Marietta tops Heidelberg 32-17
Pioneers improve to 5-3 on the year

Oct. 28, 2006
MARIETTA, Ohio — A 71-yard third quarter touchdown pass from senior Jason Vrable (South Park, Pa.) to junior Chad McDaniel (Wooster/Triway) broke open a one-possession game and propelled Marietta to a 32-17 victory over Heidelberg Saturday (Oct. 28) night at Don Drumm Stadium.

The win improved the Pioneers' record to 5-3 overall and 4-3 in the Ohio Athletic Conference. It also secured their third straight non losing season, a feat not accomplished since 1994-96. Heidelberg, who has now lost its last 34 games, falls to 0-8, 0-7 in the OAC.

The story of the game was the ability of Marietta to establish a running game. The Pioneers, who entered averaging just 47.7 yards on the ground, racked up a season-high 245 yards rushing. Vrable led the way with 12 carries for 125 yards. In addition, senior fullback Corey Jacobs (Glenshaw, Pa./North Hills) had the most productive game of his career, totaling 74 yards on eight carries. Both scored a touchdown in the win.

Marietta kept Heidelberg's defense off balanced with the run unil the passing attack finally got going. Vrable completed just 13-of-36 passes but threw for 286 yards and two touchdowns. With the performance, Vrable set a new single-season school record for completions (167) while adding to his career records in every passing category.

Senior Nic North (Madison, Wis./East) pulled in a team-high five receptions and totaled 78 yards. McDaniel added three catches but those went for 125 yards, including the 71-yard touchdown reception. Sophomore running back Garrett Banks (Barberton), who had 31 yards rushing, also caught a 25-yard touchdown pass.

Heidelberg's offense also had its share of success. Branden Parker (61 yards) and Bryan Prorok (56 yards) led a running attack that finished with 167 yards. Prorok also completed 6-of-21 passes for 114 yards, while Steve West went 7-of-12 for 110 yards and one touchdown. Kenny Sims was the Student Princes' leading receiver, pulling in six passes for 112 yards.

Defensively, sophomore Grant Cowell (Perrysville/Loudonville) led Marietta with a game-high nine tackles. He also forced a fumble. Senior Anthony Banks (Colonial Heights, Va./Thomas Doyle) added six stops, all solo. Heidelberg was paced by Brian West with seven tackles and one interception.

Marietta finished with 531 yards of total offense, while Heidelberg accumulated 391. The Pioneers had 28 first downs compared to the Student Princes' 15. Each team threw and interception and lost one fumble.

Sophomore Pat Lane (Cutler/Warren Local) got the scoring started with a 25-yard field goal on Marietta's first possession.

Heidelberg tied the game at 3-3 when Craig Smith connected on a 25-yard field goal of his own with eight minutes left in the half.

A 17-yard touchdown run by Vrable gave the Pioneers a 9-3 lead just before the half. The conversion attempt failed.

The Pioneers came out of the locker room and scored a touchdown—Vrable to Banks for 25 yards—on their first possession of the second half to take a 16-3 lead.

Heidelberg responded on its next possession with a touchdown of its own to pull within striking distance. West hooked up with Sims for a 25-yard touchdown to make the score 16-10.

Vrable's 71-yard touchdown bomb to McDaniel with 3:45 to play in the third extended Marietta's lead to 22-10.

The Pioneers added another field goal, this time a 23-yard kick off the foot of Lane, to build its advantage to 25-10.

A Marietta unsportsmanlike conduct penalty extended the Student Princes' next drive and ended with a one-yard touchdown run by Prorok to move Heidelberg with eight, 25-17.

The onside kick was recovered by Heidelberg, but was turned over to Marietta after the ball was touched before it went the necessary 10 yards. The Pioneers struck four plays later when Jacobs bullied his way 16 yards for the final score.

Marietta goes back on the road for its next game, a 1:30 p.m. date with host Wilmington on Saturday (Nov. 4).

All of the action can be heard locally on WMRT-FM 88.3, WMOA-AM 1490 and online, through Stretch Internet, at pioneers.marietta.edu/onlinebroadcasts.