Career days by key players lift No. 18 Football to 38-7 Homecoming victory over Heidelberg

Justin Linzy

By Tim Glon

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ADA —  Quarterback Kyle Simmons, receiver Justin Linzy and safety Jesse Richards all had big days as No. 18 Ohio Northern celebrated its Homecoming Weekend with a 38-7 victory over Heidelberg Saturday afternoon at Dial-Roberson Stadium.

The Polar Bears improve to 3-2 overall and are 2-2 in Ohio Athletic Conference play, while the Student Princes fall to 1-4, 0-4.

Simmons completed 20 of 29 passes for a career-high 280 yards and a TD, ran 10 times for 76 yards and a career-high three touchdowns and had a career-best 345 yards of total offense for Ohio Northern.

Linzy caught a career-high nine receptions for a career-best 146 yards and Richards led a solid ONU defensive effort with a team-high 11 tackles and one sack.

Simmons scored on TD runs of 16 and 41 yards and Jake Heaphy added a 40-yard field goal as the Polar Bears led 17-0 at intermission.

Simmons' 16-yard TD run was off a fake field goal on ONU's third possession of the game, capping a 6-play, 74-yard drive, to put ONU up 7-0 with 4:04 left in the first half.

He made it 14-0 when he scored from 41 yards out on an option play with 12:04 left in the first half.

Heaphy's field goal came with 36 seconds left in the half.

Simmons then snuck in from a yard out on Northern's first possession of the third period to make it 24-0 with 11:06 left in the quarter.

Brent Donley then plowed in from 3 yards out on ONU's next possession, making it 31-0 with 4:19 left in the third.

The Student Princes got on the board on an 11-yard TD pass from Andrew Miller to Mitch White with six seconds left in the third period.

Simmons then hit Ryan Fleming on a 3-yard TD pass with 5:16 left in the game to wrap up the scoring.

"Kyle made some good decisions and played very well today," ONU head coach Dean Paul said. "Justin also had a good day hanging on to the ball and making big plays once he was in the open field. We were concerned about Heidelberg's offense. They were averaging 30 points a game, so to hold them to seven was a tribute to how well our defense played today."

Donley finished the game with 50 yards and a TD on 18 carries for ONU.

HU was led by Kenny Sims, who ran for 144 yards on 26 carries. Miller finished 11 of 25 passing for 118 yards and a TD.

Northern out-gained Heidelberg 406-265 in total offense.

The Polar Bears will take to the road next Saturday with a 1:30 pm contest at Marietta.