Rhine River Cup Remains in Westerville
The all-time series between Heidelberg College and Otterbein College began in 1900, but was raised to a new height in 1992 when the two teams played the first collegiate football game on German soil. The Berg and Cardinals played for the Rhine River Cup in Germany and have been battling back and forth for the cup ever since. Despite being held scoreless in the final quarter Otterbein posted a 52-14 victory tonight to hold a tight reign on the Rhine River series.
Following its setback the Berg stands at 1-3 on the year and 0-3 in the Ohio Athletic Conference, while Otterbein improves to 4-0 overall and 3-0 against league foes. The Cardinals now own an 11-5-1 lead in the Rhine River Series, having won 10 of the last 11 meetings.
Heidelberg freshman Adrian Balser (Junction City, Ohio / Sheridan) got things going early taking the opening kickoff 91 yards for a touchdown. Fellow classmate Cory Hartfield (Centerburg, Ohio / Centerburg) followed with the point after to give the Berg an early 7-0 advantage. Heidelberg’s lead vanished on the ensuing drive as Otterbein went 68 yards and scored on a two-yard quarterback keeper. Otterbein added a 29-yard field goal and a 33-yard rushing TD to hold a 17-7 lead after one quarter.
The Berg was outscored 14-0 in the second quarter and faced a 31-7 deficit at the break.
Otterbein struck on all three of its possessions in the third quarter, and Heidelberg put together an 11-play, 72 yard drive that ended in a 12-yard touchdown reception by Dawond Roddy (Sidney, Ohio / Sidney) from Andrew Miller (Dalton, Ohio / Dalton) before heading into a scoreless final stanza.
For the game Otterbein held a 406-247 advantage in total yards. Heidelberg racked up 190 yards through the air on Miller’s 15-of-26 completed passes. Roddy finished with his second 100-yard receiving game on the year after picking up 104 yards off of seven receptions. Kenny Sims (Garfield Heights, Ohio / Garfield Heights) led the Berg backfield with 52 yards in six carries.
Defensively Heidelberg was led by outside linebacker Brian West (Huron, Ohio / Huron). West picked up a game-high 12 tackles followed by Justin Dawson (Westminster, Calif. / Golden West JC) and Vaughn Klein (Galloway, Ohio /Central Crossing) with nine tackles apiece.
Leading Otterbein was quarterback Jack Rafferty with 114 yards on 8-for-13 passing. Colton Coy led the Cardinals ground game with 101 yards on 10 carries, while Ryan Rowley had 85 yards in five catches. On defense Dexter Hopkins led the way for the Cardinals with seven tackles.
Heidelberg will return to action Oct. 11 when it entertains Ohio Northern University in a 1:30 p.m. contest. It is homecoming weekend for the Berg, along with the athletic department’s annual hall of fame induction ceremony. For those that cannot attend the Ohio Northern game watch the Berg in action on tape delay on SportsTime Ohio Oct. 11th at 8:00 p.m. and again on Sunday, Oct. 12 at noon.