NEW CONCORD, Ohio — A goal line stand on the final play helped propel host Muskingum College to a 15-12 comeback victory over the Marietta College football team in a Shrine Game battle between rivals Saturday (Oct. 24) afternoon. The victory helped the Fighting Muskies snap an 8-game Pioneer win streak in the series and improve to 2-5 overall, 2-4 in the Ohio Athletic Conference. Marietta fell to 2-5, 1-5 in the OAC. [Box Score]

Marietta, who led 12-9, entering the final quarter but trailed 15-12 with 3:43 to play, began its final drive on its own 49-yard line. The Pioneers worked their way down to the 1-yard line with a 12-play drive only for senior Lamar Hunter (South Euclid, Brush) to be stopped short of the end zone as time expired.

Neither team could put together much offense on day, which featured wet conditions as the game went on. Marietta finished with 226 yards of total offense, while Muskingum ended with 174.

Hunter once again anchored the Pioneers' attack with second straight 100-yard game and third of the season. Hunter carried the ball a career-high 40 times and ran for 151 yards and both Marietta touchdowns. He ran it in from 3-yards out in the final minute of the first frame to pull Marietta within a point, 7-6, and then again with 6:01 to play in the third quarter, which helped the Pioneers obtained a 12-6 advantage.

Marietta looked as if it would take the early lead on Saturday, but yet another red zone turnover stalled the drive on the 1-yard line and gave the ball back to Muskingum at its own 20-yard line. The Muskies took advantage with an 11-play, 80-yard drive that was capped off by a 7-yard pass from Jake Burns to Dwight Sutton, giving Muskingum a 7-0 lead with 10:08 remaining in the half.

Hunter's first touchdown run helped Marietta entered intermission down just one point, 7-6. The Pioneers looked to have tied the game with a successful extra point, but a holding penalty negated the attempt and the second try was missed.

Hunter then put his squad ahead 12-7 when he put the finishing touches on a 5-play, 17-yard drive that was set up when sophomore Chad Walker (Spring Hill, Fla., Central) blocked a punt deep in Muskingum territory and freshman Quincy Bell (Groveport, Groveport Madison) recovered the ball in the red zone.

Muskingum edged closer in the final minute of the third period when a downed punt gave Marietta the ball on its own half-yard line. The Muskie defense stopped Hunter in the backfield on the first play from scrimmage for the safety, which made the score 12-9.

Muskingum used the momentum to put together an 8-play, 47-yard drive on its ensuing possession to regain the lead for good 15-12. A Pioneer pass interference call gave the Muskies the ball first-and-goal on the 2-yard line and Palmer Smith punched it into the end zone of the next play.

Marietta had three more possession in the final 12 minutes but could not get back the lead before time expired.

Sophomore Andrew Keller (Cincinnati, Glen Este), who returned after missing last week with an injury, finished the day 6-of-16 and threw for 78 yards. Three of those receptions went to Walker, who finished with 57 yards.

Smith led Muskingum's rushing attack with 18 carries for 64 yards, while Burns added 16 rushes for 31 yards. Burns also completed 9-of-16 passes for 76 yards and a score. Ben Smith pulled in a game-best 4 catches for 41 yards in the win.

Senior defensive end Adam Tate (Chesterhill, Federal Hocking) and sophomore linebacker Kevin Donnellan (Parma, Normandy) led Marietta with 7 total stops each, while three other Pioneers had 5 on the day. Three Fighting Muskies finished with 8 hits, while two others had 7 in the win.

Marietta is back in action Saturday (Oct. 31) afternoon when it plays host to Otterbein College on Senior Day at Don Drumm Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 1:30 p.m.