Box Score TIFFIN, Ohio – The Otterbein football team got back into action Saturday evening following its mid-season bye week, striking a late rally before settling on the low end of a 52-35 contest under the lights of Hoernemann Stadium at Heidelberg.

The Student Princes, playing host as part of their Hall of Fame and Homecoming weekend, entered leading the nation in total offense (558.2/gm) and delivered more of the same with another outburst. Heidelberg improves to 5-1 on the year and 4-1 within the Ohio Athletic Conference.

Heidelberg took the opening kickoff and went 68 yards in just over three minutes for a 7-0 lead. Otterbein, behind freshman QB Logan Pharmer, went right back down the field to the plus-35 before a tipped pass led to an unfortunate interception.

The Berg would take advantage, stringing together three more TD drives and adding a field goal to expand the margin to 31-0. Otterbein got on the board shortly before halftime by culminating a six-play, 65-yard drive in under one minute of game time. Pharmer connected with Reed Tucker over the middle on 4th-and-9 before the extra point was blocked.

Heidelberg picked off Pharmer on the first play of the third quarter and quickly scored, bumping the lead to 38-6. The young gunslinger didn't stop chucking the pigskin, leading Otterbein on a 10-play, 75-yard drive soon after that ended with a quick slant to Jack Iannarino.

The Cards continued fighting and scored again, this time on a 22-yard rushing touchdown around the right side as Luke Schmeling athletically tiptoed up the sideline. His ensuing two-point conversion rush up the middle was ruled short amidst a pile of large bodies, leaving the deficit at 38-20.

Senior Dylan Jude then came up with a pair of timely sacks to halt a deep Student Prince drive, and Schmeling found continued success from the wildcat in marching down the field again. He ran six times on the series, while also throwing two passes, and eventually punched in a short score. A jump pass from Pharmer to Jeb Jones scured two more points and shrunk the gap to just 38-28 with 8:32 remaining.

Heidelberg quickly shut the door with a pair of TD's down the stretch followed by a late Cardinal score, capping a game that saw over 1,000 yards of total offense. The Student Princes finished with a 550-477 edge in the category, and retain the Rhine River Cup for a third year.

Pharmer went 25 of 43 for 282 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions. Schmeling had a combined 145 yards and two touchdowns from the backfield, 5 of 7 throwing and then running for another 79. Tucker had a career night with nine receptions for 126 yards and two TD's.

George Redding caught six passes for 78 yards while Dom Ross added five for 50. Defensive backs Niall Lewison and Garey Moaney III both contributed a game-high 10 tackles.

The game featured 170 plays, 58 first downs, 749 of yards through the air and both sides combining to go 20 of 36 on third down. Berg quarterback Jimmy Gephart threw for 380 yards, including 10 for 136 to Keivon Belcher.

Otterbein (0-6, 0-5 OAC) will finally get back on campus next weekend after what will be five weeks away from home, welcoming Muskingum University for kickoff at 1:30 p.m.