Heidelberg Suffers 32-17 Loss On The Banks Of The Ohio River

The Heidelberg College football team traveled to the banks of the Ohio River Saturday night and fell to Marietta College 32-17. The loss drops the Berg's overall record to 0-8 overall and 0-7 in Ohio Athletic Conference action, while Marietta improves to 5-3 overall and 4-2 in the OAC.

Heidelberg’s junior quarterback combination of Bryan Prorok (Baltimore, Ohio / Liberty Union) and Steve West (Huron, Ohio / Huron) finished 13-for-33 passing for 224 yards. The Student Princes also posted 167 yards on 42 carries on the ground and collected 224 yards on 13 receptions through the air. Sophomore wide receiver Kenny Sims (Garfield Heights, Ohio / Garfield Heights) led five ’Berg receivers with six catches for 112 yards. 

Senior place kicker Craig Smith (Rittman, Ohio / Rittman) knotted the score at three apiece in the second quarter on a 25-yard field goal. Marietta put one in the end zone with just over two minutes to play in the opening half to hold a 9-3 advantage at the half after a failed two-point conversion.

The Pioneers came out of the locker room and scored a touchdown on their first possession of the second half to take a 16-3 lead. Heidelberg responded on its next possession with a touchdown of its own to pull within striking distance. West hooked up with Sims for a 25-yard TD to make the score 16-10.

A Jason Vrable 71-yard touchdown pass to Chad McDaniel with 3:45 to play in the third extended Marietta's lead to 22-10. The Pioneers added another field goal, this time a 23-yard kick off the foot of Pat Lane, to build its advantage to 25-10.

A Marietta unsportsmanlike conduct penalty extended the Student Princes' next drive and ended with a one-yard touchdown run by Prorok to move Heidelberg within eight, 25-17.

The onside kick was recovered by Heidelberg, but was turned over to Marietta after the ball was touched before it went the necessary 10 yards. The Pioneers struck four plays later when Corey Jacobs bullied his way 16 yards for the final score.

Heidelberg returns to action next Saturday when it hosts Ohio Northern University on Parents' Day at Frost-Kalnow Stadium beginning at 1:30 p.m.