2016 HU Football

GAME #13 - Beard Bowl XVI

Wyandot University makes its first ever Beard Bowl appearance when the War Whiskers (10-2) take on the Battling Beards (11-1) of Hartnell University. Wyandot dropped Hartnell 23-10 earlier in the season, but the Beards boast an 8-1 all-time record in bowl games. What will happen when the OFHC's top two teams square off one final time? Kickoff for Beard Bowl XVI is scheduled for 3:30pm from Columbus.

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Period 2 faces off against Period 4 to determine who will reign "supreme" in The Great Pizza Challenge!

BEARDS WIN BEARD BOWL WITH LAST SECOND 2-POINT CONVERSION!

GAME #12

Pregame Info:

The Battling Beards (10-1) return home with a share of the OFHC Title and a birth in Beard Bowl XVI. No pregame ceremonies, however, have been planned, and it is unlikely Coach Alpheus Williams would tolerate such celebrations. Many suspect Saturday's game against the Summit Soul Patches (4-7) will be junior RB Jack Batterson's final game for the Beards. Kickoff is scheduled for noon from Hartnell Stadium.

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BEARDS BEAT SOUL PATCHES 24-12 TO WIN OFHC OUTRIGHT

Hartnell University won its 10th OFHC title, the most in league history, by defeating the University of Summit 24-12 on Saturday. Players and fans celebrated for a full hour following the conclusion of the game. [Click picture for a larger version.]

Boasting an 11-1 record, the Battling Beards of Hartnell University are your 2016 OFHC Champions! The Beards will face the 10-2 War Whiskers of Wyandot University on December 3rd in Beard Bowl XVI, which is played annually between the league's top two teams. The War Whiskers defeated the Beards 23-10 back on October 8th and are appearing in their first Beard Bowl. Hartnell University, meanwhile, is playing in its 10th bowl and is 8-1 all-time, suffering its only bowl loss back in 2004 to the University of Fayette Fu Manchus. [Click picture for a larger version.]

Westerville, Ohio - Aided by the return of suspended QB Ward McKim and a solid performance by Jack Batterson, the Battling Beards kept a feisty Soul Patch squad at bay 24-12 to win the OFHC title outright, the 10th in school history.

An emotional Coach Alpheus Williams addressed the crowd after the game. "There were a lot of people that wrote us off after losing to Wyandot. Our players never stopped believing. Our coaches never stopped believing. Our seniors never stopped believing. They knew we had plenty left in the tank to right the ship and push forward. Seeing your players achieve something they've set their minds to is always a happy moment for a coach. And these guys are like sons to me, so, from a parent's standpoint, what we were able to do out here today has me beaming with pride."

While few suspected the Beards would lose to the University of Summit, the Battle-Blue faithful did sit uneasily as the Soul Patches raced out to a 6-0 lead thanks to two 1st Quarter field goals. A crucial third down conversion by a scrambling Ward McKim kept the opening drive of the 2nd Quarter alive and culminated in a 55-yard TD run up the middle by Jack Batterson. A three-and-out by Summit was made worse by a poor punt and resulted in excellent field position for the Beards. A quick strike to WR Ethan Traverse put the Beards up 14-6 at the half.

Summit refused to go away, however, and two additional FGs to start the second half saw them pull within two, 14-12. Kicker Scott "Topper" Murphy responded for the Beards with his own 52-yard booming kick, and a fired-up Hartnell defense began to swarm the Soul Patches' QB Stevie Ray Mandel, who found himself sacked seven times in the 4th Quarter alone. In an ending fitting of his impressive career at Hartnell University, Jack Batterson sealed the game with a 98-yard TD run, eluding tacklers in the end zone after spinning his way out of a potential safety. Batterson finished the day with 2 TDs and 218 yards on 28 carries.

When asked if this was his final game for Hartnell University, Batterson cozily remarked, "We're playing in the Beard Bowl, right? So this wasn't my final game."

The Beards (11-1) face off against the team that handed them their only loss of the season, the War Whiskers of Wyandot University (10-2), in Beard Bowl XVI in Columbus on December 3rd. Wyandot dismantled the University of Fayette Fighting Fu Manchus 34-0 to earn their first trip to the Beard Bowl. Both teams have a much-needed bye week before returning to action after Thanksgiving.

GAME #11

Pregame Info:

It was announced on Monday that QB Ward McKim would be suspended for Saturday's game against the University of Fulton for his involvement in a pregame fight last week against Seneca State. The Beards will have to rely on freshman Eaton Sheppler when they go up against the Five O'Clocks, a team that has never won an OFHC game since joining the league in 2013 as its 13th school. Kickoff is scheduled for noon from Gillette Field.

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BEARDS CLINCH SHARE OF OFHC TITLE WITH 63-0 ROUT

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RB Jack Batterson slips a tackle on his way for a 31-yard TD scamper in the 2nd Quarter. Batterson ended the day with 188 yards and 3 scores. [Click picture for a larger version.]

Hartnell's defense kept Fulton scrambling all day long. The hapless Five O'Clocks were limited to just 42 total yards of offense. [Click picture for a larger version.]

Fulton, Ohio - Despite playing without their starting quarterback, the Beards took it to the Five O'Clocks of the University of Fulton thanks to three TDs by RB Jack Batterson, three by backup QB Eaton Sheppler, and an impressive three from a tenacious defense.

"This was an absolute team effort," said Coach Alpheus Williams in the locker room after the game. "We played, hands down, our most complete game of the season. We clicked on offense, defense, and special teams. The boys should be incredibly proud of their effort today."

Despite overthrowing his receivers on his first two pass attempts, QB Eaton Sheppler (playing in just his second start) didn't miss a target the rest of the game, completing his next 38 passes for a school-record 95% completion rate. His 503 passing yards became the second most by a Hartnell QB (behind Ward McKim's 515, which McKim threw for against Champaign State earlier in the season).

"We are very happy with Sheppler's performance today. That being said, Ward McKim is still our quarterback. There is no QB controversy," reminded Coach Williams.

The defense was especially sharp, limiting the Five O'Clocks to just five first downs and 42 total yards of offense. Incredibly, Connor K. Liam returned a fumble 68 yards for a TD in the 1st Quarter and had two pick-sixes in the 4th Quarter that pushed the lead to 63-0. His three takeaways for scores marked another school record.

More important than individual and school records is the fact that the victory gave Hartnell University (10-1) a share of the OFHC regular season title and a birth in Beard Bowl XVI against the winner of the Wyandot War Whiskers (9-2) and the Fayette Fu Manchus (8-3). Remember, the OFHC determines its Beard Bowl match-up by taking the top two league teams. Wyandot beat Hartnell 23-10 on October 8th but Hartnell dropped the Fu Manchus 16-13 in OT on October 1st. Hartnell faces the University of Summit (4-7) next Saturday looking to clinch the regular season league title outright.

GAME #10

Pregame Info:

The "Beard Brawl" of 2004. The "Sideburn Slap" of 2008. Fans of the OFHC remember these on-field incidents with the kind of fervor that fuels the intense rivalry between Hartnell University (8-1) and Seneca State (7-2). The Beards head to the league's only indoor facility in search of just their third win in school history and first since 2010 in the much despised Ambrose Burnside Barn. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30pm.

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BEARDS RETURN BLOCKED FG FOR 34-28 WIN OVER SIDEBURNS

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Members of the Seneca State student section wore Guy Fawkes masks to the game on Saturday, which also happened to be November 5th. In the graphic novel/movie "V For Vendetta", a masked vigilante brings down the corrupt government of the United Kingdom. After five students charged the field and set off smoke bombs, the student section was ordered to remove and dispose of the masks. The OFHC issued a statement following the game banning the wearing of such masks to any future athletic events. [Click picture for a larger version.]

Kicker Scott "Topper" Murphy was among the battered and bleeding players for Hartnell University following a pre-game altercation with Seneca State's fans and players. Despite the unfortunate brawl, the game proceeded with no additional scrums or personal fouls. Nevertheless, this is the third on-field incident between the two schools since 2004. [Click picture for a larger version.]

Nine players for both schools, including Hartnell's QB Ward McKim (pictured above) and Seneca's QB Rick T. Selleck, were ejected from the game. League and university officials plan to announce additional repercussions and punishments on Monday. [Click picture for a larger version.]

Seneca, Ohio - It's not often that one play at the end of a game overshadows a major brawl that started it, but that was the case when a blocked FG was returned by Hartnell University to beat Seneca State 34-28.

The un-timed FG attempt came after a pass interference call on the Battling Beards that put Seneca State in range with the score knotted at 28. Ironically, the player flagged for the penalty was the one that wound up blocking the kick.

"I had a great angle [on the kicker], so I knew the second I got around the line that I had him," commented Benjamin Oakland. "It really happened in slow motion. After I got my hand on the ball to block it, it felt like it just hung in the air waiting for me."

Of course, it is amazing that the game ever made it that far.

Chanting, "Remember! Remember! The Fifth of November!", Seneca State's student section rolled into the Ambrose Burnside Barn sporting the famous Guy Fawkes mask from the movie V For Vendetta. The chant, they defended, was a prediction that Hartnell University would forever remember the day they lost to the Sideburns.

What happened next puts that explanation into question.

Shortly after the Battling Beards took the field, five students jumped from the stands and set off smoke bombs near Hartnell University's bench. This prompted several Hartnell players to tackle the fans, which only enraged Seneca State players who joined in the fray. When the smoke cleared (literally), nine players for both sides were ejected, including both starting QBs. The game was also delayed an hour.

The effects of the fight were certainly felt by the Beards, whose red-shirt freshman Eaton Sheppler struggled to compete a pass during the first half. Luckily, RB Jack Batterson's two scores helped keep Hartnell University in the game, albeit it down two scores (28-14) entering the 4th Quarter.

That's when Sheppler found lightning in a bottle, converting two crucial fourth down plays en route to a beautiful 36-yard pass to WR Ethan Traverse to cut the deficit to 28-21 with 1:16 left. After recovering the on-side kick, the Beards scored on the very next play when Sheppler connected with TE Jeffry Marshall on a 56-yard bomb to tie the game.

Seneca State went to work, however, plodding their way down the field in hopes of getting within FG range. A strong defensive stand resulted in a fourth and 14 for the Sideburns with 1 second remaining. On the ensuing Hail Mary, Benjamin Oakland was flagged for pass interference, giving Seneca State an un-timed down - and a 35-yard FG attempt.

The rest, as they say, is history. Oakland's block and scoop-and-score gave the Beards a dramatic 34-28 victory and just the university's third win inside the Ambrose Burnside Barn. Certainly, the Beards will "remember the Fifth of November"... but not for the same reasons as the Sideburns. The defeat marks the second straight for Seneca State, who now drops two full games behind Hartnell University.

GAME #9

Pregame Info:

With Seneca State and Hartnell University heading for a collision-course of 1st place teams on November 5th, both schools must first take care of business at home this Saturday. The Beards (7-1) face the Handlebars of the University of Hocking (0-8) at noon, while the Sideburns (7-1) host a much-tougher opponent in the Wyandot War Whiskers (6-2). If both post wins, the OFHC is in for a real treat next week.

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BEARDS DISPATCH HANDLEBARS 27-9

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QB Ward McKim dives into the end zone to cap off a 72-yard drive to start the 4th Quarter, effectively sealing the game for the Beards. McKim led all rushers with 112 yards on the ground, a career-best and third most rushing yards for a QB at Hartnell University. [Click picture for a larger version.]

Westerville, Ohio - If Hartnell University only played "trap" games, they would easily roll through every season. Focused and determined not to look ahead to next week's marquee game against Seneca State, the Battling Beards took it to the University of Hocking, defeating the Handlebars 27-9.

QB Ward McKim led the way for the Beards with 279 yards on 22-29 passing for 2 scores, including a career-best 112 yards rushing.

One troubling note from the game, however, came in the form of two consecutive blocked PATs, which gave the Beards a 12-3 halftime lead. Anyone that has been around this program long enough knows the utter conniption fit that Coach Alpheus Williams will have when he loses "gimme" points. When asked about this, Coach Williams simply retorted, "I'll be fixing that this week in practice."

RB Jack Batterson turned in yet another solid performance, churning up 106 yards on 17 carries. His mood was celebratory after the game when he said, "Trust me, McKim won't let me forget that he ran for more yards than I did today. That's OK, though. He looks like a drunken sailor when he runs!"

While the Beards upheld their end in maintaining an 8-1 record, the same couldn't be said about Seneca State. The Sideburns dropped a heart-breaker at home, 32-28, to the War Whiskers of Wyandot University. Despite this setback, don't expect any luster to be lost from another classic Beards-Sideburns showdown next Saturday!

GAME #8

Pregame Info:

After defeating the University of Fayette 28-6 last week, the Mad Muttonchops of Mercer University host the Battling Beards in an OFHC 1st Place showdown. With Hartnell and Mercer sporting 6-1 records, the winner holds their own destiny since both have tie-breaking wins over the Fu Manchus (the Beards won 16-13 in 2OT on Oct. 1st) and both still face the 6-1 Seneca State Sideburns. Kickoff is scheduled for noon.

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BEARDS DOMINATE MUTTONCHOPS 45-0

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Meet the 6-time OFHC Squad of the Year, the Cheerleaders of Hartnell University! [Click picture for a larger version.]

Mercer, Ohio - In what was billed as a classic OFHC battle for first place looked more like a matchup between a Varsity and Freshman team. The Battling Beards jumped all over the Mad Muttonchops of Mercer University en route to an easy 45-0 victory.

RB Jack Batterson dominated the game on his way to a school-record 402 yards and 5 TD... all in the first half! Batterson saw limited action, as did most of the staters, after pulling ahead 42-0 early in the 3rd Quarter. Kicker Scott "Topper" Murphy tacked on a field goal midway through the quarter for Hartnell University's last score of the game.

"Coach really pushed us this week to stay focused and to go out and have fun. When we play not to lose, we aren't at our best. We play scared. Today we opened up the playbook, and it worked. I mean, we were running plays that we haven't run for three years. It was great!" said QB Ward McKim, who threw for 315 yards on an incredible 14 of 15 pass attempts.

The Mad Muttonchops will have a lot of questions to answer after such an abysmal performance. After falling behind 28-0, most of their starters were benched, which certainly didn't help their chances.

The loss puts Mercer University a full game behind Hartnell University (7-1) and Seneca State (7-1), who beat Guernsey State 14-9 earlier in the day.

GAME #7

Pregame Info:

The Beards return home looking to bounce back after last week's mauling by the War Whiskers. A "players-only" meeting appears to have refocused the team, and RB Jack Batterson commented, "I feel fresh. I feel confident. I think our fans will be happy with what runs out of the tunnel." Kickoff against the French Forks of the University of Fairfield is scheduled for 5:00 in Hartnell University's first-ever Thursday Night game.

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BEARDS BOUNCE BACK FOR 30-17 WIN

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Connor K. Liam recovers the second of three French Fork fumbles in the 2nd Quarter. The Beards defense ended the day with five take-aways. [Click picture for a larger version.]

Westerville, Ohio - Sometimes the best way to get over a loss is to get right back on the field and play.

The Battling Beards benefited from a short week by returning to Hartnell Stadium for the school's first-ever Thursday Night game and scored a much-needed 30-17 victory over the visiting French Forks of the University of Fairfield.

Looking more like the Beards that rolled through their early-season schedule, the team opened the game with a beautiful 10-play, 80-yard drive that culminated with a 7-yard rushing TD by RB Jack Batterson.

Hartnell University's defense also returned to form, helping stymie a French Fork offense that had successfully scored a touchdown in 16-consecutive quarters. Mother Nature also helped out, as periodic showers resulted in three first half fumbles for the Forks. Fairfield's only points came on an OFHC record 65-yard field goal by Marcus Lafayette with 36 seconds left in the 2nd Quarter.

QB Ward McKim threw for 316 yards and two TDs. Both scoring drives ended with him finding his two favorite targets, WR Ethan Traverse and TE Jeffry Marshall. On the ground, Jack Batterson rolled up 212 rushing yards on 14 carries. Kicker Scott "Topper" Murphy also booted three field goals (39, 46, 22) to round out a balanced scoring attack for Hartnell University.

Fairfield managed to cut into the Beards' 30-3 lead with two late scores in the 4th Quarter.

"This is exactly how you hope your team bounces back after a loss," Coach Alpheus Williams commented. "All our goals are still in front of us."

GAME #6

Pregame Info:

Fresh off their miraculous victory over the Fu Manchus, the Battling Beards leave the friendly confines of Hartnell Stadium when they travel to Wyandot University in a showdown against the War Whiskers. For the first time all season, the Beards will field a team at full-strength, with Jack Batterson finally back to 100%. More than records are at stake - who will claim the "Fear the Beard" trophy? Kickoff is scheduled for noon.

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BEARDS FALL 23-10 TO WAR WHISKERS

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Sophomore WR Ethan Traverse is consoled by Junior QB Ward McKim following a stunning 23-10 defeat in a game that was really over before it began. Traverse ended the day with four dropped passes, including a tipped ball that resulted in an interception in the 1st Quarter. McKim didn't fare much better, finishing with career lows in completions (9) and yards (119). Despite being 10-point favorites, the Battling Beards were out-hustled and out-performed by Wyandot University. This marks the first time since 2012 (and just the fifth time) that the "Fear the Beard" trophy will take up residence in Wyandot. Perhaps the empty trophy case at Hartnell University will serve as a reminder to the team that EVERY game "counts". [Click picture for a larger version.]

Wyandot, Ohio - There was an uneasy feel in the air Saturday afternoon when the Battling Beards ran onto the turf at Wyandot War Zone Field. The team looked out of sorts and felt "off". Despite finally fielding an injury-free team for the first time all season, it was clear Hartnell University hadn't come down from its post-game high after last week's thrilling double overtime victory.

A 23-10 beat down, however, did just the trick.

From a fumble on the opening drive to two first half interceptions, the Beards were simply going through the motions. The War Whiskers, who historically play the Beards very well, continued this upward trend by taking a 14-0 lead at the half.

Jack Batterson and Ward McKim underwhelmed and underperformed all day long - and this became painfully obvious when a botched handoff resulted in a safety to start the second half. The Beards did make a game of it by scoring on a punt return and capitalizing on excellent field position thanks to a fumble recovery and 30-yard FG to make it 16-10.

However, it was too-little too-late. Wyandot scored on its next possession to secure a much-deserved 23-10 victory, handing the Beards their first loss on the season and wresting away control of the "Fear the Beard" trophy for the first time since 2012.

"I'm embarrassed. Our players didn't play, and our coaches didn't coach. We were beaten in every imaginable way by a team that clearly wanted it more than us," barked a visibly upset Coach Alpheus Williams. "We have 24 hours to lick our wounds before getting back to work on Monday. This kind of performance will never happen again."

Let's hope it doesn't. With the loss, the Beards (5-1) drop into a four-way tie for 1st with Fayette (over whom they hold the tie breaker), Mercer University (whom they play Oct. 22nd), and Seneca State (whom they play Nov. 5th). The Beards look to bounce back in a rare Thursday night home game against the University of Fairfield.

GAME #5

Pregame Info:

The Beards return to Hartnell Stadium for Homecoming and face the Fighting Fu Manchus of the University of Fayette. A rivalry since its inception in 2001, the series tilts in favor of the Fu Manchus 8-7, although the Beards have won the last three meetings, including last season's 49-42 thriller. What will happen when the Beard's #1 offense collides with the Fu Manchus' #1 defense? Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30pm.

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FAKE FG FOR TD GIVES BEARDS 16-13 OT WIN

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The Battling Beards prepare to take the field for Homecoming 2016. [Click picture for a larger version.]

The Battle-Blue faithful set an attendance record with 114,213 fans. [Click picture for a larger version.]

TE Jeffry Marshall celebrates with RB Jack Batterson following Marshall's incredible TD catch in double overtime. [Click picture for a larger version.]

Westerville, Ohio - With a play call that is sure to be remembered for decades to come, Hartnell University faked a field goal on 4th down to score the game-winning TD in the second overtime, defeating the Fu Manchus 16-13.

In a battle between the state's No. 1 offense and No. 1 defense, the game quickly turned into a war of attrition. Hartnell University's injury-plagued RB Jack Batterson gave the Battling Beards plenty to cheer about, racking up over 90 yards on the ground in the first half. However, all three trips into the red zone came up empty for the Beards. The offense for the University of Fayette didn't fair much better, and it wasn't until a special teams blocked punt gave the visiting Fu Manchus a 7-0 lead in the 3rd Quarter.

After four consecutive three-and-outs, Hartnell University got the ball back with 6 minutes left. A plodding, steady drive by the Beards' vastly improved ground game chewed up the game clock and saw Batterson scamper down the sideline for a 15-yard TD run to tie the game and send it into overtime.

In overtime, Hartnell and Fayette exchanged field goals, extending the game yet another frame. The Beards then forced Fayette to settle for a 35-yard FG, putting their offense back on the field trailing 13-10. A false start, sack, and offensive pass interference quickly put the Beards in jeopardy of dropping their first game to their rivals in four years.

That's when it happened.

Facing 4th down and 26, the Beards lined up for a 47-yard FG attempt. QB Ward McKim, in to hold the kick, caught the snap and popped up. Tight end Jeffry Marshall, left wide open by the unsuspecting Fu Manchu defense, caught McKim's pass and trucked down the field untouched for the game-winning score. The thrilling ending sent the Battle-Blue faithful pouring onto the field in the greatest finish to a game in Hartnell University history - and before a record-setting Homecoming crowd.

University founder, Presidential Candidate, and Homecoming Parade Marshal, Dr. Benjamin Hartnell, was on hand to witness the crazy finish - on his 39th birthday. "What a gutsy call! I'm so proud of the Beards. Looks like my birthday wish DID come true!"

Happy Birthday, indeed, Mr. President!

GAME #4

Pregame Info:

The Beards face a classic "trap" game this week when they travel to Champaign State to take on the Chaplins. Coach Alpheus Williams has refused to answer questions about next Saturday's Homecoming Game against HU's historic rivals, the Fighting Fu Manchus. Ward Batterson will not play this Saturday as he continues to recover from a foot injury. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00pm from Charlie Chaplin Field.

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BEARDS BLANK CHAPLINS 73-0

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Hartnell University's defense held the Chaplins to an astonishing -14 yards on the day. [Click picture for a larger version.]

Champaign, Ohio - Without a doubt, the Beards weren't looking ahead to next week's rivalry game, pummeling the Chaplins of Champaign State 73-0.

Playing without star running back Jack Batterson, the Beards relied on the arm of Ward McKim, who threw for a school-record 515 yards and 7 TDs. The defense played one of its best games in recent memory, holding Champaign State to no first downs and -14 yards on the day. In fact, the Chaplins never crossed their own 30-yard line. The shutout was the first for Hartnell University's defense since a 21-0 blanking of the Chaplins last season.

McKim began his record-setting day by completing his first 23 passes, including a 75-yard heave to sophomore wide receiver Ethan Traverse. Traverse was one of 13 different Beards to catch a pass and racked up a career-high 16 catches for 182 yards and 2 TDs.

The Beards can now turn their full attention to next week's Homecoming game against the undefeated Fighting Fu Manchus of the University of Fayette in what is sure to be an instant classic. The University's founder and 2016 Presidential Candidate, Dr. Benjamin Hartnell, will be in attendance as the Grand Marshal of the school's Homecoming Parade - which just happens to coincide with his 39th birthday. Festivities start at noon with kickoff slated for 3:30pm.

GAME #3

Pregame Info:

The Beards take their high-flying offense on the road this weekend when they invade the Mustaches of Montgomery University. Fans remember the controversy surrounding MU's admission into the OFHC in 2010 because it gave the conference 11 teams and threw off scheduling. This animosity often plays in the Mustaches favor, so the Beards enter on "upset alert". Kickoff is scheduled for noon from Rollie Fingers Field.

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BEARDS STOP LATE DRIVE, WIN 28-21

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Hartnell University trainers tend to RB Ward Batterson, whose foot injury on the first play from scrimmage sidelined him for the rest of the game. His status for next week's game remains very questionable. [Click picture for a larger version.]

Montgomery, Ohio - A win is a win... is a win. It wasn't pretty, but it still registers as a "W". The Battling Beards stymied a late drive by Montgomery University to hold on to a hard-fought 28-21 victory and improve to 3-0 on the season.

Things got off to an auspicious start when Hartnell University's Heisman candidate Jack Batterson was helped off the field on the game's first play, a 12-yard run. (The apparent foot injury, coupled with his nagging high-ankle sprain from last season ended his day with just a single carry, his fewest since his freshman year.) On the next play, QB Ward McKim's pass was intercepted and returned for a touchdown. The raucous crowd at Rollie Fingers Field exploded when the Mustaches returned a punt 72 yards to go up 14-0 in the game's first five minutes. The Beards and Mustaches traded scores before the half, which saw the Beards trailing 21-7, the most first half points they've surrendered in nearly three seasons.

Whatever Coach Alpheus Williams said to the team in the locker room worked. The Beards steadily chipped away before eventually taking the lead 28-21 early in the 4th Quarter on a beautiful screen pass by McKim. With 3 minutes left, the Mustaches mounted what looked to be a potential game-tying drive, getting to the Beard's 6-yard line. Four straight runs were stuffed at the line in what is sure to be considered some of the most questionable play calling by the Mustaches. In the end, the Beards are lucky to escape town with a crucial OHFC victory.

GAME #2

Pregame Info:

After dispatching the GSU Goatees 35-6 in their opener, the Battling Beards welcome their former Offensive Coordinator William B. Hazen and the Chinstraps of Cuyahoga University to town this Saturday. Hazen served as the OC for Hartnell University from 2001-2015 before taking up the helm of his alma mater. Hazen looks to turn around a once proud program but certainly faces a tough test. Kickoff is scheduled for noon.

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BEARDS WELCOME BACK FORMER COACH WITH 56-3 BEATING

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Former Offensive Coordinator William B. Hazen.

Westerville, Ohio - When Offensive Coordinator William B. Hazen left Hartnell University at the conclusion of last season to become the new Head Coach for his alma mater Cuyahoga University, he pointed to this game. "I will always love Hartnell University for giving me the opportunity to perfect my craft, but something tells me I may not have the nicest homecoming next year."

That proved to be an understatement.

Using their former OC's offensive scheme, the Beards bullied the Chinstraps at the line of scrimmage, scoring on every first half possession on their way to a commanding 56-3 victory. Ward McKim threw for 442 yards and 3 TDs while Jack Batterson rushed for 212 yards and scored 4 times before a cautionary removal during the 3rd Quarter.

The Chinstraps jumped out to a 3-0 lead after a fake punt on 4th and 14 sustained their opening drive. Several brilliant play calls had the Battle-Blue faithful wondering if Hazen's return might be a triumphant one until the Beards hunkered down on defense and forced the Chinstraps to settle for a 38-yard field goal. This drive, however, proved to be their last into Hartnell territory. Cuyahoga was held to just 6 additional yards for the remainder of the game.

GAME #1

Pregame Info:

Coming off an OFHC championship in 2015, the Battling Beards of Hartnell University kick off the 2016 season looking to avenge last year's stunning double-OT loss to the Goatees of Guernsey State University. The victory for GSU was their first against the Beards in school history, so expect "payback" to be served up at 3:30pm Saturday, September 3rd from a sold-out Hartnell Stadium.

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BEARDS ROLL 35-6 IN HOME OPENER

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"It's a beautiful day for football!" [Click picture for a larger version.]

Westerville, Ohio - Payback was swift and sweet at Hartnell Stadium this afternoon. All week long the Battling Beards addressed concerns about last season's crushing double-OT loss to Guernsey State, the first win for the Goatees in the series. However, the game was never in doubt after Hartnell University jumped out to a big 1st Quarter lead, cruising to a 35-6 victory in front of 113,213 ravenous Battle-Blue fans.

Quarterback Ward McKim threw for 3 touchdowns and 314 yards on 19 of 22 passes. Jack Batterson saw limited action due to a lingering ankle injury but still scored on a 9-yard TD run during the opening drive before ending his day early in the 3rd Quarter with 86 yards on 12 carries.

The Goatees spoiled the shutout with a late TD but failed on the 2-point conversion.

"This was an important win. When you lose to a team the season before and have to stew on it all off-season, it can eventually erode team morale. It feels good to be done with this game," Coach Alpheus Williams commented.

For QB McKim, the opening-game win was comforting. "I feel like our season can officially begin next week. Nothing against the Goatees, but today was all about unfinished business. Losing to those guys last year - especially because of how poorly I played in the 4th Quarter and again in overtime - had to happen before we could really start the 2016 season. We needed this."