Otterbein Retains Rhine River Cup

The Heidelberg College football team suffered a 34-6 setback on homecoming to visiting Otterbein College at Frost-Kalnow Stadium today. The win evens the Cardinals overall record at 3-3 and improves its Ohio Athletic Conference mark to 2-3, while the Berg falls to 0-6 on the year and 0-5 in league action.

Heidelberg and Otterbein also play for the right to own the Rhine River Cup for the year. Heidelberg and Otterbein played the first college football game on German soil, battling to a 7-7 tie in Frankfurt in 1992, and have been playing for possession of the cup ever since. The Cardinals now hold a 9-5-1 lead in the series, having won eight of the last nine games, including the last four.

Heidelberg and Otterbein played to a scoreless tie after one quarter of action. Heidelberg was held to a three and out series on its first possession, but the defense returned the ball to the Berg on a Brian West (Huron, Ohio / Huron) interception on Otterbein’s third play of the game. The Berg however could not respond on the ensuing drive as starting quarterback Steve West’s (Huron, Ohio / Huron) pass was picked off by Otterbein’s Thomas Teeter. Once again the Berg defense came up strong forcing a Cardinal punt. The Berg put together a 10-play, 61-yard drive, which fell short at the Otterbein seven-yard line on a failed fourth and one.

Otterbein started the scoring on its first possession of the second quarter on an 11-yard pass from Paul Stelzer to Scott DeLong. A B.J. Wanninger PAT gave the Cardinals the 7-0 advantage. Heidelberg responded on the ensuing possession with a 13-play, 52-yard drive that set up an 18-yard field goal by Craig Smith (Rittman, Ohio / Rittman).  The Cardinals added another TD before heading into the locker room to hold a 14-6 advantage at the break.

Heidelberg’s defense came out strong in the second half, halting a scoring threat by Otterbein. Freshman defensive lineman Matt Grieves (Huron, Ohio / Huron) blocked a 25-yard field goal attempt by Wanninger and Jimmy Bright (Ashland, Ohio / Ashland) recovered the ball.

Otterbein reached the goal line on a 55-yard pass from Stelzer to Josh Bope to extend its lead to 21-3 midway through the third quarter. On Heidelberg’s next possession, Otterbein’s defense forced a Jimmy May (Hilliard, Ohio / Hilliard Darby) punt, but a hard hit by Heidelberg’s Julius Higginbotham (Elyria, Ohio / Elyria) forced Otterbein’s Ray Welch to cough up the ball and Heidelberg’s Kenny Sims (Garfield Heights, Ohio / Garfield Heights) gained possession. Heidelberg put together a 10-play, 21-yard drive to set up Smith’s second field goal of the game, this time a 30-yard attempt to pull the Berg within 21-6.

The Cardinals added two more TD’s in the final quarter to make the final score 34-6 and keeps the Rhine River Cup in Westerville, Ohio

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Steve West finished the day 10-for-20 passing for 110 yards. Steve West completed passes to four different receivers led by Dawond Roddy (Sidney, Ohio / Sidney) with a team-high six receptions for 68 yards. Branden Parker (Sidney, Ohio / Sidney) led the ground game for the Berg, finishing with 55 yards on 16 carries. Branden Jakubcin (Huron, Ohio / Huron) led the Berg defense with a game-high 12 tackles to go along with one sack for a loss of seven yards.

For Otterbein, Stelzer finished 20-for-28 passing for 271 yards. Bope led all receivers with eight catches for 164 yards.

Heidelberg rounds out a two-game home stand with Wilmington Oct. 21. Game is slated to begin at 7:00 p.m.