Ohio Northern Defeats No. 22 Baldwin Wallace in Thrilling 30-28 Game

Anxiety and anticipation swept through the crowd at Dial-Roberson Stadium as the final minutes of the football game ticked by. The next sequence of plays was crucial and would determine which team had the fiercest passion for victory.

The Ohio Northern–Baldwin Wallace football game was a turning point for the Polar Bears. The team’s culture shift and fresh leadership transformed their performance this season, but nothing has put their skills to the test like No. 22 Baldwin Wallace. 

The last five minutes of the game were perhaps the most intense. The Polar Bears were neck-to-neck with Baldwin Wallace all four quarters as each team fought its hardest to maintain the lead. Ohio Northern was ahead towards the end of the game thanks to a few field goals, but there was still plenty of time for the opponent to score—or so we thought.

What happened next stunned everyone: defensive backer Jacob Hershberger intercepted Baldwin Wallace’s ball at midfield with 4:59 left in the game.

The crowd went wild, especially Hershberger’s teammates who leapt in celebration. The interception made a nice security net to prevent Baldwin Wallace from scoring again and gave the Polar Bears a chance to extend their lead. 

Ohio Northern did not score again, but the team received a far greater surprise just moments later, for no one could have predicted the Polar Bears would recover a fumble with 1:46 remaining in the game.

Cheers erupted from the stands, and the football team roared in excitement on the sidelines. Hours of blood, sweat and tears paid off against one of the most challenging teams in the conference. All that was left in the game was to run out the clock, and then victory was theirs for the taking.

One of the most memorable moments of the game was when the clock stopped and Ohio Northern officially won the game. Fans stormed the field to congratulate the team and celebrate their success. It was quite a sight to see the Polar Bear community unite and enjoy a special moment together. Parents embraced their sons and friends gave each other firm pats on the back. 

What some may not have noticed amidst the frenzy was Head Coach Andy Fries with his family downfield, embracing one another as they rejoice in the hard-fought victory. The team has come a long way in the past two years of his leadership, and this game marked an important milestone in the program.

“It’s just really exciting to see the support,” commented Fries after the game, “and I try to tell the guys all the time to enjoy this, and enjoy the ride, and just make sure you don’t take it for granted…just enjoy the moment because what our guys did today was proving what we’re capable of here, and that’s just as a head coach that’s really exciting to be able to do.”

The last few minutes of the game were thrilling to watch for both the fans and athletes. However, it was the team’s unwavering determination throughout the matchup that earned it a win. Each player went out on the field and executed their job to the best of their abilities. A resilient mindset makes all the difference against a formidable opponent.

Fries said, “We talked before the game—it was going to be a 60 minute game, one play at a time. And, the most exciting part for me is our guys never wavered. They gave me an opportunity to always believe that they were there, and defense got stops when we needed it most.”

Saturday was the last home game of the season for the football team. The matchup was a memorable one for the Polar Bear community and another step in the right direction for the team. The regular season finale will take place at Otterbein on Saturday, November 15.