Marietta suffers 20-7 Homecoming loss to John Carroll
Vrable sets single-season passing record in loss

Oct. 14, 2006
MARIETTA, Ohio — Marietta College football's bid to finally defeat John Carroll and stay in the upper tier of the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) standings failed to pan out Saturday (Oct. 14) as the Blue Streaks topped the Pioneers 20-7 in front of the Marietta Homecoming crowd.

With the loss, Marietta falls to 3-3 on the year and 2-3 in the OAC. John Carroll improved to 2-4 overall and 2-3 in Conference play. The Streaks are now 18-0-1 against the Pioneers.

Senior quarterback Jason Vrable (South Park) broke his own single-season school record for passing yards in the game, increasing his season total to 1,936 yards. Vrable completed 19-of-36 passes for 169 yards and one touchdown—an 8-yard strike to senior Nic North (Madison, Wis./East)—to account for the Pioneers' only score. The Blue Streak defense, however, picked off three Vrable passes, two after a Pioneer receiver initially had his hands on the ball.

Marietta finished with just 184 yards of total offense, with 15 coming on the ground. John Carroll racked up 376 total yards—238 yards through the air and 138 yards on the ground—in the win.

Mark Petruziello, who made his return under center after missing the last few games with an injury, completed 12-of-21 passes for 210 yards and a score. He also ran for 31 yards. The Streaks' Matt Divis added 88 yards and a score on the ground.

Senior Jason Curry (Akron/Springfield) pulled in five receptions for 52 yards and moved into second place on MC's all-time reception yard list with 1,608 career yards. Junior Chad McDaniel (Wooster/Triway) added five grabs for 45 yards and North caught four passes for 24 yards and the score.

John Carroll's receivers were led by senior Joseph Konrad with five catches for 138 yards.

Senior J.J. Wheeler (Zanesville/Maysville) had a team-high eight tackles, while junior Brian Hahn (Upper Sandusky) and Pete Hashman (St. Marys, W.Va.) each added seven stops for Marietta. Four of Hashman's tackles were for a loss and three were sacks. He also forced a fumble. Junior Clay Ream (Burbank/Northwestern) had the Pioneers' lone turnover when he picked off a pass and returned it 14 yards.

JCU was paced defensively by Luke Palmisano with eight tackles, including seven solo, and one interception.

The Blue Streaks took the early 3-0 lead following an 11-play, 54-yard drive after the opening kickoff. Chris Melhorn connected on a 28-yard field goal.

Melhorn gave John Carroll a 6-0 lead with a 44-yard field goal with 9:23 remaining in the second quarter.

The Blue Streaks were able to extend their lead to 13-0 at the half when they turned an interception into a touchdown with just under five minutes remaining. Petruziello found a streaking Konrad for a 34-yard score on the first play of the possession.

JCU went ahead 20-0 with 6:40 left in the third, when Divis ran it in from one-yard out.

Marietta's lone touchdown was set up by the ensuing kickoff. It was returned by senior Sean Callahan (Bryn Mawr, Pa./Randor) 48 yards to the John Carroll 12 yard line. The Streaks avoided the Pioneers' deep backs all afternoon and it finally cost them, as three plays later, Vrable found North open in the back of the end zone for an 8-yard score.

The Pioneers had plenty of opportunities to get back in the game, but turnover and missed chances cost them severely.

Marietta will look to bounce back against a tough Ohio Northern squad. The 17th-ranked Polar Bears, who fell 17-10 to No. 3 Capital Saturday, will host the Pioneers in a 1:30 p.m. game next Saturday (Oct. 21).

All of the action can be heard locally on WMRT-FM 88.3, WMOA-AM 1490 and online, through Stretch Internet, at pioneers.marietta.edu/onlinebroadcasts.