Sep 19, 2015
TIFFIN -- For the second time in as many games, a late touchdown spelled doom for the Heidelberg University football team. No. 10 John Carroll University scored twice in the final six minutes of the game to thwart the Student Princes bid at an upset. The Blue Streaks won 23-16.
Heidelberg (0-2, 0-1 OAC) led 10-0 after the first quarter, but sputtered on offense for much of the final 45 minutes.
In the loss, AJ Morrison set a school-record with a 49-yard field goal. Dominique Scott had a fumble recovery and an interception for the Berg defense.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Heidelberg took over on its second drive at the John Carroll 36, thanks to a wind-addled punt that bounced near midfield, then bounced backward. After Jon Sandwisch scrambled for 14 yards on 3rd-and-20, Heidelberg head coach Mike Hallett sent in Morrison, who specializes in long-distance place kicks. Lined up on the right hash, Morrison connected on a school-record 49 yard field goal.
- Leading 3-0, Heidelberg allowed Marshall Howell to return the kickoff down to their own 13 yard line. On 1st-and-goal from the 2, a bad snap was picked up by Scott. Scott's 95-yard touchdown return was called back because of a blocking infraction after the turnover. Undaunted, the Student Princes drove the ball down the field for a score. Bryan Lacey broke free for a 40-yard touchdown rush. The score capped an 8-play 87-yard drive during which Heidelberg converted on two 3rd-and-longs.
- With under a minute left in the half, John Carroll (2-0, 1-0) got on the scoreboard with a five-yard touchdown pass from Jake Schaefer to Mark Baniewicz.
- On the opening possession of the third quarter, Heidelberg went 62 yards in 10 plays for another touchdown. Facing 3rd-and-goal from the four, Heidelberg ran play action to the right and Sandwisch threw the ball back to the left. He found a wide-open Dre Valliant in the front of the end zone, putting Heidelberg up 16-7.
- Michael Hollins blocked Stephen Smith's extra point attempt, scooped it up and returned it for a defensive two-point conversion. The unconventional points made the score 16-9, Heidelberg, with 11:39 left in the third.
- The score remained that way until JCU tied it on a Schaefer quarterback sneak with 5:20 left. The Heidelberg offense struggled to get any movement, which left short fields for the Blue Streaks.
- On the first play from scrimmage following the game-tying touchdown, Ray Brown stripped the ball from Lacey. Three plays later, Schaefer hit Howell for a 37-yard touchdown, which would be the difference. Schaefer amassed 178 yards on 19-of-29 passing.
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
- Morrison's 49-yard field goal broke the school record of 48 yards set by Jesse Hawkins on November 10, 2007 against Muskingum.
- Each team committed three turnovers on the afternoon.
- Sandwisch was 10-for-27 passing for 142 yads with a pick and a touchdown. He finished with a net of 55 yards on the ground.
- Lacey ended with 76 yards and a touchdown on 25 carried for the afternoon.
- After averaging more than 500 yards against Heidelberg the past two years, John Carroll was held under 300 yards of offense. It was the first time the Blue Streaks were held to under 300 yards since October 19, 2013 at home against Muskingum. Heidelberg gained 287 yards.
- Scott finished with five tackles, one interception along the fumble recovery. Will Lance led Heidelberg with 11 tackles.
- JCU's Arin Pruitt gained 114 yards on 31 carries.
- The loss was Heidelberg's first defeat at Hoernemann Stadium and first home loss since the 44-34 heartbreaker in 2013 against Mount Union.
NOTABLE QUOTES
- Cornerback Dom Scott on the solid play of the defense: "I thought our defense prepared very well this week ... Our coaches were all behind us, we watched film, we studied everything they did, and we executed our game plan for the most part ... We gave up a few plays, which just makes us want to play harder."
- Heidelberg head coach Mike Hallett on the play of the offense: "Our inexperience on offense shows at times ... We're just not the high wire act we've been in the past ... We're going to go back to work and keep working to improve.
- Hallett on the defensive effort: "I'm very proud of our defense and the great effort they gave all day ... I thought they did a fantastic job. I can't say enough about the number of turnovers and critical situations where they got stops. It was really good to see.
UP NEXT
- Heidelberg travels to face Ohio Northern while John Carroll visits cross-Cleveland rival Baldwin Wallace. Both games are scheduled for 2 p.m. starts.