Pioneers win instant thriller against Yellow Jackets, 37-31 in overtime
Vrable throws for a career high 405 yards; Banks sets career interception return yards record

Sept. 16, 2006
MARIETTA, Ohio — If ESPN carried NCAA Division III football, Saturday (Sept. 16) night's Marietta vs. Baldwin-Wallace game would be tabbed an instant classic.

It was that type of game on the turf of Don Drumm Stadium, as the Pioneers defeated the Yellow Jackets 37-31 in overtime. It was Marietta's first recorded overtime game and the third straight victory for the Pioneers over the Jackets — each of the last two coming in dramatic fashion.

"I am very proud of the way that our guys handled themselves tonight," said first-year coach Curt Wiese. "We struggled on fundamentals early, allowing B-W to take control. Our seniors led us back and we were able to pull off the victory."

With the score tied at 31 heading into overtime, Marietta had the ball first from B-W's 25-yard line. Senior Jason Vrable (South Park, Pa.) went 3-for-3, finishing off the scoring drive with a four-yard pass to senior tight end John Bokat (Carmichaels, Pa./Geibel Catholic) to put the Pioneers ahead 37-31. The extra point was missed, leaving the door open for Baldwin-Wallace if it could score a touchdown on its first possession of the extended time.

Marietta's defense stayed tough on first and second down, setting up a third and seven from the 22-yard line. Baldwin-Wallace's Mickey Mental tried to hit a target streaking down the left sideline, but sophomore defensive back Alan Tracewell (Williamstown, W.Va.) intercepted the pass to secure the victory, quite possibly the biggest in Marietta's 111-year history.

It didn't look promising early on for the Pioneer fans in attendance for the second annual River City Bowl and Alumni Day, as Marietta fumbled the opening kickoff on its own 10 yard line. The Pioneer defense held the Jackets, however, to a 19-yard field goal to make the score 3-0 after just three minutes.

After a Marietta punt, Baldwin-Wallace struck quickly, when Mental connected with Tom Murphy for a 71-yard touchdown on the first play of its ensuing possession.

Marietta fumbled again on its third possession and Baldwin-Wallace scored a touchdown four plays later to go up 17-0 at the 5:09 mark of the first quarter. Mental punched it in from three yards out for the score.

The Pioneers' offense finally got settled after that, putting together a 10-play, 84-yard drive that was capped by a 18-yard touchdown pass from Vrable to senior Anthony Banks (Colonial Heights, Va./Thomas Dale). The touchdown made it 17-7 with just under four minutes left in the frame.

B-W added a 25-yard field goal midway through the second quarter to increase its lead to 20-7.

Marietta responded with another 10-play drive, this time for 80 yards and ending in a one-yard touchdown plunge from sophomore running back Garret Banks (Barberton) to make the score 20-14.

The Pioneers added an eight-yard field goal in the closing seconds of the half to enter the locker room trailing on 20-17, despite committing three turnovers inside their own red-zone.

The Jackets came out of halftime, which featured the recognition of Marietta great Danté Brown, who ran for a NCAA record 441 yards against B-W ten years ago, and compiled a 15-play, 68 yard drive that ended in a 23-yard field goal to make the score 23-17.

Marietta took the lead, 24-23, two possessions later, when Vrable hooked up with senior Jason Curry (Akron/Springfield) for a 65-yard touchdown.

The Pioneers took the lead into the fourth quarter, but it didn't last long, as the Jackets regained the advantage, 31-24, with a 25-yard pass from Mental to Matt Lepley, that was followed by a two-point conversion between the same two players.

Marietta tied the game with 9:06 left in the contest. Vrable connected with Curry, who fought off a defensive pass interference call in the left corner of the end-zone, from four yards out to make the score 31-31.

That is where it remained through the end of regulation, setting up Marietta's game-winning drive.

Vrable had a huge night, completing 24-of-36 passes for a career-high 405 yards and four touchdowns. He tied the school record with four TD passes and was six yards shy of the passing yard record.

Mental was almost equally as impressive, connecting on 23-of-33 attempts for 330 yards and two touchdowns.

Vrable once again distributed the ball nicely, hitting nine different receivers. Senior Nic North (Madison, Wis./East) pulled in a team-high seven receptions for 114 yards, while Curry added six grabs for a team-best and career-high 160 yards and two scores. Anthony Banks also caught four balls for 43 yards.

Lepley was Mental's favorite target, catching 10 passes for 112 yards, most out of bubble screens. Murphy added four grabs for 106 yards in the loss.

Vrable led Marietta's running attack, which totaled 96 yards, finishing with nine carries for 46 yards. Junior Joe Webb (Monessen, Pa./Ringgold) added 12 carries for 32 yards before leaving the game with a sever ankle injury. Garrett Banks finished with 11 rushes for 18 yards.

Baldwin-Wallace was held to 35 rushes for 32 yards. Brandon Hedges had 18 yards on 16 carries, while Mental netted six yards on 14 rushing attempts.

Anthony Banks also made his presence felt on defense, picking off a fourth quarter pass and returning it 31 yards. That interception gave him 222 career interception return yards, making him the all-time leader at MC.

Each team spread out its tackling, as no player had double-digit stops. Senior Lonnie Meyers (Cumberland, Md.) led the Pioneers with eight hits, while junior Carter Shaver (Trotwood/Waynesville) and sophomore Grant Cowell (Perrysville/Loudonville) each had seven tackles.

Cowell, senior Bryan Adams (Beachwood, N.J./Monsignor Donovan), freshman Braden Schaad (Williamstown, W.Va.) and sophomore David Loyer (Barberton) each had a sack in the win for Marietta, who finished with 12 tackles for loss in the win.

Baldwin-Wallace was paced defensively by Paul Burger with nine tackles and Luke Chronister added seven.

Marietta will look to move to 3-0 when it visits Otterbein Saturday (Sept. 23) for a 6 p.m. kickoff in Westerville. The Pioneers have not started a year with three straight wins since 1972. The Cardinals will look to bounce back from a 71-14 loss to top-ranked Mount Union.

All of the action can be heard locally on WMRT-FM 88.3 and online, through Stretch Internet at pioneers.marietta.edu/onlinebroadcasts.

A reminder that Marietta will host a First and Ten luncheon on Monday (Sept. 18) at 12 p.m. in the Trustee's Conference Room of Ban Johnson Arena. Admission is $7 and all are welcome.