'Berg Jumps Out to Early Lead, But Cannot Hold on Against Wilmington

The Heidelberg College football team held a 20-10 lead over Wilmington College at halftime, but was outscored 13-0 in the second half en route to a 23-20 setback in Ohio Athletic Conference action. The game was played at Frost-Kalnow Stadium in Tiffin, Ohio and marked the 2008 home finale and senior day for the Berg. Wilmington improves to 3-5 overall and 3-4 in the OAC, while the Berg stands at 2-6 and 1-6.
 
Heidelberg got out to a quick start, which saw them rattle off 10 points before Wilmington had its first possession of the contest. Heidelberg’s offense took the field first and put together at 13-play, 43-yard drive that was capped off by a 44-yard field goal from sophomore placekicker Jesse Hawkins (Georgetown, Ky. / Scott County). Hawkins led the special teams unit on the field and caught the Quakers off-guard with an on-side kick, which was recovered by Hawkins at midfield.
 
In its second trip down the field, Heidelberg’s Jemar Lewis (Bedford Heights, Ohio / Bedford) opened up with an 11-yard rush to give the Berg a fresh set of downs. Facing a fourth down  Andrew Miller (Dalton, Ohio / Dalton) connected with Lucas Bauer (Huron, Ohio / Huron) for an eight-yard reception and a first down. Four plays later Miller went to receiver Dawond Roddy (Sidney, Ohio /Sidney) for a four-yard TD strike. Hawkins added the PAT to make it 10-0 in favor of the Berg.
 
Wilmington and Heidelberg traded two scores apiece in the second quarter. The Quakers struck first with a 40-yard field goal by Donald Rhinehimer with 7:51 on the clock.
 
Heidelberg reached the scoreboard for the first time in the second quarter on a 30-yard touchdown reception by Mike Preston (Maple Heights, Ohio / Euclid) from Miller with just under a 1:30 to play before the intermission. Wilmington responded on the ensuring possession with a five-yard TD run with 35 seconds on the clock to pull within 17-10.
 
The Berg did not surrender as seconds remained in the opening half, marching 78 yards, in four plays, to place the ball on the toe of Hawkins. Hawkins connected for a season-long 44-yard FG as time expired in the first half and gave the Berg a 20-10 lead.
 
The third quarter did not offer many scoring highlights for either team. The Berg special teams stepped up when Wilmington threatened to break a scoreless third with a field goal at the 6:19 mark. Freshman Wayne Lanum (Marengo, Ohio / Highland) blocked the attempt and gave the Berg possession on its own 20-yard line.
 
The lone score in the third took 14:57 to produce as Wilmington scored with three seconds on the clock on a Wes Anders 16-yard touchdown. Heidelberg’s Matt Grieves (Huron, Ohio / Huron) stepped through the special team’s line to block the point after to leave the Berg with a slim 20-16 lead.
 
Heidelberg failed to find the end zone for the second-straight quarter, but the Quakers Brandon Hiatt found pay dirt, scoring the eventual game-winning TD from six yards out with 7:24 left in the game. The PAT was good to move the final score to 23-20 in favor of Wilmington.
 
Both teams relied heavily on its rushing game on the day as Wilmington picked up 272 yards on the ground and Heidelberg had 201. Through the air Miller threw for 110 yards (10-for-22), while Heidelberg’s secondary kept its first opponent to under 100-yards passing at the year. Wilmington finished with 77 yards in the air.
 
Lewis picked up his second-straight 100-yard rushing game for the Berg, finishing with 146 in 22 carries. Preston hauled in two passes for 41 yards to lead all receivers on the day.  
 
Defensively, linebacker Jamaul Pearson (Medina, Ohio / Medina) led the way with a career-high 13 tackles followed by Justin Dawson (Westminster, Calif. / Golden West JC) with 11 stops, marking his third-straight double-digit tackle game.
 
Prior to the game Heidelberg recognized its 2008 senior players Brian West (Huron, Ohio / Huron), Bauer, Roddy, Shawn Shriver (Bellevue, Ohio / Western Reserve), Ellison Dure (Orlando, Fla. / Winter Park), Jimmy May (Hilliard, Ohio / Hilliard Darby), Chris Cola (Strongsville, Ohio / Strongsville), Vic Bologna (Bellaire, Ohio / Harrison Central), Jimmy Bright (Ashland, Ohio / Ashland), Garrett Nash (Rock Creek, Ohio / Jefferson Area), James Blankenship (Perrysburg, Ohio / Northwood), Cameron Fitzpatrick (Lorain, Ohio / Admiral King), Greg Tyson Jr. (Lima, Ohio /Lima Senior), Kyle Kissling (Swanton, Ohio / Swanton) and Horace Smith (Hollywood, Fla. / South Broward).
 
Heidelberg begins a two-game road trip to close out its 2008 slate at Marietta College Nov. 8. Game time in Marietta is set for 1:30 p.m.