MARIETTA, Ohio — The Marietta College football team opened the 2009 season with a 20-14 victory over visiting Thiel College from Greenville, Pa, in the fifth annual River City Bowl on Saturday (Sept. 5) afternoon. The Pioneers (1-0) have now won 14 of the last 16 season openers, which includes a 21-18 win over the Tomcats (0-1) a year ago. [Box Score]

Local fans wanting to relive the victory can tune to channel 15 on Suddenlink cable Sunday (Sept. 6) at 10 a.m. as WCMO-TV will re air the telecast that they produced during the game. The 2009 Ohio Athletic Conference Preview Show will air prior to the Marietta and Thiel game at 9 a.m.

Thiel began the game with the ball and worked its way down to the Marietta 28-yard line before missing a 45-yard field goal attempt. The Pioneers cashed in on their first possession with an 8-play, 72-yard drive that featured a balanced attack of crisp passing from sophomore quarterback Andrew Keller (Cincinnati, Glen Este) and hard running from senior tailback Lamar Hunter (South Euclid, Brush). Keller found Hunter, the Galaxy Pizza Player of the Game, on an 18-yard catch and run to give Marietta a 7-0 lead with 6:09 to play in the first quarter.

The PIoneers held the 7-0 advantage until late in the second frame when the Tomcats tied the score at 7-7 with an 11-play, 49-yard drive. Willie Bova found tight end Dan Mckall open in the end zone for the 10-yard score with 4:52 left in the half. The teams entered the locker room locked at 7-7.

Marietta once again came out on its first possession of the half and put seven points on the scoreboard. Keller threw his second touchdown pass of the game, a 4-yard strike to freshman tight end Nathaniel Wills (Orlando, Fla., William Boone) to cap a 9-play, 61-yard drive.

After the Pioneers' defense forced a three-and-out, the offense found the end zone again to increase the lead to 20-7. This time, Keller used his legs to finish off the the 8-play, 91-yard drive by running seven yards for the score. The extra point attempt failed. The drive was ignited by a 33-yard completion to sophomore full back Mat Fling (Norton, Norton) on the first play from scrimmage.

Thiel climb back with a touchdown after scoring on its first possession of the fourth quarter. Again, it was a touchdown strike, this time of nine yards, from Bova to Mckall that accounted for the score.

Marietta's defense, however, prevented Thiel from getting any closer and a pass broken up by sophomore defensive back Rodney Endicott (Lavelette, W.Va., Wayne) sealed the victory with 29 seconds left on the clock.

Overall, Marietta out gained Thiel 310-212 on the day. The Pioneers ran for 122 yards and passed for 188 yards. The Tomcats collected 206 yards through the air but netted just six yards on the ground due to four big sacks by the Pioneer defense. Marietta was able to overcome 99 yards of penalties in the win.

Hunter carried the offense with 23 rushes for 90 yards and three receptions for 52 yards and a score. Keller completed 17-of-23 passes and threw for 188 yards and two scores. He also ran eight time for an additional 37 yards. Three receivers—Jahmaal Jones (Valrico, Fla., Bloomingdale), Chad Walker (Spring Hill, Fla., Central) and Cory Kriechbaum (Marietta, Marietta)—all had three catches in the game.

Bova finished the afternoon by completing 25-of-43 passes and throwing for 206 yards and two scores. Brendan Taylor was his favorite target, as he pulled in 14 catches for 94 yards. Mckall had both touchdown catches and finished with four grabs for 42 yards. Dan Hess carried the ball 20 time and gained 34 yards in the loss.

Marietta senior corner back Clinton Thompson (Waverly, W.Va., Williamstown) led all tacklers with 11 stops, all solo. Pioneer sophomore Dan Starr (Senecaville, Buckeye Trail) added six hits, while six others four tackles. Junior Adam Tate (Chesterhill, Federal Hocking), sophomore Cody Andrews (Carmichael, Pa., Carmichaels Area) and freshmen Gaston Hayes (Cleveland, Rhodes), Joe Terrell (Clinton, Md., Fredrick Douglas) and Kadeem Corbin (Cheltenham, Md., Fredrick Douglas) all contributed to one sack of Bova. In addition, freshman Rahkeem Caver (Hamilton, Hamilton) closed the first half and stalled a Tomcat drive with a 69-yard interception return that started in his own team's end zone. Bobby Shew paced Thiel's defense with nine stops, while Clint Walker had seven and two others had six.

The Pioneers will take a week off before returning to Don Drumm Stadium to open Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) play against Wilmington College on Sept. 19 at 6 p.m.