Tiffin, Ohio – October 17, 2009 – Senior Jemar Lewis (Bedford Heights, Ohio / Bedford) of the Heidelberg University football team registered the first 100-yard rushing game on no. 1 Mount Union College this season, but it was not enough as the Purple Raiders posted a 44-14 victory at Frost-Kalnow Stadium in Tiffin, Ohio today, October 17. Following the game, Mount Union improved to 6-0 overall and 5-0 in the Ohio Athletic Conference and the Berg stands at 1-5, 0-5.
Lewis finished with 114 yards in 19 carries to mark just the second player to eclipse 100 yards on the ground against Mount Union in its last 21 games. As a team, the Berg has increased its presence out of the backfield as of late, as Lewis’ outing comes on the heels of a 144 rushing yard performance by fellow classmate Kenny Sims (Garfield Heights, Ohio / Garfield Heights) last weekend at no. 18 Ohio Northern University.
Heidelberg finished with 333 yards of total offense, on a defense that ranked second in the nation coming into the contest, giving up an average of just 185 yards per game. Mount Union had 536 yards of offense, with 419 coming through the air.
The Berg had a rough start from scrimmage, as Mount Union took advantage of two early Heidelberg turnovers for touchdowns and added a third score to take an early 21-0 lead in the first quarter.
Trailing by 21, Heidelberg settled in on offense. A handful of short runs by Lewis sandwiched a 46-yard reception by Mike Preston (Maple Heights, Ohio / Euclid) from Andrew Miller (Dalton, Ohio / Dalton) to position the Berg deep in Mount Union territory. Two plays later, Miller punched it in from one yard out. Jesse Hawkins (Georgetown, Ky. / Scott County) converted the point after to get the Berg on the scoreboard.
Following its score, Heidelberg’s defense held Mount Union on three of its final five possessions of the opening half. Included in the mix was a stoppage on downs near midfield to close out the first quarter. Heidelberg defensive back Julius Higginbotham (Elyria, Ohio / Elyria) ended Mount Union’s final possession of the first half with an interception in the end zone.
Heidelberg gave up just two scores to Mount Union’s potent offense in the second half. Mount Union lost the ball on downs and a fumble on its final two drives.
Freshman Brett Wiedemann (Norwalk, Ohio / Norwalk St. Paul) scored his first collegiate touchdown and a Hawkins PAT extended Heidelberg’s final score to 14 with 4:23 left in the game. Wiedemann cut across from the left side of the line to the far right corner to haul in a pass from Miller.
For the game, Miller completed 15-of-35 passes for 200 yards and one touchdown. Preston was his leading receiver, hauling in seven passes for 116 yards to mark his fourth 100-yard receiving game on the season. Junior Mario Walton (Elyria, Ohio / Elyria) had a career day finishing with six catches for 66 yards, including a long of 23.
On defense, defensive tackle Matt Grieves (Huron, Ohio / Huron) had nine tackles, including three for a loss, to go along with three quarterback hurries and a sack. Tony Gordon (Euclid, Ohio / Euclid) had eight followed by Andy Fadenholz (Grafton, Ohio / Keystone) with six.