Football: Heidelberg (1-0 Overall, 0-0 OAC) at Ohio Northern (1-0 Overall, 0-0 OAC)

Saturday, Sept. 16, 2017, 1:30 pm - Dial-Roberson Stadium, Ada, Ohio

| Game Notes (.pdf) | 

Saturday's Contest: is the 2017 home and OAC opener for Ohio Northern, which is in its 123rd football season. It is also the annual Bendekovic Bowl between ONU and Heidelberg. 

ONU Head Coach Dean Paul: Paul in his 14th season at ONU with an 90-45 record. He is 129-57 in 18 seasons overall and is 8-5 against HU.

HU head coach Scott Donaldson: Donaldson is in his 2nd season at HU with a 7-4 record. He is 1-0 vs. Ohio Northern.

Bendekovic Bowl: Saturday's game will be the seventh annual Bendekovic Bowl, which honors the late Ronnie and Jason Bendekovic, who served as assistants at ONU and Heidelberg, respectively. HU owns a 5-1 record in the series, including a 45-14 win in Tiffin a year ago.

National Rankings: Each team received votes in the latest D3football.com national poll. ONU received 15 points, which is the 31-st most points in the poll, and HU received 1 point, which is the 42nd-most points in the poll.

ONU Last Week: The Ohio Northern football team opened up its 2017 campaign with a come-from-behind 35-31 victory at Adrian (Mich.). RB Christiaan Williams ran 35 times for a career-high 182 yards and a score and QB Will Freed completed 21-of-36 passes for 295 yards and 3 touchdowns to lead the ONU offense. WR Caleb Saalfeld caught a pair of touchdown passes, including the go-ahead score with 4:39 left in the game. DB Cyler Caldwell then came up with an interception at the AC 30-yard line with 3:49 remaining. Six runs by Williams netted two first downs to get the ball to the AC 5-yard line and Freed took three knees to end the game. Williams' 182-yard effort increases his school record streak of consecutive 100-yard rushing games to 10. LB Mark Niles led the ONU defense with 12 tackles and a 16-yard Pick-6.

ONU Leaders: The ONU running game is led by All-OAC RB Christiaan Williams (35 att, 182 yards, 1 TDs). All-OAC QB Will Freed is 21 of 36 passing for 295 yards and 3 TDs WR Chad Rex (6 rec., 101 yards, 1 TD) and WR Malachi Nolletti (6 rec, 83 yards) lead the receiving corps. LB Mark Niles and CB Cyler Caldwell lead the defense with 12 and 6 tackles, respectively. Niles and DL Justin Croswell lead the team with one sack each.

HU Last Week: RB Cameron Vocke scored four touchdowns as Heidelberg won 40-24 at Olivet (Mich). Olivet, the reigning two-time MIAA champion held the momentum early, but a 20-point second quarter propelled the Student Princes to victory. Vocke had 15 carries for 87 yards, four receptions for 43 yards -- scoring four times. QB Tyler Stoyle was 25-of-42 for 309 yards and three touchdowns. WR Demetrius Magee (9 for 136) and WR Tony Morris (5 for 74) each scored a touchdown. DB Jermaine Burket and LB Trevor Summers had 8 tackles each to lead the HU defense.

HU Leaders: he HU running game is led by RB Cameron Vocke (15 att, 72 yards, 3 TDs). QB Tyler Stoyle is 25 of 42 passing for 309 yards and 3 TDs. WR Demetrius Magee (9 rec., 136 yards, 1 TD) and WR Tony Morris (5 rec., 74 yards, 1 TD) lead the HU receivers. DB Jermaine Burket and LB Trevor Summers lead the defense with 8 tackles each. LB Malik Dudley leads HU with 1.5 sack.

ONU Statistical Leaders:

All-Time Series: ONU leads the series between the two schools by a 46-35-5 margin. HU has won 5 of the last 6, including a 45-14 win in Tiffin last season. ONU is 5-1 in games played in Dial-Roberson Stadium.