John Carroll topples Marietta 48-17 to extend streak
Pioneers fall to 0-17-1 in all-time series with Blue Streaks

Sept. 24, 2005
MARIETTA, Ohio - A day that started with so much promise, ended with a familiar, disappointing result Saturday (Sept. 24), as Marietta entered its week three match up looking to move to 3-0, only to fall to the John Carroll Blue Streaks. It was the second straight season that this scenario played out, this time it was a 48-17 loss on the Don Drumm Stadium turf to deny the Pioneers its first 3-0 start since 1972. Marietta has still never beaten the Blue Streaks, falling to 0-17-1 in the all-time series.

John Carroll (2-1, 1-1 OAC) came out of the tunnel with a purpose, trying to bounce back from a week two 70-0 loss to national power Mount Union. The Blue Streaks set the tone on their first drive, a four-play, 63-yard race down the field, which was capped by a 42-yard pass from Doug Phillips (Strongsville) to tailback Brandon Oing (Uniontown/Green) to give JCU a 7-0 advantage.

Marietta (2-1, 1-1 OAC) responded with a 10-play, 67-yard drive, but had to settle for a 23-yard Nick Manson (Canal Fulton/Akron Manchester) after a Steven Wagner (Harwick, PA/Fox Chapel) touchdown was negated by penalty.

Two short touchdown runs on consecutive JCU drives followed, giving the Blue Streaks a 20-3 with 12:14 to go in the half. John Carroll extended its lead to 27-3 late in the frame when Phillips found Joseph Konrad (Warren, MI/De La Salle) for an 11-yard score.

JCU found the end zone on its first possession of the second half when Phillips hooked up with Matt Matteucci (Mentor/Lake Catholic) for a 16-yard touchdown to give the Blue Steaks a 34-3 lead, which stood for the remainder of the third quarter.

Phillips used his legs to put JCU ahead 41-3 early in the fourth, when he ran 19 yards for a score.

Marietta's Jason Curry (Akron/Springfield) returned the ensuing kick 93 yards to the JCU two-yard line, setting up a Joe Webb (Monessen, PA/Ringgold) two-yard touchdown run and bringing the score to 41-10 with 13:32 to go in the game.

Another two-yard touchdown run by Webb on the Pioneers' next possession, pulled Marietta within 24 points, 41-17, but JCU quickly responded with a 34-yard touchdown pass from backup Matt Martin (Massillon/Washington) to Gene Natale (Erie, PA/Cathedral Prep) to complete the evening's scoring at 48-17.

Overall, the crowd of close to 1,600 saw John Carroll rack up 622 total yards of offense, as compared to Marietta's 305.

Phillips finished 17-of-27 for 345 yards and three scores, while also running for 51 yards and another two touchdowns. Oing finished with 16 carries for 66 yards and a one score. Tommy McDonald (Uniontown/St. Vincent-St. Mary) pulled in seven receptions for 93 yards to lead the JCU receivers.

For Marietta, Jason Vrable (South Park, PA) finished 9-of-1 for 78 yards. He threw one interception and ran for 38 yards. Wagner was held to 15 carries for 79 yards, sitting out much of the second half. Webb totaled 70 yards on 14 carries in a backup role. Nic North (Madison, WI/East) pulled in a team-high three receptions for 31 yards in the loss.

Defensive leaders for John Carroll included Angelo Cua (Westerville/St. Francis DeSales) and Luke Palmisano (Willoughby Hills/Lake Catholic), who each finished with five tackles. Anthony Fanelli (Green/Archbishop Hoban) added four stops and an interception in the win.

Marietta's defense was led by Brian Hahn (Upper Sandusky) with seven tackles and Lonnie Meyers (Cumberland, MD/Fort Hill) with six stops and MC's lone interception.

The Pioneers will look to regroup when they play host to Otterbein Saturday (Oct. 1) at Don Drumm Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 6 p.m.