Eric Dowler
dowlere@marietta.edu

On their last road game of the year, the Marietta College football team traveled to Wilmington, hoping for their 3rd consecutive victory. The team showed up to play on both sides of the ball, and special teams led the Pioneers to a 27-14 victory over the Quakers. The win improves Marietta to 6-3 overall and 5-3 in the OAC.

Marietta ’s defense made a big play blocking a 35-yard field goal in Wilmington’s opening drive. But both defenses held strong during the first half until Marietta got things going with a 73 yard pass from Jason Vrable to Jason Curry late in the second quarter to make it 7-0.

An early second-half pick for Wilmington returned for a TD and tied the game 7-7. Marietta then took the lead with Corey Jacobs’s five-yard run early in the fourth, making it 14-7. The Quakers answered with a 31 yard TD pass with 8:26 remaining, tying the game 14-14.

On the ensuing kickoff, Marietta’s special teams came up huge as Rich Castagna returned it 86 yards for a TD that made it 20- 14. On the Pioneers’ next possession, Vrable hooked up with John Bokat for a nine-yard TD pass, making it 27-14. Marietta finished with 421 total yards, 297 passing and 124 rushing.

Along with an all-around strong game came five individual single-season school records, three team single-season records, and three individual career records. Senior Jason Vrable broke the school record (also team) for individual passing attempts. Except for touchdown passes in a season, Vrable has every single and career passing category record. Jason only needs one more TD to hold every record in the books. Two of Marietta’s wide receivers, Jason Curry and Chad McDaniel, broke the single-season record for receiving yards. McDaniel, at 741 receiving yards, is only 12 yards ahead of Curry (729).

Not to be disappointed trailing McDaniel, Curry also broke two career records and tied another. The receiver tied Marietta’s career record for receiving touchdowns at 19 and broke the record for all-time leader in punts (202) and punting yards (7,355).

The Pioneers hope to win their fourth consecutive game this season against No.1 Mount Union (9-0, 8-0 OAC) at home this weekend. Marietta will have their hands full taking on the defending NCAA Division III National Champions.

The Purple Raiders hold an advantage, averaging 506 yards per game compared to Marietta’s 375. The Raiders, who like to run the ball averaging 266.2 yards per game, will match up against Marietta’s strong running defense that is only allowing 107.7 yards per game. Marietta will need to keep the ball in the air as the Raiders’ running defense only allows 18.9 yards per game. In the air, Mount Union throws for an average of 239.8 yards per game compared to Marietta’s 296.9.

Before the 1:30 p.m. final home game kickoff, Marietta will be honoring their seniors, who have helped turn the Pioneer football team into a strong winning program. For more information, contact Sports Information Director Dan May at mayd@marietta. edu.

Mailing address: Marietta College Box A-20, Marietta, Ohio 45750-4000
Physical address: McKinney Media Center, 508 Putnam St, Marietta, Ohio
Phone: (740) 376-4555
E-mail: marc@marietta.edu