Pioneers open 2006 season with a 28-20 road win against Emory & Henry
Vrable throws for 374 yards and two touchdowns to Curry in victory

Sept. 2, 2006
EMORY, Va. — The Marietta College football team made sure coach Curt Wiese did not wait long to taste his first victory as collegiate head coach. The Pioneers took care of business on week one, posting a 28-20 win over host Emory & Henry (Va.) Saturday (Sept. 2).

The Pioneers, who have now won seven straight season openers, got an outstanding performance from senior quarterback Jason Vrable (South Park, Pa.). Vrable connected on 22-of-36 attempts for 374 yards and two touchdowns. The single-season record holder for completions and passing yards came two yards shy of tying his career-best in passing yards. The captain also ran for 15 yards and Marietta’s first score of the game — a six-yard run with 14:52 left in the second quarter.

“Vrable was awesome today,” Wiese said. “The offense as a whole played pretty well. We stumbled in the red-zone a couple of times, but overall it was a good start to the season as long as we improve each week.”

Vrable’s favorite target on Saturday was his speedy classmate Jason Curry (Akron/Springfield). The duo hooked up seven times for 154 yards, including two touchdown passes. Curry pulled in a 75-yard touchdown pass with 12:06 in the second frame to five MC a 13-0 lead and the caught a 25-yard pass to close out the Pioneers’ scoring with 7:01 left in the fourth quarter.

Three Pioneers — seniors Nic North (Madison, Wis./East) and Anthony Banks (Colonial Heights, Va./Thomas Dale) and junior Chad McDaniel (Wooster/Triway) — each pulled in three receptions in the victory.

Marietta’s rushing attack compiled 97 yards on 39 carries. Sophomore Garrett Banks (Barberton) led the way with 21 carries for 76 yards, while junior Joe Webb (Monessen, Pa./Ringgold) added five rushes for 15 yards and a touchdown, the sixth of his career.

The Pioneers’ defense had a solid debut, allowing 96 yards on the ground and 124 yards through the air. Emory & Henry’s Todd Woods completed 15-of-27 passes with two touchdowns. Matt Gillespie, the Mount Union transfer, finished with 13 carries for 52 yards and a score.

“Our defense stepped up today,” Wiese said. “We gave up two big plays, but other than that, coach (Ben) Halder had his men prepared and the executed very well. It is a great way to start the season.”

Juniors Clay Ream (Burbank/Northwestern) and Brian Hahn (Upper Sandusky) led the defense with nine stops each. Both had 1.5 tackles for a loss.

Senior Sean Callahan (Bryn Mawr, Pa./Randor) provided the special teams play of the game in the third quarter to set up the Pioneers’ go-ahead touchdown. The linebacker broke through the line and blocked a Wasp punt deep in Emory & Henry territory. Two plays later, Webb scored from three-yards out to give MC a 20-14 lead. A two-point conversion game the Pioneers a seven point lead.

Marietta will take a week off before returning to action Saturday (Sept. 16) at home against Baldwin-Wallace. Kickoff is slated for 6 p.m. at Don Drumm Stadium. It will be Football Alumni Day and the second annual River City Bowl. A full day of festivities is planned.