TIFFIN, Ohio -- With picture-perfect weather for their home opener, the Heidelberg University football team handled visiting Wilmington College, 35-10.  Offensively, The Berg used a steady dose of modest gains on the ground and a few big pass plays.  Defensively, an opportunistic group picked up another three interceptions en route to the victory.  

Heidelberg improved to 2-0 on the season while the Quakers -- coached by former Heidelberg assistant Bryan Moore -- dropped to 0-2.  

KEY STATS:
Running back Branden Short rushed for 187 yards and two touchdowns on 36 attempts in the game. Quarterback Jimmy Gephart rushed seven times for 32 yards and one touchdown. 

Gephart threw 13-for-26, good for 175 yards and one touchdown. Wendell Morrison connected on his only pass attempt with Maceo Matthews for a 73-yard touchdown. 

Matthews had 137 yards receiving on three catches and two touchdowns. 

Defensively, the Student Princes had three interceptions -- one a piece from Jacob Gerlak, Tramon Wiley and Loren Sauve. Zach Blackiston led the way with 10 total tackles including a half of a sack. 

HOW IT HAPPENED:
On the opening drive the game, Gephart marched the Student Princes down the field, resulting in a touchdown pass to Maceo Matthews. After the kickoff sailed out of bounds, Branden Short rushed up the middle for a 27-yard gain, propelling the drive. With the Berg at first-and-goal, Short's first attempt went for no gain, so Gephart turned to the pass on the next play. Gephart found Matthews for a jumping grab in the corner of the end zone. Brandon Steckel put the PAT through the uprights for a 7-0 lead.  

On Wilmington's first drive of the game, they threatened. However, the Berg defense stifled the drive at the 31-yard line, forcing a field goal attempt. There, Quaker kicker Tyler Butcher pulled the kick to the right, keeping the score at 7-0. 

After exchanging punts, Heidelberg found themselves on their own five-yard line. Gephart broke the drive open, gaining 38 yards and 14 yards on back-to-back connections with Brandon Reed. A defensive pass interference call put the ball on the two-yard line where Short punched it in to double the Berg lead. Steckel was once again successful on the PAT. 

The next Wilmington drive was once again promising, but Jacob Gerlak came up with a crucial interception at the 12-yard line. The pick was Gerlak's first career interception. 

Once again, both teams exchanged empty drives giving the ball back to the Quakers. This time, Wilmington quarterback Kyle Barrett was intercepted once again after just three plays. This time, the pick was by Tramon Wiley, his third of the young season. 

Unfortunately, the Student Princes and Quakers both could not muster another score before the half, leaving the score at 14-0 at the intermission. 

On Heidelberg's first drive of the third quarter, Gephart was guilty of his first career interception pass. Tre'Quez Parks jumped the route and picked off Gephart's pass. 

The Quakers responded by marching directly into the endzone on eight plays. Barrett connected with Ace Taylor on a three-yard pass for the score. Butcher's kick attempt was good to cut the lead in half. 

The Berg coaching staff wanted an immediate response and found one.  With Wendell Morrison under center, Matthews hauled in a 73-yard connection to retake the two-score lead. 

Wilmington responded with a successful field goal attempt by Butcher, bringing the score to 21-10. 

On the ensuing kickoff, Tayy Yearby put the Student Princes in fantastic field position returning the ball 60 yards. Unfortunately, the Quaker defense forced a turnover on downs after nine plays. 

Heidelberg's next drive came after forcing a Wilmington punt. On the drive, the Berg fed the hot hand as Branden Short rushed for 66 yards on seven carries. The dominant ball carrying from Short set up Gephart who punched in a four-yard rush for a touchdown. 

A personal foul penalty and a 59-yard return by Luke Richardson set up impressive Wilmington field position after the Gephart rushing score. There, the Berg defense held strong and forced a 34-yard field goal attempt, which Butcher once again hooked right. 

After taking over, the Student Princes began to put the game out of reach as they marched down the field in five plays before Short punched in from the one-yard line. The penultimate play of the drive was courtesy of a 58-yard connection between Gephart and Matthews. Steckel once again was successful with the PAT. 

With Wilmington pushing for a way back into the game, the defense once again came up huge, shutting down the threat on the Heidelberg 21. Verondtae Wilkinson pressured Quaker quarterback Barrett and forced a desperation throw which was tipped up in the air. There, Loren Sauve fell underneath the ball and secured the interception -- the first of the senior's career. 

Building off the strong defense, keeping Wilmington off the board, Heidelberg's offense ran out the clock, resulting in the 35-10 victory. 

BEYOND THE BOX:
Short's massive game marked the first time a back has carried more than 30 times since September 26, 2015 when Bryan Lacey rushed 31 times at Ohio Northern. Additionally, Short's 187 yards are the most for a Student Prince since Cameron Vocke rushed for 179 yards against Ohio Northern in 2017. Short's back-to-back 100+ yard rushing games was the first since Lacey accomplished the feat in weeks seven and eight of the 2016 season.

Wiley's third interception of the season -- in just his second game on defense -- marks the first time a Berg defender has had three interceptions in a single season since the 2017 season. 

Matthews' 73-yard catch from Morrison in the third quarter was the first completion of its kind since Demetrius Magee hauled in a 71-yarder from Tyler Stoyle vs. Otterbein in 2017. 

NOTABLE QUOTES:
Head coach Scott Donaldson talking on the win: "It was a great football game, and I know their record doesn't show it, but [Wilmington] is a very good football team."

Donaldson continuing on his team's effort: "Everything wasn't going our way in the first half, but our guys just kept fighting, the defense picked up the offense, and I'm really proud of the way our guys fought."

Running back Branden Short on back-to-back 100+ yard rushing games: "Our game plan was pretty much the same thing, where we go with what's working, and nothing really changed this week."

Donaldson on Short's performance: "He is a beast. Branden's just a work horse and busted some big runs today, and I'm glad he's finally coming into his own."

Donaldson referencing the oddity of a defensive lineman having an interception: "Loren will tell you --  he came in as a linebacker, so he still has hands." 

UP NEXT: 
The Student Princes return to Hoernemann Stadium in week three as Capital University visits Tiffin. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. -- the first of two home night games for Heidelberg this season.