Pioneers win season opener 13-8 over Spartans

Sept. 4, 2004
MARIETTA, Ohio - The 2004 Marietta College football opened their season with a 13-8 victory over visiting Dubuque (IA) this afternoon (Sept. 4) on Community Day, which celebrated the first collegiate game at the newly renovated Don Drumm Stadium.

The Pioneers (1-0) never trailed this afternoon and scored all of their points in the second quarter, and the held on for the five point win.

Jason Curry (Akron/Springfield) put Marietta on the board first with 75-yard touchdown reception from sophomore Jason Vrable (South Park, PA) with 14:14 to go in the second quarter.

Joe Webb (Monessen, PA/Ringgold) added a 1-yard run with 13 seconds to play in the half, giving MC a 13-0 lead after 30 minutes.

Dubuque (0-1) blocked a Marietta punt for a safety with 10:32 remaining in the third quarter. Nick Norman found Daunta Peterson in the end zone for a score midway through the fourth quarter to pull Dubuque within five, but the Pioneers held on down the stretch for the victory.

Vrable finished the afternoon 10-of-16 for 165 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. He also gained 22 yards on five carries.

Steven Wagner (Harwick, PA/Fox Chapel) was the Pioneers' leading rusher with 27 carries for 38 yards.

Sophomore Jayson Adams (Beachwood, NJ/Monsignor Donovan) pulled in four catches for 45 yards and Darkeevin Peoples (Akron/North) added two receptions for 31 yards in the win.

J.J. Wheeler (Zanesville) was the Pioneers' leading tackler with nine. Brett Munn (Newbury) made his presence felt all over the field today. The senior co-captain finished with eight stops, broke up two passes, blocked a punt and stalled two Spartan drives with interceptions. Jeff Mast (Defiance) also collected eight tackles for the Pioneers.

Maurice Avant led Dubuque's offensive attack with 22 carries for 157 yards, while also pulling in four catches in the loss.

The Pioneers will take a week off to prepare for Heidelberg, who will come to town for Alumni Weekend (Sept. 18). Kickoff is slated for 6 p.m. Marietta will celebrate the completion of the Fields Project at halftime of the OAC opener.