Exciting Bendekovic Bowl goes to the wire, Heidelberg edges Football 33-32 in season finale

By Tim Glon

ADA — The 11th annual Bendekovic Bowl may have been the most exciting in the series.

There were three touchdowns scored in the game's final 1:45, including the game-winner with just eight seconds left as Heidelberg edged Ohio Northern 33-32 on Saturday afternoon at Dial-Roberson Stadium.

The Polar Bears end their season 4-6 overall and finished 3-6 in the Ohio Athletic Conference, while the Student Princes end their season at 8-2, 7-2.

Senior Brody Hahn (Louisville) threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to junior Jette Morgan (Wooster) with 45 seconds left to give ONU a 32-27 lead.

But HU answered with a 35-yard TD pass from Drew Sims to Maceo Matthews with just eight seconds left to win the game.

Northern led 26-6 at halftime, but HU scored on a 12-yard run and a 35-yard TD pass to get within 26-20 with 13:29 left in the game.

Heidelberg then went ahead 27-26 on a 1-yard run with 1:45 to go.

Northern then marched 60 yards in five plays to score what the Polar Bear faithful hoped would be the winning score with 45 seconds to play.

But the Student Princes answered with a 4-play, 61-yard TD drive to win the game.

Ohio Northern scored 26 consecutive points to erase an early 6-0 deficit and lead 26-6 at intermission.

Hahn completed a 72-yard TD pass to senior James McDougald (Bowie, Md./Bridge Tutorial) with 8:43 left in the first quarter to put ONU ahead 7-6.

Senior Dom DiFalco (Murrysville, Pa./Franklin Regional) drilled a 40-yard field goal on Northern's next possession and it was 10-6 with 7:37 left in the first period.

Hahn ran in from 37 yards out and it was 16-6 ONU with 1:18 gone in the second quarter.

DiFalco kicked a 23-yard field goal to make it 19-6 and Hahn hit sophomore Noah Miller (Coldwater) on a 7-yard strike just seven seconds before halftime to make it 26-6.

Hahn completed 21-of-40 passes for 319 yards and three TDs and ran 19 times for a career-high 109 yards and a fourth score to lead the ONU offense.

Senior All-American Brock Martin (Attica/Seneca East) ran 10 times for 32 yards and McDougald caught four passes for a career-high 126 yards and a score.

Senior Johnny Rupp (Maumee/Anthony Wayne) had 10 tackles and junior Josh Bever (Ashland) had nine tackles and two sacks to lead the Polar Bear defense.

Ohio Northern out-gained Heidelberg 461-374 in total offense.

Montavious Yearby ran 27 times for 148 yards and a score and Sims completed 19-of-32 passes for 237 yards and three TDs for HU.

The Bendekovic Bowl honors the late Ronnie and Jason Bendekovic, who served as assistant coaches at Ohio Northern and Heidelberg, respectively.