Heidelberg Put Up A Strong Battle, But Fell Short To Wilmington

The Heidelberg College football team suffered a 21-14 setback at the hands of visiting Wilmington College at Frost-Kalnow Stadium. The win improves the Quakers to 3-4 overall and 3-3 in the Ohio Athletic Conference, while the Berg drops to 0-7 overall and 0-5 in league play.

Wilmington took a 7-0 lead on its first possession with a 27-yard pass from Billy Blackburn to Schuyler Streber. Jon Bednarek recorded the PAT. A bad snap by Heidelberg returned the ball to the Quakers and set up a four-play 31-yard drive that was capped off by Wilmington’s second TD of the game to push its lead to 14-0 at the midway point of the opening quarter.

Heidelberg's Fran Cavotta (Highland Heights, Ohio / North Olmsted) forced and recovered a Quaker fumble and returned it 69 yards to put Heidelberg on the scoreboard. Craig Smith (Rittman, Ohio / Rittman) added the point after to cut the Quaker lead in half heading into the second quarter.

Heidelberg made a late run in an attempt to knot the score at the intermission. The Berg started on its own eight-yard line yard line and raddled off four first downs to set up a 39-yard pass from Bryan Prorok (Baltimore, Ohio / Liberty Union) to Dawond Roddy (Sidney, Ohio / Sidney) for a Berg touchdown. Unfortunately the Berg was called for pass interference and the play did not count. Heidelberg bounced back from the penalty and Prorok connected with Roddy for a 31-yard pass to put the Berg on the Wilmington 23-yard line. Heidelberg reached the red zone on a nine-yard catch by Lucas Bauer (Huron, Ohio / Huron) to set up a 31-yard field goal attempt by Smith. Smith missed the field goal as time expired on the clock and Wilmington entered the locker room holding a 14-7 advantage.

Heidelberg knotted the score on its first possession of the second half. Prorok started the drive off with a 33-yard pass to Roddy up the middle of the field. Four plays later the Prorok and Roddy connection struck again this time for 31 yards and a Heidelberg touchdown. Smith added the PAT to tie the score at 14-14.

Wilmington began its eventual game-winning drive in the last seconds of the third quarter at Heidelberg's 48-yard line. A 26-yard reception by Brandon Hiatt moved the Quakers into the red zone and Streber recorded his second touchdown of the game on a two-yard run. The PAT by Bednarek was good to put Wilmington on top 21-14.

On the ensuing possession Heidelberg had a chance to cut its deficit, but a Smith 34-yard field goal attempt sailed wide left.

Prorok went 14-for-28 passing for 196 yards and one touchdown. Leading the receiving corps was Roddy with five catches for 115 yards. Branden Parker (Sidney, Ohio / Sidney) led the Berg ground game with 55 yards on 15 carries. The Berg defense was led by Matt Nero (Cortland, Ohio / Lakeview) with eight tackles followed by seven from Ben Ciborek (Hudson, Ohio / Hudson). Ciborek and Garrett Nash (Rock Creek, Ohio / Jefferson Area) each recorded a sack.

Offensively for the Quakers, Blackburn threw for 274 yards (20-for-30). Streber gained 92 yards through the air and 95 on the ground for the Quakers. John Rupp led the Quaker defense with a game-high 10 tackles.