WILMINGTON, Ohio - Heidelberg University scored two touchdowns and field goal on its first three drives and rode the 21-0 lead to a 44-13 victory over the Wilmington College football team in Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) action on Saturday afternoon.
The Student Princes (3-1, 2-1 OAC) opened the game with touchdown drives of six plays, 62 yards and 10 plays, 75 yards to take a 14-0 lead. After a Fightin' Quaker drive stalled on the ensuing possession, Heidelberg took advantage of a short punt drove into the red zone as the first quarter ended, but the Wilmington defense held the Student Princes to 37-yard field goal.
Trailing 17-0, Kyle Barrett began the next drive with a 36-yard strike to Luke Richardson over the middle. Fellow Clinton-Massie High School alumnus (along with Richardson) Christian Poynter moved the chains twice, and the Barrett-to-Richardson connection struck against for a six-yard touchdown and the Quakers' first score of the game.
Heidelberg would score the last touchdown of the first half and the first touchdown of the second half on passes from Trace Reynolds to Maceo Matthews to the Student Princes a 31-7 lead early in the third quarter. Wilmington responded immediately, however, as Barrett capped a seven-play, 65-yard drive with a strike to Matt Creditt for a 16-yard touchdown.
The Student Princes answered on the very next drive with a four-year touchdown run from quarterback Trace Reynolds to put the game out of reach.
Heidelberg outgained Wilmington 551-317 including holding a 280-72 yard advantage in rushing yards. The Quakers threw for 245 yards while the Student Princes tallied 271 yards through the air.
Individually, Barrett completed 24-of-38 passes for 245 yards and two touchdowns compared to 19-of-22 for 265 yards and three touchdowns for Reynolds. In the rushing category, Branden Short gained 139 yards on 18 carries for the Student Princes while Poynter earned 33 yards on eight carries for the Quakers.
Braden Jerome led all receivers with nine receptions for 142 yards for Heidelberg. Richardson had six catches for 82 yards and the score while Ace Taylor caught seven passes for 57 yards.
Defensively, Royon Washington and Tre'Quez Parks led Wilmington with 11 and eight tackles respectively while Erik Hagedorn tallied eight wrapups for Heidelberg.
The Quakers being a two-game road swing at the University of Mount Union next Saturday.
