Pioneers look to start 3-0 in 2006 with trip to Westerville
Marietta (2-0, 1-0 OAC) at Otterbein (1-1, 0-1 OAC)
6 p.m. • Saturday, Sept. 23 • Memorial Stadium

Game Notes (.pdf)
Sept. 19, 2006
MARIETTA, Ohio - The Pioneers make a week four trip to Westerville this Saturday (Sept. 23) for a evening showdown with the Otterbein Cardinals. It is the second Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) game for each program. Otterbein has tabbed the game as a Community Day affair with free admission for the game.

Pioneer fans making the journey to support the squad should expect a similar atmosphere to what Marietta had at the River City Bowl this past weekend.

Here is a look at both teams:

Otterbein College: The Cardinals played host to reigning National Champion and No. 1 Mount Union this past Saturday (Sept. 16) and suffered a 71-14 loss. After two games, Otterbein ranks ninth in the league in scoring, averaging 19.5 points. The Cardinals rank ninth in total offense (236.0) — fifth in passing (195.5) and eighth in rushing (40.5). Otterbein is the most penalized team in the league, giving up an average of 90.0 penalty yards in first two games. The Cardinals have converted 5-of-6 red-zone chances and 7-of-28 third down opportunities this season.

Freshman running back Dan Gendron, who is averaging 32.0 yards, leads the team in rushing. Junior Paul Stelzer leads the team from under center. In two games, Stelzer has completed 32-of-68 passes for 391 yards with four interceptions and four touchdowns. Junior wide receiver Scott DeLong has a team-high 11 catches for 135 yards and three scores, while junior wide receiver Josh Bope has added eight grabs for 133 yards.

The Cardinal defense has allowed 42.0 points per game this season, which ranks ninth in the OAC. Otterbein has surrendered an average of 212.5 yards on the ground and 253.5 yards through the air. The Cardinals, who have an even turnover margin, have yet to record a sack on the year.

Junior Kieran Johnson has collected a team-best 18 tackles on in 2006; that ranks second in the OAC. Three others — senior Morgan Adkins (12), senior Justin Ross (11) and junior Thomas Teeter (10) have double-digit totals. Ross also leads the OAC in interceptions with two; he returned one for 52 yards.

Sophomore punter B.J. Wanninger has averaged 34.3, which ranks eighth in the OAC. Otterbein’s Gendron is averaging 23.7 yards on kickoff returns, which is second-best in the League.

Marietta College: The Pioneers are looking to begin the year 3-0 for the first time since 1972 and are 2-0 for the third straight season. Marietta’s offense has averaged 32.5 points and 486.0 yards this season, which is third-best and second-best in the OAC, respectively. Of those yards, 96.5 come on the ground, while 389.5 are through the air. The Pioneers lead the Conference in passing offense and are ranked fifth in rushing offense. Marietta has converted 13-of-27 third downs and 6-of9 red-zone chances in 2006. The Pioneers have a -2 turnover margin.

Individually, senior quarterback Jason Vrable, the reigning has completed 46-of-72 passes for an OAC-high 779 yards and six touchdowns this season. Senior Jason Curry is the Pioneers’ leading receiver, pulling in 13 receptions for 314 yards and four scores. Curry is tied for first in receptions per game (6.5) and is second in receiving yards per game (157.0) and all-purpose yards per game (191.0). Senior Nic North has grabbed 10 balls for 158 yards; both totals ranked among the OAC’s top 10. Sophomore Garrett Banks is the team’s leading rusher, averaging 48.0 yards per game and 2.9 yards per carry. Vrable is contributing 4.1 yards per carry and 30.5 yards per game with his legs. Sophomore Pat Lane is 1-for-2 in field goals and 6-for-8 in PATs. Curry is averaging 35.0 yards per punt.

Marietta’s defense enters week four ranked sixth in total defense. It is allowing 291.0 yards per game. The Pioneers rank seventh against the pass (227.0) and fifth against the run (64.0). Marietta has recorded four sacks, 16 tackles for loss and two interceptions this season. The Pioneers have allowed their opponents to convert 7-of-10 red zone chances, but just four touchdowns. Offenses are converting 48.1% (9-of-27) of their third-down opportunities against Marietta.

Junior Brian Hahn leads the team with 15 tackles, while junior Clay Ream and sophomore Grant Cowell each have added 13 stops. Ream leads the team with 4.5 tackles for loss and has forced two fumbles, both against Baldwin-Wallace. Senior safety Lonnie Meyers leads the OAC with four passes defended.

THE RECORDS: Saturday marks the third game of the 2006 season for both teams. Marietta opened the year with a 28-20 road victory over Emory & Henry in week one and defeated Baldwin-Wallace in overtime, 37-31, in week three. Otterbein began the year by knocking off Defiance, 25-13, on its opening weekend, but fell 71-14 to No. 1 Mount Union last Saturday.

GAME TIME: 6 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 23, Memorial Stadium.

THE COACHES: Marietta’s Curt Wiese is in his first season as the leader of the Pioneers. Wiese, the offensive coordinator of the Pioneers for the last three years, earned his bachelor’s degree from Minnesota State-Mankato in 1999. Otterbein’s Joe Loth is in his fourth year as the Cardinals’ head football coach. The 1991 graduate of Otterbein, who spent three years at Kean (N.J.), had a 21-19 record in his first three years. Loth is 2-1 against Marietta.

ALL-TIME SERIES: The Cardinals and the Pioneers meet for the 79th time on the gridiron in 2006, with Marietta leading the all-time series 40-38. Marietta won the first meeting by forfeit, 6-0, in 1892. Otterbein has won four of the last five meetings.

LAST MEETING: Two second half TDs broke open a 17-17 game at the half and turnovers down the stretch sent Marietta to a 31-17 defeat. Jason Vrable completed 11-of-28 for 231 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions. Paul Stelzer went 28-of-47 for 308 yards with three touchdowns and one interception.

LAST GAME FOR MARIETTA: Pioneer turnovers staked visiting Baldwin-Wallace to a 17-0 lead, but Marietta battled back to tie the game, 31-31, at the end of regulation. In overtime, the first ever for Marietta, the Pioneers scored on its opening possession when Vrable hit senior tight end John Bokat on a four-yard TD. Sophomore defensive back Alan Tracewell sealed the win with an interception on B-W’s possession, giving MC what might be its biggest win of all time.

LAST GAME FOR OTTERBEIN: The Cardinals fell 71-14 to No. 1 Mount Union. Otterbein was held to -16 yards rushing, but passed for 240 yards in the loss.

WEEK THREE OBSTACLES: Marietta looks to start the season with three-straight wins, something it has not done since 1972, when it defeated Allegheny (27-7), Capital 13-7) and Hiram (14-7). The Pioneers had a chance in each of the last two years, only to fall to John Carroll.

GREAT COVERAGE: Saturday’s football game is being broadcast live by WMRT-FM 88.3, Marietta College’s campus radio station. Otterbein’s radio station, WOBN-FM 101.5 in Westerville, will also be on the air to broadcast the contest.

NEXT GAME: On Saturday, Sept. 30, Marietta will return to the Columbus area to take on nationally-ranked Capital in a 1:30 p.m. contest. Otterbein will visit Ohio Northern at 1:30 p.m.

LISTEN ONLINE: Marietta College is now proud to offer its fans on the World Wide Web the opportunity to listen to all 10 Pioneer football games through a partnership with Stretch Internet. All you need is QuickTime. For more information visit Marietta’s athletic web site: http://pioneers.marietta.edu. Archives are also available to listen to or to purchase.

OAC HONORS: Vrable was named the OAC Offensive Player of the Week for his efforts against Baldwin-Wallace. It is the second time in his career that he received the honor.

RECORD BREAKING PERFORMANCE: In the game against Baldwin-Wallace Saturday, Vrable tied a school record with four touchdown passes. He became the fourth player to accomplish the feat and it was the fifth time it has happened.

RECORD BREAKING PERFORMANCE PART II: Senior Anthony Banks also put his name in the Pioneer record books on Saturday. Banks, the single-game and single-season record holder for interception return yards hit the trifecta when he picked off a fourth quarter pass and returned in 31 yards to give him 222 career interception return yards, which broke Charles Black’s ‘79 record of 217 yards.

CLIMBING UP THE CAREER CHARTS: Following his week two performance, Vrable is now closing in on Marietta’s all-time passing records. The senior needs to complete 46-of-176 passes for 784 yards to break the school records for completions, attempts and passing yards, respectively. He is also 19 touchdown passes shy of the school record.

CLIMBING UP THE CAREER CHARTS PART II: Pioneer senior receiver Jason Curry moved into second place in career touchdown receptions Saturday. He now has 15 and needs five more to break the record set by Antonio Hutton ‘97. Curry is also ranked second all-time in punts (170) and punt yards (6,241).

GETTING OFF TO A QUICK START: Marietta will look to get off to a fast start out of the locker room this season after struggling in the first and third quarters in 2005. The Pioneers were outscored 60-37 in the first quarter and 69-14 in the third quarter last year. So far in 2006, Marietta has been outscored 17-7 in the first quarter, but has a 15-3 advantage in the third frame.

RED-ZONE STAND: Marietta will look build upon its success in the red zone last year, when it converted 24-of-33 (72.7%) of its chances. 18 of its 24 scores were touchdowns. On the other hand, the Pioneers must improve on the defensive side of the ball, as they allowed scores in 36-of-43 chances, including 32 touchdowns.

NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT: The OAC has a large presence in the national polls this week. In the first AFCA poll of the year, Mount Union was ranked first, Capital sixth and Ohio Northern 11th. In addition, John Carroll, Marietta and Baldwin-Wallace all received votes. The d3football.com poll also had Mount Union at No. 1, with Capital at No. 6 and Ohio Northern at No. 12, while Baldwin-Wallace and Mariette each received votes.

THIS WEEK IN THE OAC: Other OAC games on tap this weekend include Baldwin-Wallace (1-1) at Wilmington (0-2), Capital (2-0) at Heidelberg (0-2), Mount Union (2-0) at Muskingum (1-1) and Ohio Northern (2-0) at John Carroll (1-1). All games are afternoon affairs.