WESTERVILLE -- The Heidelberg University Football team dismantled Otterbein University in the 32nd clash for the Rhine River Cup, winning 55-7. The Student Princes put up 41 first-half points en route to their eighth straight victory in the traveling trophy series, which commemorates the 1992 Heidelberg-Otterbein game played in Frankfurt, Germany.  

Heidelberg improved to 4-4 overall, 3-4 in the OAC. Otterbein slipped to 1-7, 1-6.  

Drew Miller spun into the end zone on Heidelberg's opening drive, scoring from eight yards out. Ethan Ramsdail added the extra point, giving the visitors an early lead. 

Tied at 7, Heidelberg converted on 4th-and-12 from the Otterbein 28 on their next possession. The back-breaking play was part of a 14-play, 67-yard drive that ended with another Miller touchdown. 

Up 14-7 after the first quarter, Heidelberg opened the second with a 35-yard Ramsdail field goal.   

After a three-and-out, The Berg added another touchdown -- scoring on a 20-yard connection from Ty Poorman to Matthew Drdul on 4th-and-5. Poorman was 6-of-6 passing on the nine-play, 56-yard drive.  

Kicking off from midfield because of an Otterbein personal foul, Heidelberg surprised the Cardinals with an onside kick recovered by Dane West. Taking advantage of the short field, HU scored on a two-yard touchdown pass from Poorman to Ithan Cholewa.  

Solomon Sandoval forced a fumble on the ensuing kickoff, recovered by Dom Johnson -- giving Heidelberg yet another possession in the second quarter. This time, the visitors had to settle for another Ramsdail field goal. HU led 34-7. 

Heidelberg's final possession of the half ended with an eight-yard touchdown pass from Poorman to Dmitri Peters.The Student Princes went into the intermission with a 41-7 advantage. 

Easton St. Clair intercepted a Cardinal pass in the third, reigniting the momentum for The Berg. On 4th-and-1 from the Otterbein 31, the Student Princes appeared to be ready for a quarterback sneak. Instead, Poorman tossed the ball to Mark Wilder running left. Wilder would hit the edge and sprint ahead for the 31-yard touchdown run. 

The Tricolor closed the scoring early in the fourth. Alex Arledge, inserted into the game at quarterback after Poorman's helmet came off in a sneak, drove his way to paydirt on the next play. Ramsdail's seventh PAT gave HU a 55-7 lead. 

TK Fikes put a bow on the game with his league-leading fourth interception of the season. 

INSIDE THE BOXSCORE: 
Wilder finished with 139 yards on 16 carries … Poorman was 20-of-27 in the game for 150 yards, with an interception and three touchdowns … Drdul had six receptions … St. Clair had a team-high six tackles, including a sack, to go along with his interception.

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE: 
The 55-point outburst was Heidelberg's best offensive showing in the 32-year run of the Rhine River Cup … Heidelberg has won 13 of the last 14 Rhine River Cup games and holds an 18-14 edge all-time …West's onside kick recovery was the first for Heidelberg since Tramon Wiley did so in the 2022 season opener against Adrian. 

UP NEXT: 
Heidelberg heads to Wilmington on Saturday to face the Fighting Quakers. Kickoff is slated for 1:30 p.m.  

Photo courtesy of Hailey Owens, Otterbein Sports Information