield, Ohio / Springfield) blocked the point-after leaving the score at 6-0. Jesse Hawkins (Georgetown, Ky. / Scott County) connected on a 36-yard field goal on the ensuring series to pull the Berg within 6-3. As time was expiring in the second stanza, Capital found the end zone for Blake’s second TD of the game with 18 seconds on the clock to hold a 13-3 advantage at the break.
 
Heidelberg and Capital traded scores on the first two series of the second half. Capital opened with a field goal, while Heidelberg’s Chance Ferrell (Garfield Heights, Ohio / Garfield Heights) recorded his first career touchdown on a three-yard pass from Miller. Ferrell’s score was followed two drives later with Lewis’ score to put Heidelberg on top momentarily. Capital once again scored in the closing seconds of the third quarter and added 15 points in the final stanza. 
 
For the game Heidelberg picked up 247 yards of total offense compared to 517 yards by the Crusaders. Andrew Miller (Dalton, Ohio / Dalton) completed 12-of-27 passes for 185 yards and one touchdown. In his first game on the year, Kenny Sims (Garfield Heights, Ohio / Garfield Heights) led the backfield with 53 yards on 11 carries, while Dawond Roddy (Sidney, Ohio / Sidney) finished with 68 yards on four receptions to lead all ’Berg receivers.
 
Defensively the Berg was led by the duo of Matt Grieves (Huron, Ohio / Huron) and Vaughn Klein (Galloway, Ohio / Central Crossing). Grieves finished with 11 tackles and a forced fumble, while Klein added 10 stops.
 
Heidelberg will look to bounce back to the win column in its first road trip of the year next Saturday. The Berg travels to University Heights, Ohio for a 2:00 match up with John Carroll University. The game will be streamed on the Internet through Heidelberg’s WHEI 88.9, on the air on Tiffin’s WTTF AM-1600 and will be broadcast on tape delayed on SportsTime Ohio. The game will be replayed that evening, Sept. 27 at 7:00 p.m. and again Sept. 30 at 12:20 p.m.