TIFFIN -- We're back, baby!
After nearly 500 days off, the Heidelberg University football team opened the 2021 spring season with a resounding 66-13 win over Capital University on Friday. The Student Princes piled up 685 yards of offense and only allowed 232 yards in the victory.
"I'm happy for our kids ... they needed this. They needed a game to get a chance to release some stress," said Head Coach
Scott Donaldson, who picked up his 25th career win. "This is a team effort to put on a football game -- from the OAC to the administrators to the presidents -- all to give us the opportunity to be out here tonight."
Freshman
Drew Sims had a debut for the record books. Sims threw for 349 yards on 19-26 passing with six touchdowns and no interceptions. The sextet of touchdowns are the most by a Heidelberg freshman, most in a 'Berg debut, and the most by a Heidelberg quarterback in the month of March.
"It's always scary starting a freshman quarterback, but Drew was steady," said Donaldson. "He handled it with so much poise you would have thought he was 22 years old. He did a good job of getting the ball to the playmakers."
Maceo Matthews Jr. caught nine passes for a career-high 208 yards and three touchdowns. His 200+ yard game is HU's first since Donteea Dye had 213 yards against Ohio Northern in 2014.
Heidelberg rushed for 297 yards, with a quartet of punishing ball carriers.
Branden Short had 110 yards on 14 carries to lead the way.
Montavious Yearby averaged a Cartel Brooks-ian 9.7 yards per carry (seven for 68) and added a 35-yard touchdown.
Jace Grossman had 78 yards and a touchdown.
Defensively, the Student Princes held the Crusaders in check with workman-like precision. Capital averaged a mere 1.9 yards per carry and 7.4 yards per pass attempt.
Michael Warden had HU's only turnover, picking off a Luke McCarrell pass in the third quarter.
After turning the ball over on down on their opening possession, the Student Princes scored touchdowns on nine of their next 10 possessions. In fact, Heidelberg did not punt the entire game.
On special teams,
Brandon Reed had two long returns and finished with 178 all-purpose yards.
Sims' 349 yards are most in a 'Berg debut since Tyler Stoyle had 386 yards in his 388-yard debut in 2015.
Heidelberg eclipsed the 60-point barrier for the first time since their 63-20 win at Capital in 2017.
Next week, Heidelberg will hit the road on Friday to visit Wilmington (2-0). Kickoff with the Quakers is set for 7 p.m.
