Fresh off a second-place finish in the rugged Ohio Athletic Conference, the Heidelberg University football team is optimistic about the upcoming season.  Prognosticators are also bullish on The Berg, with the Student Princes checking in at No. 24 on the D3football.com Preseason Top 25.  

And why not?  Heidelberg returns a wealth of talent, including 14 of the program-best 16 All-OAC players from the 8-2 campaign in 2021. 

The toughest task for Head Coach Scott Donaldson is clear … Replace four key graduates -- wide receiver Maceo Matthews Jr., tight end Nick Cofer, hybrid back Jace Grossman, and linebacker Damontae Richmond.   

COACHING STAFF
Donaldson, now in his seventh season at the helm and 19th at Heidelberg, has retained much of his coaching staff from 2021.  Defensive coordinator Branden Jakubcin and offensive coordinator Jason Lewis both enter their seventh season as top assistants. Jakubcin is in his 16th year at Heidelberg while Lewis is in his 14th.  

Jemar Lewis, now in his sixth year as a full-time assistant and eighth on the HU coaching staff, will continue to work with the wide receivers.  Maxwell Smith, a standout quarterback at Kentucky and San Diego State, returns for his second season working with the Berg QBs.  Charlie Avila began his coaching tenure at Heidelberg during the spring non-traditional season after a stint with Toledo.  The Mount Union product will work with the defensive line.  

Joe Vacik returns for his second season as a graduate assistant and is joined by first year coaches Hunter Becker and Logan Techentin.  Volunteer coach and 'Berg alum Pat Herron rounds out the staff.

OFFENSE
Two-time all-conference junior quarterback Drew Sims returns for his third year as the primary signal caller for the high-energy Heidelberg offense.  Sims averaged 257 yards per game and threw for 27 touchdowns in 2021 and sits in the top 10 in most career passing categories in program history.  Behind Sims, Bridger Cline returns at the back-up signal caller in the talented quarterback room.  

Featured tailback Montavious Yearby returns for his fourth season after finishing second in the OAC in all-purpose yards per game (151.8).  Jarin Curtis and TJ Rhamy combined for more than 60 carries a year ago, and return in 2022.  

The departure of Matthews is made easier with the return of all-conference wide receivers Brandon Reed and Dimitri Penick.  Reed led HU in 2021 with 39 receptions, including seven touchdowns.  Penick had 23 catches and four touchdowns in six games before suffering an injury.  At tight end, Devon Conyer will be among the first to fill the void left by Cofer.  

In the trenches, the Tricolor is fortunate to return all five offensive linemen.  The quintet of Wally Kalinowski, Yvensky Gedna, Bobby Logan, Braden Donges and Jimmy Sweat -- along with many others -- helped pave the way for the offense.  

DEFENSE
Because of the bonus COVID year, hybrid linebacker/lineman Zach Blackiston has a chance to become the first five-time all-conference player in Heidelberg history.  Blackiston anchors a stout defensive line that also features returning all-conference player Tyler Turek.  Ndeke Tuma, Bennett Roberts, Jared Evans and Nolan Flanagan return after logging heavy action in 2021.  

The departure of Richmond, now an assistant coach at Wilmington, leaves a big hole in the middle of the linebacking corps.  However, returners Parker Smith, Easton St. Clair and Spencer Hrabak are among the group who will fill the void.  

All-Americans Tramon Wiley and Griffin Pendry headline the talent returning to the secondary.  Wiley, Keyshawn Cunningham and Joe Norris will line up at corner.  Pendry and Rooldy Pierrelus are back at safety.  

SPECIAL TEAMS
The Special Ops units at Heidelberg continue to be a difference maker.  In 2021, the Student Princes led the conference in net punting and kickoff returns -- and look poised to enjoy similar success in 2022.  

Parker Smith was 12th in the nation, averaging 40.1 yards per punt, and is back for his third year.

Branden Steckel returns as the primary placekicker and enters the season seven field goals and 34 extra points off of the career record.  

If returning long snapper Alec Edgington needs any coaching, he can turn to three coaches (Avila, Becker and Jemar Lewis) who snapped in college.  

Playmakers Reed, Wiley and Yearby all saw success in the return game last year.    

CAPTAINS
Following the spring practices, the team selected six team captains.  Joe Norris, Tramon Wiley, Griffin Pendry, Wally Kalinowski, Bobby Logan, and Easton St. Clair earned the honors.  


SCHEDULE
Heidelberg opens the 10-game schedule on Sept. 3 against Adrian.  Kickoff with the Bulldogs, making their first trip to Tiffin since 2004, is slated for 7 p.m.  

OAC action starts Sept. 10 at Otterbein, in a game that marks the 30th anniversary of the Rhine River game played in Germany in 1992.  An on-field ceremony in recognition of the 7-7 tie will be held prior to kickoff.  

In addition to the home opener against Adrian, Heidelberg will host four home OAC games.  Ohio Northern visits for a 7 p.m. kickoff on Family Weekend and Hall of Fame Day on Sept. 17.  Muskingum visits on Oct. 1 for a 1:30 p.m. start on Academic Recognition and Faculty Appreciation Day.  

Homecoming is slated for Oct. 22 -- a 2 p.m. game against Marietta. Heidelberg will host a 50th reunion for the 1972 Stagg Bowl Championship team in the Fox Den Alumni Center during the game.  

On Nov. 4, Heidelberg hosts Baldwin Wallace for Senior Day.  

The Student Princes travel to Otterbein, John Carroll, Mount Union, Wilmington, and Capital.    

MEDIA
Heidelberg Athletics is excited to partner with HeartofOhioSports.com to provide live video coverage of all five home games.  Entering its first fall of providing live video for local sports, Heart of Ohio Sports is fast becoming the authority on athletics in and around the Tiffin area. In addition to live coverage, Heart of Ohio Sports produces a number of live sports shows and provides studio space for the podcasting community.  

FOLLOW US 
BergAthletics.com will have up-to-the-minute information on schedule cancellations and alterations all season long.  Additionally, links for live stats and live video will be published as they become available. Follow @BergAthletics on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok and Facebook.