TIFFIN -- For the first time in the 2024 season, the Heidelberg University Football team were proficient in all three phases of the game. The result was a 52-24 Homecoming drubbing of Muskingum University on a perfect autumn afternoon in Hoernemann Stadium. The Student Princes had season highs in total offense and points scored.

Heidelberg snapped a two-game skid and improved to 3-4, 2-4 on the season. Muskingum slipped to 4-3, 3-3.  

On their third possession of the game, Heidelberg's offense seemed to find a run/pass rhythm. Pickup up five first downs on the 13-play, 82-yard drive, HU took the lead after Mark Wilder pushed the pile forward on a six-yard touchdown rush. Ethan Ramsdail knocked the extra point through, putting The Berg up, 7-0.  

Muskingum tied the game early in the second quarter, but the hosts answered on their ensuing possession. The 13-play drive featured 11 rushes, as Wilder and Drew Miller were each able to peel off chunks of yardage -- especially running left. Ty Poorman was shoved into the end zone on a quarterback sneak on 4th-and-goal from the 1, scoring his first touchdown as a Student Prince.  

After the defense forced a turnover on downs, Heidelberg scored another touchdown on another one-yard shove-and-fall-forward by Poorman. The big play on the drive was a 41-yard completion to Matthew Drdul. 

Ahead 21-10 at half, the 'Berg defense forced a three-and-out on the first drive of the third quarter. Jo Norris III took the punt at his 34 and ran to his right. Spinning out of contact, he broke free along the Heidelberg sideline and was able to waltz into the end zone.  

Ramsdail connected on a 32-yard field goal on the next HU drive, extending Heidelberg's lead to 31-10. 

Another three-and-out gave the ball back to Heidelberg at their 36-yard line. The second play from scrimmage saw Dmitry Peters leap between two defenders at the 'Berg 48 and haul in a Poorman pass. As the two defenders fell, Peters was able to sprint the rest of the way for a 68-yard touchdown -- the first of his career.  

Poorman opened the scoring in the fourth quarter, plunging into the end zone on yet another QB sneak from the one. 

Miller capped the scoring with an eight-yard touchdown run right at the two-minute warning.  

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
Poorman was 15-of-29 for 248 yards and one touchdown. He carried the ball 10 times, scoring three touchdowns …. Wilder finished with 109 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries while Miller had 18 carries for 83 yards and a score … HU had 473 yards of offense … Trey Farris had a team-high eight tackles, including a sack … In addition to his punt return touchdown, Norris nearly picked off two passes -- but both were ruled to have hit the ground.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:
The Norris punt return touchdown was his first since a 51-yarder at Wilmington in 2022 … Poorman is the first 'Berg quarterback with three rushing touchdowns since Michael Mees had a hat trick in the playoff-clinching victory over Baldwin Wallace on Nov. 10, 2012, a 35-34 victory … The 64-yard touchdown pass from Poorman to Peters was Heidelberg's longest play from scrimmage of the season. 

UP NEXT: 
Heidelberg will travel to Otterbein on Nov. 2, in hopes of retaining the Rhine River Cup for the eighth-straight year. The Cardinals are coming off an impressive 39-10 win over rival Capital to snap a 21-game losing streak. Kickoff in Westerville is scheduled for noon.