FULL GAME NOTES (PDF)

THROUGH GAME SIX ...
The Heidelberg University football team improved to 5-1 on the season overall and 4-1 in the conference with a 52-35 win over Otterbein on Homecoming and Hall of Fame Day.

Offensively, Jimmy Gephart directed the offense with 380 yards of passing on 32 completions. The senior also threw for three scores, but did toss two interceptions as well. Receiving, Keivon Belcher was the most used target catching 10 passes for 136 yards and a touchdown. Nick Cofer caught seven passes for 103 yards and a score as well. Maceo Matthews and Dimitri Penick accounted for the other two touchdown catches. Matthews was responsible for Cofer's touchdown as he found the tight end in the corner on a double-reverse pass play. Tayy Yearby rushed for 144 yards and two touchdowns, while Gephart added a score on the ground.

Defensively, Tramon Wiley and Tyler Matuszak each had seven tackles. Wiley, Barry Middleton, and Jacob Gerlak all had an interception as well.

On special teams, Yearby had one punt return for 31 yards, while Brandon Reed added 61 yards of return on kickoffs. Branden Steckel was one-for-two on field goals connecting on a 31-yarder in the second quarter. Steckel also added seven PAT's. Zach Blackiston blocked a PAT attempt.

The Cardinals were led by 282 yards passing and three scores from Logan Pharmer, while Luke Schmeling rushed for 79 yards and two touchdowns. Reed Tucker was the lead receiver for Otterbein with nine catches for 126 yards and two TDs. Niall Lewison and Gary Moaney each had 10 tackles defensively, while Lewison and Blake Montiel each intercepted Gephart.

AROUND THE LEAGUE ...
Marietta defeated Wilmington on the road by a final of 35- 26. The Pioneers never looked back after Drake Neuberger returned a fumble recovery for a touchdown in the second quarter.

Mount Union took care of business at home thrashing Capital 66-0. The Purple Raiders resorted to five second half field goals to ease the damage.

John Carroll defended home field by defeating Ohio Northern 44-10. Jake Floriea passed for 289 yards and six touchdowns in the win.

Baldwin Wallace beat Muskingum 42-28. Keagan Armitage passed for 273 yards and four scores, including three to Iyan Mitchell.

Heidelberg knocked off Otterbein in the lone night cap of week six by a final of 52-35. Four different receivers caught a TD pass for Heidelberg, including Keivon Belcher, Nick Cofer, Maceo Matthews and Dimitri Penick. Next week, all five games kickoff at 1:30 p.m. Capital visits Ohio Northern, Muskingum travels to Otterbein, Marietta hosts John Carroll, Heidelberg welcomes Mount Union, and Wilmington plays away at Baldwin Wallace.

GEP-HART OF GOLD
• Senior QB Jimmy Gephart has seven career starts ... and has thrown for 2+ touchdowns in six
• Gephart is 6-1 as a starter

MAN OF THE YEAR-BY
• Freshman RB Tayy Yearby rushed for 144 yards on 25 carries vs. Otterbein (5.8 ypc)
• Yearby had 31 yards on his first punt return this season

GOSPEL OF MATTHEWS
• Junior WR Maceo Matthews had his seventh-straight game with a TD grab
• Matthews threw for a touchdown on a reverse option pass to TE Nick Cofer

POWER OF THE PEN-ICK
• WR Dimitri Penick has 356 yards and five touchdowns in his last three games
• Penick has a TD catch in four straight games

KEIV-ON GOLDEN POND
• WR Keivon Belcher had a career-high 10 receptions vs. Otterbein
• Belcher has three multi-TD games in 2019

BLACKIS-TON OF BRICKS
• Sophomore DL/LB Zach Blackiston had 6 tackles
• Blackiston has a sack in 11 of his 16 career games
• He tallied a break up, a blocked PAT and a QB hurry

MAKE IT WORTH YOUR WILEY
• CB Tramon Wiley -- a former WR who switched over to defense this summer -- picked up his OAC-leading fifth interception of the season
• Wiley is fourth in the nation in picks per game

NATIONAL PARK-ER SERVICE
• Sophomore linebacker/punter Parker Smith has done a good job filling the void left when two-time All-American punter Austin Baker graduated
• Smith's punts, combined with a skilled coverage team, has helped HU lead the nation in punt return defense -- with opponents average -0.5ypp

BALANCE BEAM
• HU is second in the nation in total offense, and just one of 8 averaging 500+ yards of offense
• Among the top 8 schools in total offense, HU is by the most run/pass balanced
• 55% of Heidelberg's offense has been through the air, while 45% has come on the ground

PUMPED UP KICKS
• Freshman kicker Branden Steckel scored 10 points in the win vs. Otterbein -- his second-straight double-digit performance
• Steckel missed his first field goal of the season when his 40-yard attempt was batted down at the line of scrimmage
• Freshman David Harbaugh drilled an up-man in the back of the head with a kickoff in the 4th quarter ... Heidelberg recovered the loose ball -- the first onside kick recovery (albeit unconventional) since 2009

LAST TIME vs. THE PURPLE RAIDERS
• Mount Union held Heidelberg to 210 yards of total offense in a 54-0 drubbing
• D'Angelo Fulford threw for 280 yards and 2 TDs
• Josh Petruccelli ran for 101 yards on 27 carries