Big second half helps Marietta defeat host Heidelberg 31-23
Dexter Hughes throw three touchdowns in victory

Oct. 27, 2007
TIFFIN, Ohio — The Marietta College football team's offense bounced back from a stagnant first half to score 24 points in its final four possessions to help the Pioneers complete the 31-23 comeback victory against host Heidelberg College Saturday (Oct. 27) afternoon at Frost-Kalnow Stadium.

The win improves Marietta's record to 2-6 overall and 2-5 in the Ohio Athletic Conference. Heidelberg falls to 3-5 overall and 2-5 in league play. It was the fourth straight victory for the Pioneers in the series.

With just a quick look at the box score it will appear that the Student Princes dominated the game. Heidelberg, who ran 81 plays, controlled the clock for 36:05. The Student Princes also racked up 481 yards of total offense, 124 on the ground and 357 through the air. However, Heidelberg had 303 of its 481 yards in the first half. On the other hand, the Pioneers, who collected just 58 yards in the first 30 minutes of play, finished with 171 yards on the ground and 197 through the air to give them 368 yards overall, 310 in the second half.

It was Marietta's bend but not break defense that allowed its offense time to complete the comeback.

The Student Princes opened the game with a 12-play, 52-yard drive, which was capped with a 36-yard field goal from Jesse Hawkins.

Marietta responded with a trick play on the ensuing kickoff. Freshman Seth Allman (North Canton/Hoover) received the kick but handed it to freshman Ryan Dawson (Parkersburg, W.Va.), who raced 80 yards for the score, giving the Pioneers a 7-3 advantage with 10:21 left in the first half.

Heidelberg reclaimed the lead with its first possession of the second quarter. Jemar Lewis finished off another 12-play drive, this time covering 82 yards, with a 13-yard touchdown run. A Hawkins' extra point made the score 10-7 in favor of the host Student Princes.

The Student Princes reached the red zone again as the half winded down. This time, the Pioneers' defense kept them out of the end zone and forced a 20-yard field goal attempt. Hawkins converted it to stretch the lead to 13-7 at the half.

Heidelberg added another touchdown on its second possession of the third quarter. Steve West found Dawond Roddy open for a 16-yard touchdown pass to give the Student Princes a 20-7 lead with 3:50 to play in the frame.

Marietta's offense finally got going from there. Sophomore quarterback Dexter Hughes (Woodsfield/Monroe Central) found senior wide out Chad McDaniel (Wooster/Triway) open twice on the next drive. The first went for 38 yards and got the ball down to the Heidelberg 11-yard line. The second was a touchdown pass of six yards to pull the Pioneers within a touchdown, 20-14, with 1:09 left in the third quarter.

The Pioneers' defense forced a punt following the touchdown and then their offense went back to work. Hughes, who went 5-for-5 on the drive, hit Dawson with a 30-yard strike to give Marietta a 21-20 lead with 9:45 to play.

Heidelberg took back the lead, 23-21, with a 34-yard Hawkins' field goal on the next possession. Marietta allowed Heidelberg into the red zone before forcing the field goal attempt.

The lead changed hands for the final time when the Pioneers answered the Student Princes' field goal with a field goal of their own. Junior Pat Lane (Cutler/Warren Local) hit from 31-yards to give Marietta a 24-23 advantage.

Marietta's defense the forced another punt and its offense sealed the win with an eight-play, 69-yard drive, which was capped by a two-yard touchdown pass from Hughes to Dawson on fourth and goal with 19 seconds on the clock. Lane's extra point provided the final point in a 31-23 Pioneer victory.

Hughes finished the afternoon 14-of-22 and threw for 197 yards and a career-high three touchdowns. It was the fourth straight game that he did not throw an interception.

Senior running back Joe Webb (Monessen, Pa./Ringgold) had his second 100-yard rushing game of the year, finishing with 13 carries for 101 yards. Sophomore Lamar Hunter (South Euclid/Brush) added five carries for 34 yards, junior Garrett Banks (Barberton) had six rushes for 21 yards and sophomore George Davis (Warren/Newton Falls) contributed four carries for 14 yards for a backfield the amassed 171 rushing yards.

Dawson pulled in a game-high seven receptions for 56 yards and two scores. McDaniel had four catches for 70 yards and a touchdown.

West finished the day 25-of-38 and threw for 357 yards and one score. Lewis collected 77 yards rushing on 15 carries, while Roddy had six grabs for 89 yards and a touchdown.

Senior Brian Hahn (Upper Sandusky), the OAC's second leading tackler, added to his season total with a career-high-tying 15 total hits, including eight solo. Junior Grant Cowell (Perrysville/Loudonville) added 12 stops, while senior Clay Ream (Burbank/Northwestern) had six hits, including two sacks. Vaughn Klein had a team-high nine stops for Heidelberg in the loss.

Marietta will look to win two straight when it plays host to Wilmington College (2-5, 2-6 OAC) Saturday (Nov. 3) afternoon. The game will be the final home game of the season and Senior Day for 20 players. Kickoff is slated for 1:30 p.m. The game will be carried live locally by WMRT-FM 88.3 and available online at http://pioneers.marietta.edu.