Heidelberg Falls To Muskingum 28-12

The Heidelberg College football team scored on its first possession of the game, but Muskingum College scored 28 unanswered points to defeat the Student Princes 28-12 in the season finale Saturday afternoon in New Concord, Ohio.  The Fighting Muskies finish the season 2-8 and 1-9 in the Ohio Athletic Conference while Heidelberg finishes 0-10, 0-9 in conference play.

The Student Princes won the toss and elected to defer until the second half. Despite a 41-yard kickoff return by the Muskies, a three and out and a 22-yard punt gave the Student Princes there first possession of the ballgame at their own 28.

The Heidelberg offense began the game fast as junior quarterback Bryan Prorok (Baltimore, Ohio / Liberty Union) completed three of four passes for 56 yards. Heidelberg sat first and goal at the Muskingum eight, but a four-yard loss, an incomplete pass and a three-yard sack forced Heidelberg back to the 15. Senior Craig Smith’s (Rittman, Ohio / Rittman) 32-yard field goal sailed through the uprights to give the Student Princes a quick 3-0 lead.

Muskingum wasted no time in answering Heidelberg with two touchdowns. The first, Muskingum faced a third and twenty at the Heidelberg 45 when Muskies quarterback Andre Nash found Jack Murray for a 30-yard gain down to the 15. After a three-yard run, Nash hooked up with Murray again for 12 yards and a touchdown.

On the ensuing possession, the Berg moved the ball down to the Muskies 27 before the Muskingum defense held Heidelberg on fourth down. With less than a minute remaining in the first quarter, Muskingum’s Caleb Fuller found a seam and rumbled 68 yard to the endzone for another Muskies touchdown in as many possessions.

Muskingum would add another touchdown before the intermission to open a 21-3 halftime lead.

Down 28-3, the Student Princes would outscore Muskingum 9-0 in the fourth quarter. 

The first score came on a safety when Heidelberg junior quarterback Steve West (Huron, Ohio / Huron) threw an interception at the Muskingum two. The Muskingum defender fumbled the ball but recovered the ball in the endzone for a Muskingum safety.

On the possession after the free kick, West completed four of five passes for 32 yards and also rushed for 20 yards. Heidelberg found the endzone for the first time in the game when West threw to sophomore Lucas Bauer (Huron, Ohio / Huron) for an 11-yard strike. Smith added the extra-point to cut the Muskingum lead to 16.

For the game, West led Heidelberg in passing and rushing yards. West completed 11 of 23 passes for 134 yards and one touchdown and had 13 rushes for 58 yards and a 4.5 yards per rush average.

Leading the Heidelberg defense was sophomore Brian West (Huron, Ohio / Huron), who recorded six solo tackles and assisted on four others for 10 tackles total.