FULL GAME NOTES (PDF)

A LOOK BACK AT LAST WEEK
The Heidelberg University football team returned to their dominant offensive prowess on Saturday afternoon away to Muskingum University. The Berg knocked off the Muskies by a final of 59-21 while putting up 612 yards of total offense.

On offense, Jimmy Gephart threw for 27 completions that went for 345 yards and four touchdowns. His passing scores connected with four different receivers -- Maceo Matthews, Tayy Yearby, Dimitri Penick, and Brandon Reed. Matthews and Yearby each totaled 100 plus receiving yards on the day as well. Yearby also added 93 yards of rushing and a TD to his performance, while Jace Grossman (2) and Wendell Morrison (1) added rushing scores as well.

On the defensive end, Jacob Rings had a team-high five tackles, while Zach Blackiston had two breakups. Pat McCarthy was credited with a forced fumble, while Scott Slater had the recovery.

On special teams, Branden Steckel was perfect on his one field goal attempt and was good on all eight PATs for the Berg.

For Muskingum, Brody Hahn passed for 192 yards and three touchdowns. Two of those scores connected with Jacob Quinn, while Darrius Hayes-Carruth accounted for the other. As a team, Muskingum rushed for 197 yards, with their leading rusher being Cameron Near who had 64 yards on eight carries. Tim Ousley had a game high 16 tackles on defense. Connor Finnicum forced a fumble that was recovered by Drew Lowery.

AROUND THE LEAGUE
Heidelberg obliterated Muskingum 59-21 behind 612 yards of total offense. Tayy Yearby rushed for 93 yards and a touchdown while also catching five passes for 101 yards and another score.

Otterbein beat cross-town rivals Capital by a final score of 33-18. Jordan Bost-Floyd rushed for 146 yards and three touchdowns for the Cardinals.

Mount Union soundly took care of Ohio Northern by a final of 63-24. Braxton Plunk saw time at QB for the Purple Raiders and passed for 168 yards and three touchdowns on 8-of-10 throwing.

Baldwin Wallace staved off Marietta by a final of 17-3. A 61-yard touchdown pass from Kegan Armitage to Iyan Mitchell in the first quarter was the difference in the game.

John Carroll shutout Wilmington at home by a score of 42-0. Evan Nugent caught five passes for 97 yards and three touchdowns for the Blue Streaks.

On November 9, all five games will kickoff at 1:30 p.m. Heidelberg hosts John Carroll for Senior Day, while Muskingum visits Mount Union, Ohio Northern welcomes Baldwin Wallace, Capital travels to Wilmington and Marietta plays home to Otterbein.

BIG HERO 6
• Senior QB Jimmy Gephart has nine career starts and is 7-2
• Against Muskingum, Gephart had his fourth 300+ yard game and his fifth 4+ touchdown game of his career

2-(four-six)-8, WHO DO WE APPRECIATE?
• Freshman RB Tayy Yearby nearly went 100/100 vs. Muskingum, with 101 yards receiving and 93 yards rushing
• Yearby has five multi-touchdown games this season

LUCKY SEVEN
• Junior WR Maceo Matthews returned to the line up and finished with a game-high 128 yards
• Matthews has at least one TD grab in each game he has played in this season

FANTASTIC FOUR
• WR Dimitri Penick set a career high with 11 receptions vs. Muskingum

CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN
• Sophomore DL/LB Zach Blackiston picked up four tackles vs. Muskingum, his second-lowest output of the season
• He set a career high with two batted passes

PUNT COVERAGE
• HU leads the nation in punt return defense -- with opponents averaging -0.29 yards per return
• The Berg is just one of two schools averaging negative yards in punt coverage (Utica, -0.20)

EIGHT CRAZY NIGHTS
• CB Tramon Wiley -- a former WR who switched over to defense this summer -- leads the OAC with five interceptions
• Wiley is seventh in the nation in picks per game

55-45 OR FIGHT
• The offensive moved from eighth to sixth in total offense thanks to the 612 yards vs. Muskingum
• Heidelberg has three 600+ yard games in 2019
• HU still remains balanced offensively -- with 55% of the yards coming through the air and 45% on the ground

38 SPECIAL
• Back in action after the shutout to MTU, Branden Steckel scored 11 points vs. Muskingum
• He has made 87.5% of his FGs this season, eighth in the nation

LAST TIME vs. THE BLUE STREAKS
• On a blustery day in University Heights, the JCU defense held Heidelberg to 121 yards of offense
• JCU RB Michael Canganelli rushed for 129 yards on 28 carries
• Berg punter Austin Baker set a Division III record, uncorking a 95-yard punt that wound up on ESPN and on social media
• John Carroll emerged with a 27-0 win