(COLUMBUS, Ohio) – Capital University’s football team jumped out to a 16-0 lead eight minutes into the ballgame and didn’t look back from there, defeating visiting Heidelberg College 42-10 Saturday in an Ohio Athletic Conference game in Columbus, Ohio.
The No. 10 Crusaders improved to 3-0 (2-0 OAC) while the Student Princes dropped to 1-2 (0-2 OAC).
Senior James Starks (Toledo/Toledo St. Francis) blocked a Heidelberg punt that resulted in a safety, and three plays later sophomore Marty Assmann (Columbus/Bishop Hartley) connected with sophomore Evan Blake (Kingston/Logan Elm) for a 28-yard touchdown strike and a quick 9-0 lead. After a Heidelberg punt, the Crusaders needed just three more plays to get on the scoreboard again as sophomore Jake Nickle (Marysville/Marysville) took an Assmann pass and went 33 yards for the touchdown.
A field goal by Heidelberg’s Jesse Hawkins cut the score to 16-3, but a Starks interception set Capital up on the Student Princes’ 24-yard line, and Assmann took it in himself from nine yards out to give Capital a 23-3 lead with 3:24 left before halftime.
The defense then forced another Heidelberg punt, which was fumbled in the end zone and turned into a second safety. Assmann moved the offense 40 yards in just four plays, capping off the drive with a five-yard touchdown pass to senior receiver Derick Alexander (Grove City/Grove City) for a 32-3 halftime lead.
Heidelberg’s Fran Cavotta returned a fumble 60 yards for a third quarter touchdown to make it a 32-10 game. But Matt Spitz (Xenia/Xenia) hit a 37-yard field goal field goal and senior Zac McKenzie (Hilliard/Hilliard Darby) blocked a third punt and returned it 19 yards for a touchdown to give Capital its 42-10 margin.
Capital’s defense limited Heidelberg to minus-28 yards rushing and just 68 yards of total offense (1.2 yards per play). Heidelberg quarterback Steve West was sacked six times, led by two from Jonathan Spring (Maple Heights/Trinity) and one and a half each from seniors Eric Andriacco (Cincinnati/Elder) and Nick Bucci (Hudson/Hudson). Spring led the team with nine tackles, five of them coming for a loss, while Starks also tallied six tackles.
Assmann finished 16-of-20 for 244 yards and three touchdowns, and also was the game’s leading rusher with 67 yards and a score. Blake added six catches for 98 yards, Alexander had four catches for 56 yards, and junior running back Ty Parks (Minster/Minster) accounted for 94 yards (58 rushing) of total offense.
The Crusaders will be on the road at 1:30 p.m. next Saturday for a contest with Marietta College.