Second-half woes prevent Marietta from upsetting host John Carroll
Blue Streaks force five second-half turnovers in 27-9 win

Oct. 13, 2007
UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, Ohio — The Marietta College football team had host John Carroll University on the ropes throughout the first half Saturday (Oct. 13) night at Don Shula Stadium. The Pioneers' inability to convert red zone opportunities, coupled with five second-half turnovers, however, resulted in the Blue Streaks pulling out the 27-9 victory.

With the win, John Carroll, who now dominates the all-time series 19-0-1, improves to 4-2 overall and 3-2 in the Ohio Athletic Conference. Marietta falls to 1-5, 1-4 in the OAC.

John Carroll opened the game with the football and drove down right down the field for a touchdown to give it a 7-0 advantage. Mark Petruziello finished off the 12-play, 58-yard opening drive with an 11-yard touchdown pass to Peter Spachner.

Marietta answered with its own scoring drive on its first possession. The difference was that the Pioneers came away with just a field goal. Junior kicker Pat Lane (Cutler/Warren Local) capped off the 6-play, 23-yard drive with a 28-yard field goal. Junior Garrett Banks (Brunswick) set up the drive with a 58-yard kickoff return. In all, he finished with six returns for 171 yards.

Senior All-American nose tackle Clay Ream (Burbank/Northwestern) ended the Blue Streaks' next drive with an interception, his first of the year. Ream's interception, which as returned two yards, gave Marietta's offense the ball at John Carroll's 33-yard line.

The Pioneers were able to move the ball into the red zone and down to the four-yard line before the drive stalled. Lane drilled the 22-yard field goal to cut John Carroll's lead to 7-6 with 1:39 to play in the first quarter.

Marietta sophomore Clinton Thompson (Waverly, W.Va./Williamstown) forced John Carroll's Frank Ross to fumble the ensuing kickoff, and sophomore George Davis (Warren/Newton Falls) jumped on the ball to give Marietta possession at the JCU 43-yard line. The Pioneers were unable to capitalize though, as Lane missed a 37-yard field goal attempt after the offense was able to get the ball down to the 20-yard line.

The Pioneers' defense forced the Blue Streaks to punt after six plays on their next possession. Marietta then drove 55 yards on 12 plays to set up a 40-yard field goal attempt that Lane connected on to give his team the 9-7 advantage. The Pioneers were able to take that lead into the locker room.

Marietta dominated time of possession in the first half, holding onto the ball for 20:39, while John Carroll had the ball on offense for 9:21.

A Webb fumble on Marietta's second possession of the final half resulted in John Carroll getting the ball at its own 48. The Pioneers' defense stood tough and forced a 36-yard field goal attempt by Josiah Kedzior, who missed it to keep the score at 9-7 in favor of Marietta.

Two play later, however, Davis fumbled on Marietta's 15-yard line to give John Carroll the ball inside the red zone. The Pioneers' defense forced another field goal attempt. This time, Kedzior connected from 23 yards to give JCU a 10-9 lead.

John Carroll, who led 10-9 after three quarters, increased it lead to 17-9 after its first possession of the final frame. Petruziello capped a five-play 67-yard drive with a 47-yard scoring strike to Rebere Sparks.

Again, Davis fumbled on Marietta's next possession; this time on the first play to give the Blue Streaks good field position on the Pioneers' own 11-yard line. John Carroll went three-and-out, but Kedzior hit a 20-yard field goal to extend the lead to 20-9 with 9:56 to go in the game.

John Carroll tagged on a late touchdown, a 34-yard pass from Petruziello to Spachner with 70 second to play to secure a 27-9 victory for the home Blue Streaks.

The Blue Streaks out-gained the Pioneers 390-216 overall. Marietta had 11 first downs, while John Carroll finished with 19. JCU won the time of possession 33:46-26:14.

Webb paced the Pioneers' ground game with 22 carries for 92 yards. Tyler Gingrich led John Carroll's rushing attack with 19 carries for 99 yards.

Sophomore quarterback Dexter Hughes (Woodsfield/Monroe Central) finished the night 9-of-24, throwing for 115 yards with two interceptions. He was also sacked twice. Petruziello went 18-of-31 and threw for 246 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. Petruziello was sacked three times.

Sophomore wide out Ryan Dawson (Parkersburg, W.Va.) caught a team-high four passes for 51 yards, while Spachner finished with six catches for 77 yards and two scores.

Defensively, junior linebacker Grant Cowell (Perrysburg/Loudonville) and Ream both had 10 total tackles. Senior linebacker Brian Hahn (Upper Sandusky) added nine hits, including two for loss.

Michael Nettling led John Carroll with a game-high 14 stops, while Ken Bevington finished with nine, including four for loss and two sacks.

The Pioneers return home in week eight to play host to Ohio Northern University Saturday (Oct. 20) afternoon. It will be Homecoming for Marietta and kickoff is slated for 1:30 p.m. at Don Drumm Stadium.