Marietta welcomes John Carroll to Don Drumm Stadium on Football Alumni Day
John Carroll (1-1, 0-1 OAC) at Marietta (2-0, 1-0 OAC)
6:00 p.m. • Saturday, Sept. 24 • Don Drumm Stadium

Sept. 22, 2005
MARIETTA, Ohio - The Pioneers welcome John Carroll University to Don Drumm Stadium this Saturday (Sept. 24) for a week three match-up. It is the Pioneers’ Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) home opener and Football Alumni Day at Don Drumm Stadium.

Here is a look at both teams:

John Carroll University: Head coach Regis Scafe and his squad is looking to rebound from its worst defeat in school history, a 70-0 loss to Mount Union at home Saturday (Sept. 17).

The Blue Streaks rank sixth overall in total offense in the OAC after week two. They are ranked seventh in passing, averaging 169 yards per game, and seventh in rushing, averaging 101.5 yards per game. John Carroll’s defense surrendered 687 yards in its loss to the Purple Raiders.

Two Blue Streaks quarterbacks have seen most of the time under center in 2005. Doug Phillips has started both games and completed 17-of-36 passes for 148 yards and a touchdown. He also leads the team in rushing, averaging 49.5 yards per game. Backup Steve Spence has gone 11-of-29 for 142 yards in his first two games. Brandon Oing, the featured running back, is averaging 44.0 yards per game this season. The Blue Streaks have a core of receivers, including Tommy McDonald, who leads the team with eight catches and Joseph Conrad, who averages 64.5 yards per game.

The JCU defense is led by linebacker David Graves, who is averaging 7.5 tackles per game. Defensive backs Ray Catania (13 tackles, one interception), Carlo Melarango (13 tackles, two interceptions), Anthony Fanelli (four tackles, three interceptions) and Angelo Cua (10 tackles) have also been busy this fall. Fanelli is JCU’s main return threat on special teams.

Marietta College: A week three match up with the John Carroll Blue Streaks is yet again standing between the Pioneers and a 3-0 start to their season. Marietta was able to open its OAC schedule with a 46-21 victory at Heidelberg on Saturday (Sept. 17).

The Pioneers enter week three with the second-ranked offense (417.5 ypg.) in the Conference, behind Mount Union (563.0 ypg.). Marietta leads the OAC in rushing, averaging 238.0 yards per game. The Navy Blue & White’s defense comes in ranked seventh overall, allowing 240.5 total yards per game. Marietta also leads the league in punting, while it is second in turnover margin at +3. The Pioneers, however, are last in penalties, committing 16 for 168 yards.

Individually, Steven Wagner is the only OAC rusher averaging over 100 yards per contest. He has totaled 267 yards and three rushing touchdowns in MC’s two games. Junior quarterback Jason Vrable ranks fourth in the league in both passing yards per game (168.0) and passing efficiency (181.5). He has completed 18-of-28 passes for 336 yards and two touchdown. Vrable has also rushed for one score. Paul Cirino, who sat out against Heidelberg, leads the team with five receptions. Both Nic North and Jason Curry have each pulled in four catches this season.

Defensively, Brian Hahn leads the squad with 14 tackles and two sacks. Clay Ream has also collected 13 stops and a sack, while Cody Venderlic ranks third on the team with 11 tackles. Anthony Banks (10 tackles) is the only other Pioneer with double-digit tackles. He has also pulled down two of MC’s six interceptions this season. Banks, a threat to score every time he touches the ball, is also Marietta’s punt and kick return leader this season.

GAME TIME: 6 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 24, Don Drumm Stadium.

THE COACHES: Marietta’s Todd Glaser is in his third season with the Pioneers. Glaser earned his bachelor’s degree from Wisconsin Eau-Claire in 1993. John Carroll’s Regis Scafe is in his seventh year as the Blue Streaks’ head football coach. Scafe is a 1971 graduate of Case Western.

ALL-TIME SERIES: The Blue Streaks and the Pioneers meet for the 18th time on the gridiron. JCU leads the all-time series 16-0-1. Marietta and John Carroll tied 21-21 in 1995 on a muddy Don Drumm Stadium.

LAST MEETING: Last year the Blue Streaks pulled out a 20-3 week-three victory in the first night game at Don Shula Stadium. The Pioneers lone score came on a Bobby Lemaster’s 27-yard field goal.

ALUMNI DAY: The Pioneers would like to welcome all MC Football alumni in attendance for today’s festivities. The coaching staff and players appreciate your support throughout the year.

NOTABLE: The Pioneers are looking to begin the year 3-0 for the first time since 1972... Wagner has now rushed for over 100 yards in each of the last six games and 11 times in his career... Marietta is 8-3 when he eclipses the 100-yard mark... The Pioneers’ five interceptions this past weekend against Heidelberg was the most since 2000 when they pulled down six versus the Student Princes... The last time a MC quarterback threw for over 200 yards was on Oct. 18, 2003, when Justin Papania threw for 340 yards against Ohio Northern.

GREAT COVERAGE: Saturday’s football game is being broadcast live by WMRT-FM 88.3, Marietta College’s campus radio station. Their broadcast can also be heard live online at www.mariettaonline.com. In addition, WMOA-AM 1490 and WJCU-FM 88.7 will broadcast the game live.

NEXT GAME: The Pioneers welcome the Otterbein Cardinals to Don Drumm Stadium, October 1. Kickoff is slated for 6 p.m.