TIFFIN – The Heidelberg University football team's modest two-game win streak was snapped at the hands of No. 1 Mount Union on Saturday. The Purple Raiders controlled the contest from start to finish en route to a 59-17 victory. The 17 points were the most allowed by Mount Union this season.
Heidelberg fell to 2-4, 2-3 in the Ohio Athletic Conference with the loss. Mount Union stayed perfect, 6-0, 5-0 OAC with the win, their 27th straight over the Student Princes.
INDIVIDUAL STATS
Quarterback Tyler Stoyle suffered his first loss as a starter, going 24-for-36 for 188 yards with a touchdown.
Tight end Zach Hogya led the team with eight receptions for 62 yards. Demetrius Magee was just behind with seven catches for 61 yards.
Shawn Beltz led the defense with eight tackles, including one for loss. Verondtae Wilkinsontallied two sacks on the afternoon.
FIRST QUARTER
After the teams traded punts to start, Mount Union got on the board with a three-yard touchdown rush by B.J. Mitchell. The score was set up by a 60-yard completion from Taurice Scott to Tim Kennedy.
On the ensuing kickoff, Mount Union was offside and Heidelberg forced a rekick. The decision proved wise when Nick DeLisa broke free down the right sideline for a 52-yard return. Heidelberg drove the ball down to the one before the Purple Raiders forced a 20-yard field goal by Stephen Smith.
Riding the momentum of the defensive stop, the Purple Raiders went 76 yards in 11 plays. Logan Nemeth found paydirt from 19 yards out to extend the visitor's lead to 14-3.
SECOND QUARTER
Taking over after a downed punt at midfield, Mount drove into the end zone on three plays, with Octavion Wilson tiptoeing down the right sideline for a 38-yard touchdown.
Scott added to the lead with a 13-yard rush midway through the period to push the MTU lead to 28-3.
After Heidelberg left points on the field missing a 36-yard field goal, Mount Union capitalized. Nemeth found the end zone again. The 10-yard rush put Mount up 35-3.
Mount Union would add a 20-yard Jake Antel field goal as time expired in the half and led 38-3.
THIRD QUARTER
Mount Union scored quickly after a Heidelberg turnover inside the five. Mitchell found the end zone from four yards away.
Later, Mount pushed their lead to 52-3 with Nemeth's third touchdown of the game, a 29-yard rush. Nemeth, a senior, tallied 124 yards on 11 carries.
Still fighting, Heidelberg scored their first touchdown of the afternoon. Bryan Lacey capped off an 11-play drive with a 4-yard touchdown rush. Smith's PAT cut the deficit down to 52-10.
With five seconds left in the frame, Mount added another score. Scott connected on a 13-yard completion to Skyler Scott. The MTU quarterback was 20-of-30 for 296 yards and two touchdowns.
FOURTH QUARTER
Heidelberg had the only score of the final quarter. On 4th-and-1, Stoyle connected on a 13-yard completion to Demetrius Magee for a touchdown.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Mount Union outgained Heidelberg, 601-244.
The Student Princes were 3-for-15 on third down, but 2-of-2 on fourth down.
Hogya and Magee each set new career highs for receptions in a game.
The win is Mount Union's 99th straight regular season victory.
Mount Union scored 14 points off of two Heidelberg turnovers.
UP NEXT
The Student Princes will look to regroup on the road next Saturday at Marietta (1-5, 1-4). Kickoff along the banks of the Ohio River is slated for 1:30 p.m.