Heidelberg's defense was among the best in the Ohio Athletic Conference in 2012, allowing less than 14 points a game.
As a result, four of its players made the Ohio Athletic Conference first team, and its defensive coordinator was named the league's top assistant.
Scott Donaldson, in his 10th season at the 'Berg, was named the Ohio Athletic Conference Assistant Coach of the year, while linemen Stephen Fejedelem and Ben Poirier and linebackers Craig Sykes and Dawson Gore were named to the OAC first team.
Poirier, just a sophomore, had a brilliant campaign, with 11 1/2 sacks and 23 tackles for a loss, each a team-high by a wide margin. Fejedelem, a senior, had 7 1/2 sacks and 10 tackles for a loss.
Gore, a Bellevue graduate, capped his career with 70 tackles, three sacks and a fumble recovery. He compiled those statistics despite missing two games due to injury. Craig Sykes, also a senior, was Heidelberg's leading tackler, with 87 stops. He had two interceptions and five pass breakups.
Heidelberg's offense also received plenty of honors. Senior receiver C.J. Powell, who had 852 yards and six touchdowns, made the first team, as did running back Cartel Brooks, who stepped into the No. 1 spot following the departure of Germany Woods and dominated.
Brooks, Galion graduate, ran for 1,299 yards and 16 touchdowns. This despite essentially missing the last two games of the season due to injury.
Quentin Rembert, who might have had the biggest field goal block in program history in the final seconds of the Week 10 win against Baldwin-Wallace, was named to the first team offensive line. Heidelberg's center, Austin Hunter, was named to the second team, as was fellow lineman Mike Lehman.
Also making the second team was linebacker Adam Cepik and defensive backs Chadd Wiliamson and Justin Suddeth. Robert Gray, the team's top kick and punt returner, was named to the second team as a special teams player.
Receiver Mario Escalante and defensive lineman Will Nunnally were named OAC honorable mentions.
