BEXLEY, Ohio - Heidelberg University raced out to a 31-0 lead over host Capital University and never looked back in a 45-10 OAC win.
Quarterback Michael Mees (North Ridgeville) was 17-for-33 passing for 283 yards, with two touchdowns and one interception. C.J. Powell (Detroit, MI/Bishop Foley) caught six passes for 101 yards and a touchdown, while teammate Donteea Dye (Fairfield) caught five passes for 107 yards.
On the opening drive of the game, Heidelberg moved 72 yards in 12 plays, capped off by a 19-yard touchdown pass from Mees to Christian Dominguez (Miami, FL/Ferguson). Dan Kilger (Novi, MI) added the extra point, which gave the Student Princes an early 7-0 lead.
Safety Justin Suddeth (Warren/Howland) stepped in front of a Capital pass on their opening drive and returned it nine yards to the Crusader 28 yard line.
The Student Princes cashed in on the turnover when Mees found Powell wide open in the corner of the end zone for a one yard touchdown.
Heidelberg moved ahead 21-0 after Cartel Brooks (Kokomo, IN/Galion) scored on a two yard rush. The touchdown capped a 10 play, 84 yard drive.
In the second quarter, Heidelberg used a Kilger 27 yard field goal and a Brooks one yard touchdown rush, his 11th of the season, to take a 31-0 lead.
Capital put their first points on the board just before halftime on a Ryan Kremchek five yard scramble for a touchdown. Kremchek's touchdown was set up by a 73 yard kickoff return by Alex Coleman.
"We did a good job in the first half establishing our identity on both sides of the ball," said head coach Mike Hallett. "That allowed us to continue playing our style in the second half."
The only points of the third quarter came on a 36 yard field goal by Coleman, which made the score 31-10.
In the fourth quarter, Heidelberg put the game on ice with a five yard touchdown rush from Bryan Lacey (South Euclid/Benedictine) and a one yard quarterback sneak by Colin Bultinck (Lafayette, IN/Jefferson).
Heidelberg's racked up 601 yards of total offense, and yielded just 190 yards on defense.
Suddeth recorded nine tackles and had an interception in Heidelberg’s defensive effort. Stephen Fejedelem (Ravenna) recorded eight tackles, which included two sacks and four tackles for a loss.
Heidelberg, 5-0 for the first time since 1993, won in Bexley for the first time since 1999. The win also moved Hallett into a tie with Armin "Pete" Riesen for fourth on the all-time wins list in Heidelberg football history, with 30. Riesen coached the 1972 team to an OAC championship and a win in the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl.
The Student Princes will return home next week for a mid-season showdown with Otterbein University. The contest will mark the annual Rhine River Classic, as well as Homecoming, Fellows Day and the Heidelberg Athletic Hall of Fame Inductions. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m.