Second-ranked Purple Raiders visit Don Drumm Stadium
Mount Union (5-0, 4-0 OAC) at Marietta (2-3, 1-3 OAC)
6 p.m. • Saturday, Oct. 15 • Don Drumm Stadium

Oct. 13, 2005
MARIETTA, Ohio - The Pioneers welcome No. 2 Mount Union College to Don Drumm Stadium this Saturday (Oct. 15) for a week six match-up. The Purple Raiders enter the week undefeated and in first place in the Ohio Athletic Conference, while Marietta has lost three straight and is tied for seventh in league play.

Here is a look at both teams:

MOUNT UNION: The Purple Raiders make their first trip to Don Drumm Stadium since it was renovated. The 2005 squad has picked up right where the previous teams left off, extending the school’s regular season win streak to 109 games.

Mount Union has also won an 97 straight conference games and 53 consecutive road games. The Raiders enter week six averaging 48.2 points per game, while surrendering just 8.8 per contest. Mount’s offense averages 561.4 yards per game (364.2 yards passing and 197.2 yards rushing). The Raiders are leading the league in first downs (137) and have converted 32-of-64 (.500) third downs and 25-of-30 (.833) red zone opportunities.

Quarterback Mike Jorris has completed 99-of-144 passes for 1,502 yards and 15 touchdowns. Aaron Robinson is the OAC’s top rusher, averaging 96.4 yards per game. He has scored eight touchdowns on the ground this season.

Mount Union also has the top two receivers in the league. Pierre Garcon had pulled in 37 receptions for 535 yards and eight scores, while teammate Scott Casto has caught 35 balls for 576 yards and four touchdowns.

The Raider defense has also been dominant this season. MUC allows an average of 224.0 yards per game, tops in the OAC. The Raiders have collected 15 sacks and forced 17 turnovers. The defense is led by linebacker Mike Gibbons (52 tackles and 2.5 sacks), safety Matt Kostelnik (27 tackles and two interceptions) tackle Buddy Wolf (20 tackles and 5.5 sacks) and cornerback Ross Watson (11 tackles and six interceptions).

Kicker Mike Zimmerman has connected on 31-of-33 PATs and 4-of-5 field goals this season, while punter Matt Massaro averages 35.1 yards per punt.

Marietta College: The Pioneers return home looking to snap a three-game losing streak after starting the season 2-0. The offense, which has sputtered of late, is averaging 330.8 yards per game, which ranks fifth in the OAC. Of those yards, 165.0 come on the ground, while 165.8 are through the air. Marietta has converted 32-of-81 (.395) third downs and 12-of-15 (.800) red zone chances this season. The Pioneers rank third in the league with a +3 turnover margin, having forced 15 turnovers and committing 12. The offensive line, which has been shuffled due to injuries, has allowed 16 sacks on the year.

Individually, junior quarterback Jason Vrable has completed 61-of-108 passes for 778 yards and four touchdowns. He thrown seven interceptions. Junior Nic North has been Vrable’s favorite target, pulling in 21 catches for 202 yards on the season. Junior Jason Curry ranks second on the squad with 17 receptions for 250 yards and two scores, while Steven Wagner has been found out of the backfield 10 times for 104 yards and a touchdown.

Wagner continues to be the primary ball handler and has carried it 110 times for 445 yards and four scores. Sophomore Joe Webb has also received consistent work, collecting 187 yards and two touchdowns on 40 carries.

Sophomore Nick Manson has had a solid year kicking, converting 10-of-12 PATs and 5-of-7 field goals. He hit a career-long 38-yard field goal last week against Capital. Curry, who continues to handle the punting duties, is averaging 36.6 yards per punt and has stop 10-of-34 inside opponents’ 20-yard line.

Marietta’s defense enters week six ranked ninth in total defense. It has allowed an average of 424.6 yards per game. The Pioneers rank tenth against the pass (285.6 yards per game) and sixth against the run (139.0 yards per game). Marietta has collected 10 sacks for a loss of 76 yards this season.

Individual defensive leaders include sophomore linebacker Brian Hahn, who has a team-high 41 tackles, 27 solo. He also leads Marietta in tackles for loss (6.5) and sacks (3.0). Senior linebacker Darren Marks has added 35 stops, while sophomore nose tackle Clay Ream and junior cornerback J. J. Wheeler have collected 32. Junior Anthony Banks leads the team with three picks.

GAME NOTES

GAME TIME: 6 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 15, 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. Larry Kehres, a 1971 graduate of Mount Union, is in his 20th season with his alma mater.

ALL-TIME SERIES: The Raiders and the Pioneers meet for the 44th time on the gridiron. Mount Union leads the all-time series, which dates back to 1933, 34-8-1. MUC has won the last 25 meetings. The two teams tied 0-0 in 1967.

LAST MEETING:Last year the Pioneers fell 57-0 to No. 1 Mount Union. For the Raiders, it was their 100th straight regular season victory. Mount Union’s quarterback Zac Bruney threw a career-high six touchdowns in the win. Marietta’s Steven Wagner was held to just 28 yards on 14 carries in the game. Senior Nate Brownrigg led the Pioneers’ defense with 13 tackles.

GREAT COVERAGE: Saturday’s football game is being broadcast live by WMRT-FM 88.3, Marietta College’s campus radio station, and by WMOA-AM 1490. Their broadcast can also be heard live online at www.mariettaonline.com. In addition, WRMU-FM 91.1 and WDPN-AM 1310 will be covering the game for Mount Union.

NEXT GAME: On Saturday (Oct. 22) the Pioneers welcome rival Muskingum on Homecoming, while Mount Union plays host to Ohio Northern. Both games are at 1:30 p.m.

AROUND THE OAC: All other OAC games this week are at 1:30 p.m. They include Capital at Muskingum, Heidelberg at Baldwin-Wallace, John Carroll at Wilmington and Otterbein at Ohio Northern.

PROBABLE STARTERS