TIFFIN – Already the winningest graduating class in program history, the seniors on the Heidelberg University football team ended their career in memorable fashion. Behind another monster game from Cartel Brooks, the Student Princes manhandled their way to a 52-20 victory over Baldwin Wallace University on Saturday.
THREE STARS
The senior backfield: Running back Cartel Brooks gained 263 yards on the ground and scored five touchdowns. For the senior, it was his second-best output against the Yellow Jackets – behind last season's NCAA All-Divisions record 465-yard performance a year ago. Quarterback Michael Mees threw for 337 yards and two touchdowns in his final game under center for the Tricolor.
The senior defensive line: Nose guard Ben Poirier led the defensive line with 2.5 sacks and three tackles for loss. Poirier amassed 11 tackles on the afternoon. Classmate Gage Falcone also had 2.5 sacks, including a vicious hit on BW quarterback Tyler Moeglin.
The seniors in pass coverage: Linebacker Andy Sieving had a pair of sacks and intercepted a pass in his final game. Cornerback Tim Littles tallied 11 tackles and also had an interception in the victory.
KEY STATS
The Heidelberg defense played a spirited 60 minutes of football. The team forced nine sacks and snared three interceptions.
All three HU interceptions came in its own territory – including a pick in the end zone by Justin Hutchins -- thwarting promising BW drives. The interceptions occurred in three straight Yellow Jacket possessions in the second half.
Heidelberg (8-2, 7-2 OAC) pounded out 644 yards of total offense, but did so in a balanced attack – with 307 yards on the ground and 337 through the air.
FIRST QUARTER
On the game's opening drive, HU converted on 4th-and-9 from the BW 34 with a 10-yard pass from Mees to senior Christian Dominguez. On the next play, Brooks found the end zone. Stephen Smith's PAT gave The Berg a 7-0 lead.
Following a BW punt, it was another long touchdown for Brooks. His 51-yard touchdown put Heidelberg up 14-0.
Baldwin Wallace (5-5, 4-5 OAC) drove the ball down the field but could not put points on the board when a 37-yard field goal attempt by Joe Simonis sailed to the right of the upright.
Heidelberg responded with a field goal of its own, a 26-yard chip shot by Smith.
SECOND QUARTER
On the first play of the second stanza, Moeglin plunged in from a yard out and put BW on the board.
After teams traded punts, Mees found his brother James Mees in the end zone for a six-yard touchdown pass. Smith's conversion put the home team up 24-7.
Heidelberg regained possession with 1:04 remaining at the BW 49. A quick six plays later, Mees found Donteea Dye cutting across the back of the end zone for a four-yard TD pass. Heidelberg led 31-7 at intermission.
THIRD QUARTER
On the opening drive of the second half, Heidelberg sacked BW quarterbacks three times, and forced a punt. Starting at his own 19, Mees matriculated the ball into BW territory with passes to four different receivers. Brooks took it the final 22 yards in three carries. His third touchdown of the day came from seven yards out.
On the first play after Sieving's interception, Brooks broke free down the left side and raced 76 yards to pay dirt.
In for the injured Moeglin, Robbie Plagens threw his second interception of the quarter, as Littles took hold of a ball that fluttered into the flat.
FOURTH QUARTER
After forcing Heidelberg to punt, BW turned the ball over on the third Plagens interception. It came on a throw into the end zone that was deflected and hauled in by Hutchins.
Heidelberg would score on the ensuing possession, with Brooks dancing his way to a four-yard score, his fifth of the game. The TD was set up by an exceptional 34-yard reception by senior Christian Dominguez. On 4th-and-7 from the BW 38, the Miami native made a diving grab with a defender draped across his back. Smith's seventh PAT of the game capped the scoring for the Student Princes.
Baldwin Wallace added two touchdowns in the game's final three minutes. Plagens scored from three and, following a 52-yard return of a 'Berg fumble, Corey Padrutt scored from four yards out.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Brooks won the OAC rushing crown for the third straight season, becoming just the second player in OAC history to do so. Nate Kmic accomplished the feat from 2006-2008 for Mount Union. Brooks' career rushing total of 5,168 yards is second to Kmic's 8,074. Brooks finished with 7.7 yards per carry, best in OAC history.
Heidelberg seniors combined for 228 yards on 15 receptions, 291 yards on 27 carries, 55 tackles, 8.5 sacks, eight tackles for loss, two interceptions and a blocked extra point.
Saturday was the first time that Mees threw for more than 300 yards and Brooks rushed for more than 200 yards in the same game.
Smith set a new single-season record by hitting his 58th extra point of the season.
Mees finished the season with a program-record 28 touchdown passes. He broke the record he shared with Andrew Miller in 2010.
With 33 wins, the Class of 2015 surpassed the program record for wins held by five different classes in the 50s who each amassed 31 victories for Coach Paul Hoernemann.
NOTABLE QUOTES
Heidelberg head coach Mike Hallett on the performance of his seniors: "That's what we expect our seniors to do on Senior Day ... They have to show up and play and I think they did a great job of that ... The offensive line played great ... We had some series where we put all five offensive lineman seniors in together, and that was really cool to see. I think our team played very well today. I'm very happy with what we saw."
Hallett on sending the seniors out with their 33rd win: "Considering eight years ago when this school had a 36-game losing streak, to having 33 wins in four years is pretty remarkable ... It's a testament to those guys and how hard they've worked and how far they've come -- buying into our system and just producing and becoming exceptional players ... Those are 21 guys that I'm going to miss dearly ... I couldn't keep my eyes dry when we were doing senior introductions before the game because they are all so very special to us."
Nose guard Ben Poirier on the defense's performance: "Our entire defense really played well ... We all got together, played with a lot of heart, a lot of intensity ... It's definitely a great note to go out on as a senior and a defense in general."
Poirier on the disruption caused by the d-line: "Sometimes you're going to get there and sometimes you don't, but you got to have the confidence that your defense is going to be back there ... That's exactly what Gage [Falcone] did when he annihilated that quarterback."
Quarterback Michael Mees on finishing up his final game: "It's awesome, I can't even speak right now. The words just aren't coming to me. ... We knew they were going to give us a dog fight out here. We had a great week of practice, Hallett gave us a lot of inspirational speeches ... The whole Senior Week we did several traditions, so that really got people emotional and ready to go today.
UP NEXT
The Student Princes hold a slim chance of being selected for the 32-team NCAA Division III Playoffs, which will be announced on Sunday. Mount Union earned the OAC's automatic qualifier with a 31-24 win over John Carroll on Saturday. It is likely that the Blue Streaks will earn one of six at-large bids. The Selection Show will air on NCAA.com on Sunday at 6 p.m.