Marietta knocks off rival Muskingum 12-7

Oct. 23, 2004
NEW CONCORD, Ohio - For the fifth straight year the game between two southeast Ohio rivals came down to a final possession and for the fourth consecutive time Marietta was able to pull out the victory.

The game was a tale of two halves, as the Pioneers (4-3, 3-3 OAC) scored all of their points in the first frame and held off the Fighting Muskies (0-7, 0-6 OAC) with three red zone stands in the final minutes to secure the 12-7 win.

A Muskingum turnover led to Marietta's first points of the game, as senior Brett Munn (Newbury) forced and recovered a fumble on a punt and senior Bobby Lemasters (Winfield, WV) connected on a 42-yard field goal to give the Pioneers a 3-0 lead midway through the first quarter.

Marietta forced Muskingum to punt on its next drive and junior Steven Wagner (Harwick, PA/Fox Chapel) scampered 60 yards for a touchdown on the first play from scrimmage to give MC the 9-0 lead. Muskingum blocked the extra point.

The score remained the same until the Muskies' second possession of the second half, when Trevor Cooper put the home team on the board with a 8-yard touchdown run with 7:21 to play in the quarter. The extra point pulled Muskingum within a touchdown, but neither team could add any points and Marietta held on for its fourth win of the season.

The win, the most for a Marietta team since 1998, wasn't secured without the usual drama that surrounds these two rivals. Muskingum was able to reach the red zone in each of its final three possessions. Munn ended one threat with an interception in the end zone. Muskingum senior quarterback Matt Shaul's fourth down pass fell incomplete on the next opportunity. Marietta had a chance to run out the clock with 1:25 to play, but Wagner fumbled deep in Marietta's own territory giving Muskingum one last chance. Again the Marietta defense came up big, stopping the Fighting Muskies on fourth down before finally running out the clock and escaping New Concord with the 12-7 win.

Wagner finished the afternoon with 21 carries for 114 yards and a touchdown. It was the third time the junior eclipsed the century mark this season and each time MC was victorious.

Sophomore quarterback Jason Vrable (South Park, PA) completed 11-of-17 passes for 91 yards. He was sacked once and rushed for six yards.

Sophomore Nic North (Madison, WI/Madison East) pulled in three grabs for 28 yards to lead Marietta's receivers.

Cooper gained 150 yards on 31 carries for Muskingum. Shaul finished 7-of-14 for 50 yards after entering the game in the second half. Andy Weiss and Ty Jenkins each caught three passes.

Lowell Warden (Vincent/Warren) and Nate Brownrigg (Zanesville/Philo) led Marietta with 10 tackles in the win. Thadd Sharrett (Circleville) had Marietta's second interception.

The Pioneers were out gained 270-to-220 in the contest and Muskingum held the ball for 34:33 in the loss. Each team totaled two sacks.

Marietta will look for its fifth win at home Saturday (Oct. 30) when they host Wilmington at 6 p.m.