Hahn thrrows for school record 456 yards, accounts for five TDs but Football falls late 42-35 in shootout at Heidelberg for OAC West Division title, Bendekovic Bowl crown

By Tim Glon

TIFFIN — Senior Brody Hahn (Louisville) threw for a school-record 463 yards, but Heidelberg scored with 34 seconds left to edge Ohio Northern 42-35 in a shootout for the Ohio Athletic Conference West Division title in the Bendekovic Bowl on Friday night at Hoernemann Stadium.

The Polar Bears fall to 3-1 overall and finish second in the OAC West Division with a 3-1 league record. They will host John Carroll for third place next Friday night at 7 pm at Dial-Roberson Stadium.

The Student Princes (4-0, 4-0) will travel to Mount Union to play for the OAC title next Friday night.

It was also the 10th annual Bendekovic Bowl, which honors the late Ronnie and Jason Bendekovic, who served as assistants at ONU and Heidelberg, respectively. HU now owns a 8-2 record in the series.

Hahn broke the previous school record of 452 yards set by Shane Franzer in a 1999 Playoff victory at Hanover (Ind.) He also accounted for all five of ONU's scores, rushing for three TDs and throwing for two more.

He also tied the single-game record of 29 completions, going 29-of-41 on the day. He equaled the scored set on three separate occasions by Shane Franzer at Mt. Union in 1999, Joe Zarlinga against Otterbein in 1997 and by Mike Eicher against Muskingum in 1984.

HU scored on its first two possessions to go up 14-0.

Hahn then got the Polar Bears on the board with a 2-yard run, making it 14-7 with 1:36 left in the first quarter. Northern marched 75 yards in eight plays on its second possession of the game.

He then scrambled in from 5 yards out to make it 21-14 with 9:46 left in the half, capping a 13-play 75-yard scoring drive.

After forcing a HU punt, Northern marched 99 yards in 10 plays and tied the game at 21-all with 2:45 left in the half on a 25-yard pass from Hahn to junior Austin Eick (Rossford).

Northern scored on three of its four first half possessions and Heidelberg scored on four of its five first half possessions as the hosts led 28-21 at intermission.

Hahn snuck in from a yard out with 2:27 left in the third quarter to get ONU within 35-28.

Heidelberg's next drive reached the ONU 15-yard line before stalling and senior Ty Pegram (Medina) blocked HU's 32-yard field goal attempt with 13:33 left in the game to keep it a one-score game.

Northern then marched to the HU 2-yard line, but turned the ball over on downs with 7:34 to play.

An interception by senior A.J. Marks (Guysville/Alexander) gave ONU the ball at its own 41-yard line.

Three plays later, Hahn hit junior Austin Eick (Rossford) on a 53-yard TD pass to tie the game at 35-35 with 4:47 left.

HU then marched 65 yards and scored on a 6-yard run with 34 ticks left to go back ahead.

ONU drove into Berg territory, but a desperation hook and ladder and lateral play was eventually fumbled near the HU 35 to end the game.

Freshman Noah Miller (Coldwater) caught a career-high nine passes for 96 yards and Eick caught seven passes for 134 yards for Northern.

Freshman Peyton Wilson (Lima/Shawnee) had 14 tackles, junior Jevon Taylor (Fort Wayne, Ind./North) had 12 tackles and sophomore Collin Flynn (Sagamore Hills/Nordonia) had 12 tackles to lead the Ohio Northern defense.

Junior All-American Brock Martin (Attica/Seneca East) ran 21 times for 56 yards.

Tayy Yearby ran 27 times for 194 yards and a score and Drew Sims completed 21-of-32 passes for 288 yards and three scores for HU.

The two teams combined for 1,044 yards, with Heidelberg holding a slight 525-519 advantage.