Otterbein visits Marietta for a week four showdown
Otterbein (2-1, 1-1 OAC) at Marietta (2-1, 1-1 OAC)
6:00 p.m. • Saturday, Oct. 1 • Don Drumm Stadium

Sept. 30, 2005
MARIETTA, Ohio - The Pioneers welcome Otterbein College to Don Drumm Stadium this Saturday (Oct. 1) for a week four match-up. Both teams currently sit 2-1 overall and 1-1 in the Ohio Athletic Conference.

Here is a look at both teams:

Otterbein College: For the second consecutive week, Marietta must go to battle against a team coming off a lopsided loss to Mount Union. This week, head coach Joe Loth and his Otterbein squad is looking to rebound from 55-7 loss to the Purple Raiders in Alliance Saturday (Sept. 24).The Cardinals are in search of their best start since 1999, when they began the season 4-1.

Otterbein has proven to be a completely pass orientated team so far this season, averaging 258.0 yards per game (ranked second in the OAC) through the air, while only 4.3 yards per game (ranked 10th in the OAC) on the ground.

Overall, the Cardinals sit sixth in total offense, accumulating 262.3 yards per contest. Otterbein’s offensive line has struggle to protect its quarterback, allowing a league-high 13 sacks in the first three weeks. The Cardinals are also just converting 5-of-12 (.417) of their red zone opportunities into touchdowns.

Individually, sophomore quarterback Paul Stelzer has completed 69-of-114 (.605) pass attempts for 765 yards and five touchdowns. His 255.0 passing average per game ranks second in the OAC. He has also thrown four interceptions. Stelzer’s favorite receivers have been Josh Bope (17-205-1), Kyle Wolfe (16-169-1) and Ricardo Lenhart (13-134-1).

Otterbein’s defense is led by sophomore Kieran Johnson, who has recorded a team-high 36 tackles, including 3.5 for a loss and two sacks. Junior Morgan Adkins is second on the squad with 30 stops.

Marietta College: Just as it was in 2004, the Pioneers have the opportunity to start the season 3-1, but in order to do so, they must defeat the Otterbein Cardinals in week four.

Marietta’s offense ranks fourth in total offense, averaging 380.0 yards per game. The Pioneers average a league-best 225.0 yards per game on the ground. MC has collected 55 first downs, converted 22-of-47 third downs and scored touchdowns nine of the 11 times it has been in the red zone in three games.

The Pioneers’ offensive line, which is led by senior center Joe Brennan has allowed just seven sacks in 2005.

Senior Steven Wagner remains the only running back in the OAC who averages over 100 yards per game. He has accumulated 346 yards and three scores on 69 carries, for an average of 115.3 yards per game. In just two games, sophomore Joe Webb has added 75.6 yards and 1.0 touchdown per game in the backup tailback role.

Quarterback Jason Vrable has completed 34-of-63 attempts for 414 yards and two touchdowns this season. Junior Nic North leads the team in receptions with seven for 97 yards, while Wagner has pulled in six grabs for 61 yards and one touchdown.

The Pioneers’ defense ranks fourth against the rush (109.0) and ninth against the pass (258.7) in the OAC this season. Marietta has a +4 turnover margin, which is second-best in the conference. The Pioneers have also totaled six sacks and picked off seven passes this season.

Sophomore Brian Hahn leads the squad in tackles with 21, tackles for loss with 2.5 and sacks with two. Sophomore Clay Ream sits second on the team with 18 stops, while Cody Venderlic has totaled 16, including a team-high 10 solo tackles. Both juniors Lonnie Meyers and Anthony Banks have pulled in two interceptions this season. Junior Jason Curry averages 38.4 yards per punt.

GAME NOTES

GAME TIME: 6 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 1, 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. Otterbein’s Joe Loth is also in his third year with the Cardinals. Loth is a 1991 graduate of Otterbein.

ALL-TIME SERIES: The Cardinals and the Pioneers meet for the 78th time on the gridiron. Marietta, who won last season’s match up, leads the all-time series, which dates back to MC’s first season of football in 1892, 40-37. Otterbein, however, has won five of the last six meetings. All three of the last meetings have been decided by a touchdown or less.

LAST MEETING: Last year the Pioneers squeaked out a 24-23 victory in Westerville thanks in part to Chris Sidick’s transition from defense to offense. It was a two-yard touchdown pass from Jason Vrable to Bryan Adams, however, that sealed the one-point victory.

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, WOBN-FM 101.5, Otterbein’s campus radio station, is providing live coverage of the game.

NEXT GAME: On Saturday, Oct. 8, the Pioneers hit the road to take on the Capital Crusaders at 1:30 p.m., while the Cardinals take on Baldwin-Wallace in Westerville at 6 p.m.

MOVING UP THE CHARTS: Senior running back Steven Wagner has collected 2,681 career rushing yards, moving within 600 yards of fifth place on Marietta’s all-time rushing list.

NOTEWORTHY: Marietta’s defensive backs coach Denny Ziegler, a 2004 graduate of Otterbein, will face his alma mater for the first time. Ziegler, a former corner back, was a three-year letterwinner with the Cardinals.

PROBABLE STARTERS