Marietta set to open 2005 season against Emory & Henry (VA)
Emory & Henry (0-0, 0-0 ODAC) at Marietta (0-0, 0-0 OAC)
7 p.m. • Saturday, Sept. 3 • Don Drumm Stadium

Sept. 1, 2005
MARIETTA, Ohio - The Pioneers welcome Emory & Henry (VA) to Don Drumm Stadium this Saturday (Sept. 3) for a week one match-up. It is the opening game of the season for each program and it is the first annual River City Bowl at Don Drumm.

“The concept behind having the River City Bowl is for the College and football program to have a way of recognizing the College community and the Marietta community for its wonderful support,” said third-year head coach Todd Glaser, who was the Ohio Athletic Conference Coach of the Year in 2004.

Therefore the College has numerous pre-game activities planned to honor those attending the non-conference game. For starters, the College is having a tailgate for fans of both teams starting at 5:30 p.m. The tailgate, which is being sponsored by WMOA-AM and WJAW-FM radio stations, will include free soda, hot dogs, hamburgers and many other treats outside the stadium.

Other pre-game activities include face painting by members of Circle K and Chi Omega, balloon animals with Dana Baumgartl, and music by Mobile Jams. Also serving as sponsors for the River City Bowl are The Marietta Times and Chartwells Dining Service.

The College is also pleased to be giving the first 1,000 fans through the gates a River City Bowl T-shirt, which is sponsored by Muskingum Coach bus service.

Here is a look at both teams:

Emory & Henry College: The Emory & Henry football team seeks to once again become one of the ODAC elite under the direction of newly head coach Don Montgomery. Montgomery is replacing the retired Lou Wacker who coached the Wasps to 11 ODAC championships and five NCAA playoff appearances in his 23 seasons of coaching.

Coach Montgomery comes to the Wasps from Mount Union after serving 27 years as an assistant for the Purple Raiders, so he is very familiar with Pioneer football.

Led by junior quarter back Todd Woods (239-of-396, 3058 yards, 25 TDs) the Wasps have high hopes for its offensive unit, which averaged 415 yard per game in 2004. They return six starters from a year ago. Woods set several school records last fall, including his 3058 passing yards and 239 pass completions. He also threw for 25 touchdowns.

Look for Woods to connect with juniors Jerad Jackson (69 catches, 1030 yards, 10 TDs) and Brennan Stewart (50 catches, 729 yards, 12 TDs) in the passing game. They will have to replace graduated running back Chris Miller who rushed for 1862 yards over the past two seasons.

Emory & Henry will ask senior linebacker Anthony Boyd (67 tackles) and junior Marshall Doss (77 tackles) to lead the defense in the middle of the field. In addition, returning in the defensive backfield will be seniors Jay Murphy (42 tackles, six interceptions) and Cooney Ratcliffe (18 tackles) and junior Drew Pike (65 tackles).

Marietta College: With 28 returning letterwinners, including 12 seniors, the 2005 squad has the leadership necessary to challenge each week in the OAC. Marietta returns four of its seven All-Conference players this fall: senior running back Steven Wagner, senior center Joe Brennan, sophomore right guard Lance Parrish and sophomore defensive tackle Clay Ream.

Wagner compiled 1,091 yards on the ground with seven TDs a year ago and became the 17th Pioneer to finish with over 1,000 yards in a season. He had six 100-yard games, including a career-high 258 yards against Heidelberg in week two. Brennan and Parrish will be asked to anchor the offensive line as it continues to develop young talent.

Junior Jason Vrable (109-of-185, 1190 yards, six TDs) and sophomore Jeremy Thornton (12-of-33, 61 yards) have been battling for the starting quarterback position and both should see action tonight. Look for whoever is under center to look for receivers Jason Curry (17 receptions, 280 yards, 2 TDs), Chad McDaniel (13 receptions, 172 yards) and Nic North (10 receptions, 114 yards).

Ream (61 tackles), who was a huge addition to the defensive line last fall, will only get better with experience. Defensive backs Anthony Banks (56 tackles, three interceptions) and J. J. Wheeler (49 tackles, one interception) and linebacker Brian Hahn (57 tackles) will help Ream lead the defense in 2005.

On special teams, Banks will lead a core of speedy return specialist, while Curry is expected to control the punting duties again this fall.

THE RECORDS: Saturday marks the first game of the 2005 season for both teams. Marietta went 6-4 overall and 5-4 in the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) in 2004. Emory & Henry was 4-6 overall and 3-3 in the ODAC in 2004.

GAME TIME: 7 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 3, Don Drumm Stadium.

THE COACHES: Marietta’s Todd Glaser is in his third season with the Pioneers. Glaser earned his bachelor’s degree from Wisconsin Eau-Claire in 1993. Emory & Henry’s Don Montgomery is in his first year as the Wasps’ head football coach. Montgomery is a 1977 graduate of Mount Union and had been an assistant coach at his alma mater for the last 27 seasons.

ALL-TIME SERIES: The Wasps and the Pioneers meet for just the third time on the gridiron. E & H leads the all-time series 2-0. The Wasps were victorious 23-8 in 1967 and 32-13 in 1968.

OPENERS: The Pioneers have pulled out victories in 11 of the last 12 season openers, and are riding a five-game win streak on opening day. Their last loss came against Waynesburg, 28-23, in 1999.

GREAT COVERAGE: Saturday’s football game is being broadcast live by WMRT-FM 88.3, Marietta College’s campus radio station, and WMOA-AM 1940. Their broadcast can also be heard live online at www.mariettaonline.com. Emory & Henry’s radio station, WOLD Radio (102.5 FM), will also be on the air broadcasting the contest.

NEXT GAME: The Pioneers are off next weekend. Emory & Henry plays host to Ferrum (VA) Sept. 10 at 1 p.m. On Sept.17, Marietta visits Heidelberg for a 1:30 p.m. games.

SPECIAL WELCOME: The Pioneers would like to extend a special welcome to the Warren Local High School Band.

SPECIAL THANKS: Marietta extends its gratitude to all who will help make the River City Bowl a success, including Muskingum Coach, The Marietta Times, WMOA-AM & WJAW-FM, Circle K, Chi Omega, Mobile James, Chartwells Dining Service Dana Baumgartl and the MC Administrators who are working the tailgate.