Game 7 Football Preview
Marietta Pioneers (3-3, 2-3) at Muskingum Fighting Muskies (0-6, 0-5 OAC)
1:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct 23
McConagha Stadium • New Concord, Ohio

Oct. 21, 2004
MARIETTA, Ohio - The Marietta College football team travels to New Concord to take on rival Muskingum Saturday (Oct. 23) at 1:30 p.m. The Pioneers are looking to rebound from two straight losses, while the Muskies are in search of their first win of 2004.

Here is a look at both teams:

Muskingum College: Head coach Jeff Heacock’s squad came into 2004 looking to build upon last year's 5-5 record, its best season since 1998. The Fight Muskies however, have yet to notch a win through six games this season. Muskingum has struggled to find the end zone, averaging 9.5 points per game. Its defense has kept the team in ball game against some of the top teams in recent weeks, as the Muskies dropped 14-7 decisions to Baldwin-Wallace and John Carroll in back-to-back weeks. Muskingum ranks 10th in the OAC in total offense (193.5 ypg.) and seventh in total defense (313.7 ypg.). The Muskies average 107.5 yards per game on the ground and 86.0 yards per game through the air. They are -2 in turnover margin and have totaled just 57 first downs this season. Muskingum has converted 18-of-93 (20.2%) third down conversions. Senior Trevor Cooper (Rayland/Indian Creek) leads the ground game with 124 carries for 422 yards (70.3 ypg.) and two touchdowns. Sophomore quarterback Steve Raymond (Parma/Valley Forge) has completed 42-of-100 attempts, throwing for 340 yards, in his five games under center. He has not thrown a touchdown and has nine interceptions. The Fighting Muskies' leading receiver is senior Andy Weiss (Marengo/Highland) with 14 catches for 151 yards. Senior Todd Filtz (Martins Ferry/Steubenville) leads the Muskies in tackles with 65, which ranks third in the OAC. Senior Brandon Clum (New Philadelphia) has added 57 stops and four sacks.

Marietta College: The Pioneers enter week seven after back-to-back loses to ranked opponents. Marietta fell 57-0 to No. 1 Mount Union a week ago. Coach Todd Glaser's team ranks seventh in the Conference in scoring offense (13.0 ppg.) and eighth in scoring defense (26.5 ppg.). The running game averages 126.8 yards per game, which is fourth-best in the league. MC averages 246.8 yards per game on offense, while it surrenders 405.0 yards per game on defense. The defense has recorded 18 sacks, ranking them fourth in the OAC. Junior running back Steven Wagner (Harwick, PA/Fox Chapel) averages 95.2 yards per game and has totaled 571 yards with three scores in 125 attempts. Sophomore Jason Vrable (South Park, PA) has completed 63-of-107 passes for 664 yards and two touchdowns in 2004. Senior Mike Valiante (Wadsworth) is the Pioneers' leading receiver with 17 catches for 113 yards. Chris Sidick (Cecil, PA/Canon McMillan) has pulled in 15 balls for 189 yards in his three games on offense. The senior ranks second in the OAC in all purpose yards with 804 (134.0 ypg.). Marietta's defense is led by senior Thadd Sharrett (Circleville) with 58 tackles. Freshman nose tackle Clay Ream (Burbank/Northwestern) has added 44 stops, including six for a loss. He has also blocked two kicks and broke up one pass this season. Senior Brett Munn (Newbury) has a team-high three interceptions and has blocked three kicks and returned a fumble for a touchdown. Sophomore Anthony Huffman (Lowell/Marietta) has five sacks and 39 tackles on the year.

Series: Saturday marks the 83rd gridiron meeting between the two southeast Ohio rivals. Muskingum leads the all-time series 45-35-2, but Marietta has won three in a row and 11-of-12 over the Muskies.

Last meeting: Marietta salvaged a 2-8 season with a 19-16 victory over Muskingum in the final week of the 2004 season. J. J. Wheeler (Zanesville) was the hero, making an interception in the end zone in the final two minutes to secure the Pioneer victory. Valiante set the single-season reception record in the game with his 54th grab of the year.

About the coaches: Marietta’s Todd Glaser (UW-Eau Claire ‘93) is in his second season with the Pioneers, after guiding the team to a 2-8 mark last year. He has already surpassed last year’s win total with wins over Dubuque, Heidelberg and Otterbein. He is MC’s 26th coach and has a record of 5-11. Prior to joining Marietta, Glaser was the defensive coordinator at UW-Eau Claire for four seasons. Muskingum's Jeff Heacock (Muskingum 1976) is in his 24th season with the Muskies. He has a record of 104-125-4 at Muskingum. He is tied for the longest tenure at the same school for a collegiate head football coach in Ohio.

Noteworthy: Muskingum's Trevor Cooper has rushed for over 100 yards in three-straight games. ...Each of the last four meetings have been decided by less than a touchdown.

Great Coverage: Saturday’s football game is being broadcast live by WMRT - FM 88.3, Marietta College’s campus radio station. Their broadcast can also be heard live online at www.mariettaonline.com.

Next game: The Pioneers will return Don Drumm Stadium Saturday (Oct. 30) to host Wilmington at 6 p.m. The Muskies will remain at home to host Heidelberg that day at 1:30 p.m.

Marietta’s probable starters:

Offense
QB      —            16            Jason Vrable
TB       —            20            Steven Wagner
FB       —            44            Corey Jacobs
WR     —            14            Jason Curry
WR     —            82            Mike Valiante
TE       —            80            Bryan Adams
LT       —            66            Gary Snyder
LG       —            60            Jack Simpson
C         —            64            Joe Brennan
RG      —            76            Lance Parrish
RT       —            79            Kellen Dunlap

Defense
DT       —            50          Pete Hashman
NT       —            98         Clay Ream
DT       —            94          Jeff Mast
OLB    —            41          Anthony Huffman
ILB       —            52          Brian Hahn
OLB    —              3           Thadd Sharrett
ILB    —             39          Nate Brownrigg
CB      —            25          J. J. Wheeler
CB      —            2            Brett Munn
FS       —           12            Lonnie Meyers
SS       —            9            Anthony Banks