NEW CONCORD --  The Heidelberg University football took control early, settled in, and dominated host Muskingum University, 59-21.  Heidelberg rebounded from last week's setback in grand fashion -- accumulating 30 first downs and 612 yards of offense.  

The Student Princes improved to 6-2 overall, 5-2 in the rugged OAC.  Muskingum dropped to 2-6, 1-6.  

Quarterback Jimmy Gephart was 27-for-33 for 345 yards and four touchdown passes to four different receivers.  Maceo Matthews had 128 yards while Dimitri Penick added 96 yards.  

Montavious Yearby had 101 yards receiving and 93 yards rushing.  Jace Grossman added 70 yards and two scores on the ground.  

Defensively, Heidelberg limited Muskingum to 18 first downs and 379 yards.  HU picked up three sacks and nine tackles for loss.  

HOW IT HAPPENED: 
A promising opening drive for Muskingum was cut short near midfield.  On a jet sweep, Ja'Lin Goodman was stripped of the ball by Patrick McCarthy.  Tyler Matuszak jumped on the loose ball.  

Working with a short field, Gephart and the Student Princes worked quickly.  After converting on a 3rd-and-1 with a 10-yard rush by the quarterback, HU struck first.  Gephart found Penick down the right side for a 34-yard touchdown completion.  Penick had to leap to grab the ball, then spun into the end zone to keep his balance.  Branden Steckel added the extra point.  

After the defense forced a three-and-out, a run-pass mix helped HU travel back to paydirt.  Jace Grossman scored from two yards out, bouncing off the offensive line before finding room to the left. His rugged run capped a 15-play, 60-yard drive.  On the drive, the Tricolor converted on three third downs and one fourth down.    

Up 14-0 after the first quarter, HU scored on its first drive of the second stanza.  After a Muskie punt rolled into the end zone, Yearby rushed for 10 yards on the second play.  Gephart then found Matthews for a 70-yard touchdown bomb down the right side.  

The Muskies drove into the red zone on the ensuing possession.  Facing 4th-and-3 from the six, Muskingum opted to go for it.  Brody Hahn kept it, but was stopped a yard short by Matt Meyers and Zach Blackiston.  

The Student Princes scored with another long pass play on the ensuing drive.  This time, Gephart found Yearby out of the backfield for a 67-yard touchdown.  Yearby bobbled the pass at first, then sprinted up the left sideline.  

Muskingum managed to get on the board late in the second quarter when Hahn found Jacob Quinn on an eight-yard slant.  

Working with 42 seconds left before halftime, Heidelberg kept their foot on the accelerator.  Four straight Gephart-Penick completions along the sideline pushed the ball into Muskie territory.  Later, Gephart found Brandon Reed for a 26-yard touchdown.  Reed made the catch on his knees in the front left corner of the end zone as time expired.   

After fumbling the ball away inside the red zone on the opening possession of the second half, The Berg scored on its second possession.  Yearby found the end zone from four yards out.  

The Muskies answered on their next possession, making the score 42-14. 
With Wendell Morrison under center on the next possession, HU moved the ball down the field yet again. Grossman found the end zone again, this time from 13 yards.  

Early in the fourth, Steckel kicked a 27-yard field goal.  Combined with going 8-for-8 on extra points, the kicker scored 11 points for The Berg.  

With a multitude of reserves on the field, Muskingum scored its final touchdown of the game midway through the fourth quarter.  

Morrison put the game's final points on the board with a four-yard keeper with a little over three minutes left to play.  

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
The Berg was 10-of-17 on third down and held Muskingum to 3-of11.  

Heidelberg ran 87 total plays and averaged 7.0 yards per play.  Muskingum ran 62.  
  
UP NEXT: 
The Student Princes return to action next week for their home finale.  HU hosts No. 11 John Carroll at 1:30 p.m.  After the contest, Heidelberg Athletics is hosting a Casino Night fundraiser at Camden Falls Reception Center.  For more information, or to purchase a ticket online, visit: https://bergathletics.com/casino