Arch-rival Muskingum visits Marietta for 2005 Homecoming game
Muskingum (1-5, 1-4 OAC) at Marietta (2-4, 1-4 OAC)
1:30 p.m. • Saturday, Oct. 22 • Don Drumm Stadium

Oct. 20, 2005
MARIETTA, Ohio - The Pioneers welcome rival Muskingum College to Don Drumm Stadium this Saturday (Oct. 22) for a week seven match-up between two teams tied for eighth place in the Ohio Athletic Conference. It is Homecoming weekend at Marietta College.

Here is a look at both teams:

MUSKINGUM: The Fighting Muskies new triple-option attack makes stops at Don Drumm Stadium this week. Muskingum is coming off a 30-13 loss to Capital a week ago. The Muskies are the lowest scoring team in the OAC, averaging 8.7 points. They rank ninth in total offense (215.7) — tenth in passing (43.7) and third in rushing (172.0). Muskingum is the least penalized team in the league, giving up 43.0 penalty yards per game. The Muskies have converted 7-of-14 red-zone chances and 20-of-83 third down opportunities.

Junior fullback Steve Howard leads the team in rushing, averaging 47.5 yards, while sophomore quarterback Kyan Johnson contributes 41.2 yards per game and halfbacks Caleb Fuller and Steve Mamak average 31.5 and 28.2 yards, respectively. Muskingum averages less than nine passes per game. In the rare case that they have thrown the ball, Johnson has completed 12-of-40 passes with one touchdown and five interceptions. Senior wide receiver Baz Alfred leads the team in catches with six for 106 yards.

The Muskingum defense is allowing an average of 22.5 points this season, which ranks fifth in the league. The Muskies surrender 119.8 yards on the ground and 175.5 yards through the air per game. Muskingum has a +3 turnover margin. Junior linebacker Jack Junker paces the defense and ranks third in the OAC with 66 tackles, 33 solo. Senior safety Tony Abbott has added 45 stops and senior Matt Meggyesy has collected 40. Senior Jeff Tibbs leads the team with 2.5 sacks.

Sophomore Bryan Gulley handles the punting duties and averages 35.9 yards. Sophomore Mike Zimmerman has connected on 4-of-5 field goal attempts and 4-of-6 PATs.

Marietta College: The Pioneers are looking to turn around their season Saturday against rival Muskingum. The offense, which has collected a total of 190 yards over the last two game is averaging 282.2 yards. That total ranks seventh in the OAC. Of those yards, 134.7 come on the ground, while 147.5 are through the air. Marietta has converted 33-of-94 (.351) third downs and 12-of-15 (.800) red zone chances this season. The Pioneers rank second in the league with a +4 turnover margin, having forced 17 turnovers and committing 13. The offensive line, which up until today has been shuffled due to injuries, has allowed 19 sacks on the year.

Individually, junior quarterback Jason Vrable has completed 67-of-128 passes for 834 yards and four touchdowns. He thrown seven interceptions. Junior Nic North has been Vrable’s favorite target, pulling in 21 catches for 202 yards on the season. Junior Jason Curry ranks second on the squad with 18 receptions for 257 yards and two scores, while Steven Wagner has been found out of the backfield 11 times for 108 yards and a touchdown. Wagner continues to be the primary ball handler and has carried it 119 times for 439 yards and four scores. Sophomore Joe Webb has also received consistent work, collecting 203 yards and two touchdowns on 52 carries.

Sophomore Nick Manson has had a solid year kicking, converting 11-of-13 PATs and 5-of-7 field goals. Curry, who continues to handle the punting duties, is averaging 38.1 yards per punt and has stop 13-of-46 inside opponents’ 20-yard line.

Marietta’s defense enters week seven ranked tenth in total defense. It has allowed an average of 479.7 yards per game. The Pioneers rank tenth against the pass (299.2 yards per game) and ninth against the run (180.5 yards per game). Marietta has collected 12 sacks for a loss of 89 yards this season.

Individual defensive leaders include sophomore linebacker Brian Hahn, who has a team-high 53 tackles, 35 solo. He also leads Marietta in tackles for loss (8.0) and sacks (4.0). Senior linebacker Darren Marks has added 48 stops, while junior cornerback J. J. Wheeler and junior safety Anthony Banks have totaled 38. Banks lead the squad with four interceptions on the year.

GAME NOTES

GAME TIME: 1:30 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 22, 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. Muskingum’s Jeff Heacock is in his 25th season with his alma mater.

ALL-TIME SERIES: Today marks the 83rd meeting between the two rivals. Muskingum leads the all-time series, which dates back to 1897, 45-36-2. Marietta has won the last four meeting. Every game since 2000 has been decided by less than a touchdown.

LAST MEETING: Last year Marietta disrupted what otherwise was a nice Homecoming for Muskingum with a 12-7 victory at McConagha Stadium. The Pioneers took a 12-0 lead into halftime and had three red zone stands in the final minutes to secure the win. Steven Wagner finished with 21 carries for 114 yards and a score, whil e Lowell Warden and Nate Brownrigg each had 10 stops in the win.

GREAT COVERAGE: Saturday’s football game is being broadcast live by WMRT-FM 88.3, Marietta College’s campus radio station, and by WMOA-AM 1490. Their broadcast can also be heard live online at www.mariettaonline.com. In addition, WMCO-FM 90.7 will be covering the game for Muskingum.

SPECIAL WELCOME: The Marietta College athletic department would like to extend a special welcome to all alumni back in town for Homecoming 2005. We hope you enjoy the weekend. Make sure to stick around at halftime to watch the crowing this year’s Homecoming King and Queen.

RECORD-SETTING RETURN: Last Saturday’s 100-yard fumble return for a touchown by sophomore Shawn Ellies set a new school and OAC record for longest fumble return.

NEXT GAME: On Saturday (Oct. 29) the Pioneers travel to Wilmington to take on the Quakers, while the Muskies travel to Tiffin for a match-up with the Heidelberg Student Princes. Both games are slated for 1:30 p.m.

PROBABLE STARTERS