Sometimes numbers are deceiving, and other times numbers are spot on.

In a match-up of high ranked offenses and low ranked defenses, the expected shootout ensued with John Carroll and Heidelberg combining for 72 points scored and 1,043 yards gained.

For all the runs and passes that fed into the offensive showcase, it was a potential game-winning field goal that sailed wide left which ultimately settled a 37-35 victory for the host Student Princes over the visiting Blue Streaks Saturday afternoon at Mayer Field in Tiffin, Ohio.

Box Score

Bradley Marchese's missed attempt with seven seconds left from 41 yards away gave Heidelberg its first win over John Carroll since 1992 (a span of 16 games) and forged a four-way tie for fourth place in the Ohio Athletic Conference as JCU, Heidelberg, Otterbein and Capital all sport 4-4 records in league play entering the final weekend of the regular season.

The day could have not started better for the visitors, as John Carroll held the high octane offense of Heidelberg to one first down and forced a punt on the opening drive. Then, taking over at its own one-yard line, JCU drove 99 yards in six plays, with DaQuan Grobsmith providing the exclamation point on a 16-yard touchdown pass from Devin O'Brien.

Heidelberg answered on its next drive, with Germany Woods scoring on a five-yard run.

Michael O'Neal stopped the Student Princes in their bid to take the lead with an interception at the JCU 5-yard line near the end of the first quarter, but Heidelberg would not be denied on its first drive of the second quarter. Bolstered by a 56-yard completion to Josh Lynch, Andrew Miller would complete the drive with a 17-yard touchdown run.

This would be the first of five touchdowns scored in the second quarter, and the only one that was not completed in less than two-and-a-half minutes.

JCU tied the score at 14-14 when O'Brien hooked up with Frank Ross for a 38-yard touchdown pass, but  Heidelberg untied the contest on a Brad Jones touchdown run. The Streaks knotted matters up again when Grobsmith scored his second touchdown of the afternoon on a 41-yard run with 3:58 to play in the half, only to have Woods score his second 82 seconds later, this time from seven yards out.

The Student Princes led, 28-21, at the break.

In stark contrast to the second quarter, the third quarter featured just one scoring play, and it was not a touchdown. It was a Jesse Hawkins 24-yard field goal with just under nine minutes left on the clock that pushed Heidelberg's lead to ten points. The quarter featured two turnovers -- an interception by the Heidelberg defense and a fumble forced by C.J. Seitzinger for the JCU defense.

The fumble JCU caused, which was recovered by Josh Varon, was at the end of the third quarter. John Carroll began the drive and used seven plays to cover 68 drives, ending up in the end zone with 12:26 to play in the fourth. O'Brien's 27-yard pass to Sean Webster (his first collegiate touchdown) trimmed the Heidelberg lead to 31-28.

After a quick three-and-out, John Carroll took over at own 33, and used ten consecutive running plays to retake the lead. Grobsmith scored on a four-yard run with 6:10 remaining in regulation to give the Streaks the lead. Marchese connected on his fifth point after of the day to put JCU up, 35-31.

Heidelberg still had six minutes to work with, and used that time to methodically move down the field. Using 13 plays, and converting two third downs and one fourth, the Student Princes scored the go-ahead touchdown when Miller swung a pass to the OAC's leading receiver Michael Preston, who covered the final 15 yards. The point after was missed, however, leaving the margin at two points with 52 seconds left.

JCU had one last gasp, but received much more air than they could have hoped for when Bobby Mangiarelli returned the kickoff to the Heidelberg 42. With 44 seconds on the clock, JCU tried a running play, but it backfired when the play gained no yards and took 20 crucial seconds off the clock.

O'brien would rescue the drive with two consecutive completions to Webster and Ross. One more running play put the ball at the Student Princes' 24-yard line, which set Marchese up for a potential winning kick. The try sailed wide left.

Heidelberg (5-4, 4-4 OAC) gained 559 yards of offense, and Miller was accountable for 295 of that total. He was 15-27 for 261 yards, with one touchdown passing and one running. Preston was his leading target with nine catches for 151 yards and the winning score. Woods was the Student Princes leading rusher with 177 yards and two touchdowns on 27 carries.

John Carroll (4-5, 4-4 OAC) was led by career-high 175 rushing yards from Grobsmith, who also had a team-high 68 yards on three receptions.

O'Brien was 10-16 for 224 yards and three touchdowns. 

Luke Whitworth led all players with 16 tackles, while Seitzinger added to his league-leading total with 13 stops, and now has 119 on the year