Ream tops list of seven Pioneer football players who earn All-OAC honors

Nov. 21, 2006
MARIETTA, Ohio — The Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) football special awards, as voted on by the League coaches, were released Tuesday (Nov. 21) and seven Pioneers earned recognition, including junior nose tackle Clay Ream (Burbank/Northeastern) who was awarded All-OAC first team.

Marietta had four players—senior corner back J.J. Wheeler (Zanesville/Maysville) and juniors quarterback Jason Vrable (South Park, Pa.), wide out Chad McDaniel (Wooster/Triway) and offense lineman Jason MacKay (Bexley)—receive All-OAC second team honors, while senior Jason Curry (Akron/Springfield) and junior Brian Hahn (Upper Sandusky) got honorable mention.

Ream, a 2005 All-OAC second team selection, anchored a veteran defensive line from the middle this season. Ream finished tied for sixth in total tackles (46) and led the squad in tackles for loss (11) and forced fumbles (2). He also added three quarterback hurries, one interception and one fumble recovery.

Vrable, who will be playing in the All-American Bowl on Dec. 9 in Minneapolis, Minn., closed out his career by moving into sixth place on the OAC's single-season passing attempts list (375) and ninth on its single-season passing yards list (2,845). Vrable, the single-season and career record holder in every Pioneer passing category, went 202-of-375 (.539) and threw for 2,845 yards with 20 touchdowns and 15 interceptions this season. He led the league and was fourth in the nation in both passing yards per game (284.5) and total offense per game (312.3). In his career, Vrable completed 495-of-902 passes for 6,102 yards and 41 touchdowns.

McDaniel, the grandson of longtime Head Coach Joe McDaniel, finished second on the team in receptions (49), receiving yards (741) and touchdown catches (5). He ranked fifth in the OAC in both receptions per game (4.9) and receiving yards per game (74.1). McDaniel had a career day against Otterbein on Sept. 23, tying the single-game record for receptions (14) and setting a new mark for receiving yards (210).

MacKay, anchored the offensive line from the right tackle position in 2006. He played a key role in the Pioneer passing attack, defending the blind side of the left handed Vrable. MacKay and the line allowed just 14 sacks, which ranked third in the OAC.

Wheeler, the lone Pioneer defender named to the second team, finished third on the team in total tackles (59). He also added two interceptions, both against Wilmington, to go along with five pass break ups on the year.

Hahn, the heart of the defense at middle linebacker, received honorable mention for the second straight year. Hahn led the squad in total tackles (83), which ranked sixth in the OAC. 48 of those stops were solo hits. He also added 10.5 tackles for loss, four pass break ups, three sacks, one interception, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery in 2006.

Curry, a 2005 second team selection as both a punter and return specialist, earned honorable mention as a wide receiver this season. Curry set a new single-season school record in receiving yards (760) and touchdowns (8). He finished fifth in the OAC in receiving yards per game (76.0). Curry was also third on the team in catches (45) this year. Curry finished his career as the all-time leader in touchdown receptions (21), while second in receiving yards (1,835) and third in receptions (122). He also set new career marks for punts (207) and punting yards (7,486).

The Pioneers (6-4, 5-4 OAC) set five single-season team records in 2006 and finished in at three-way tie for fourth place in the OAC. Marietta set a new passing standard for attempts (380), completions (203), yards (2845), touchdowns (20) and first downs (119).