Football 9/15/2009 2:14:53 PM

Marietta to open OAC slate at home against Wilmington on Sept. 19

Rahkeem Caver had a 69-yard interception against Thiel

MARIETTA, Ohio — The 2009 Marietta College football season continues Saturday (Sept. 19), when it plays host to Wilmington College. Kickoff with the Quakers is slated for 6 p.m. at Don Drumm Stadium. The Pioneers will attempt to win their OAC opener for the fourth time this decade and move to 2-0 on the young season. [Game Notes (PDF)]

Here is a look at both teams:

Wilmington College: Led by fifth-year Head Coach Barry Wulf, the Wilmington College football team enters the game in search of its first win in 2009. Wilmington ranks eighth in the OAC in scoring after scoring 18 points in its season opener. The Quakers rank sixth in total offense (313.0). They are ninth in passing (140.0) and fourth in rushing (173.0). Wilmington is the sixth-most penalized team in the OAC, giving up 73 penalty yards in week one. The Quakers have converted 2-of-2 red-zone chances (2 touchdowns) and 6-of-16 third down opportunities this season. Wilmington is controlling the clock for 32:28 while on defense for 27:32. The Quakers have collected 17 first downs, while its defense has allowed 18.

Senior Billy Blackburn has completed 11-of-22 passes and thrown for 140 yards with 2 touchdowns and 0 interceptions. Sophomore Adam Reynolds is the team's leading rusher, having run for 76 yards and 1 score on 16 carries. Senior Luke Green caught a team-high 4 passes for 42 yards and in week one.

The Quakers defense allowed 27 points last game, which ranks ninth in the OAC. Wilmington surrendered 161 yards on the ground and 289 yards through the air, which both rank eighth in the OAC. The Quakers, who have a +2 turnover margin, have compiled 2 sacks and 5 tackles for loss this season. They have allowed their opponents to convert 2-of-2 red zone chances, both touchdowns. Opponents have converted 7-of-15 third-down opportunities against Wilmington.

Junior Bryce Martin leads the squad and is second in the OAC in total tackles with 13, while junior T.J. Burbridge and senior Chris Medley have both added 8 total hits. Junior Rex Pitsinger has averaged 42.5 yards on 6 punts in 2009. Wilmington, led by senior Jeremy Stuckey, is averaging 23.8 yards on kickoff returns and 7.0 yards on punt returns.

Marietta College: Head Coach Jeff Filkovski's Marietta College football team is looking to start the year 2-0 for the first time since 2006. Marietta is averaging 20.0 points and 310.0 yards this season, which both rank seventh in the OAC. Of those yards, 122.0 come on the ground and 188.0 are through the air. The Pioneers are ranked seventh in both passing offense and rushing offense. Marietta has converted 3-of-9 third down and 3-of-3 red-zone chances (3 touchdowns). The Pioneers enter with a -1 turnover margin. Marietta trails its opponents in time of possession, holding onto the ball for an average of 29:36, while on defense for 30:24. The Pioneers are the most penalized team in the OAC, giving up 99.0 yards on 13 infractions.

Individually, sophomore quarterback Andrew Keller (Cincinnati, Glen Este) is 17-of-23 passing, throwing for 188 yards. He threw 2 touchdowns and 1 interception in week one. Senior Lamar Hunter (South Euclid, Brush) leads the ground attack with 23 rushes for 90 yards. He also caught a team-best three passes for 52 yards and 1 score.

Marietta enters the week ranked fourth in scoring defense, giving up 14 points. The Pioneers rank seventh in total defense. They are allowing 212.0 yards per game. The Pioneers rank first against the run (6.0) and sixth against the pass (206.0). Marietta has recorded 4 sacks and 8 tackles for loss to go along with 1 interception this season. The Pioneers have allowed their opponents to convert 2-of-3 red zone chances, both touchdowns. Opponents have converted 9-of-19 third-down opportunities against Marietta.

Senior Clinton Thompson (Waverly, W.Va., Williamstown) leads the team with 11 total stops, all solo, while junior Dan Starr (Senecaville, Buckeye Trail) has six hits. Freshman Sean Munfield (Marietta, Marietta) is averaging 36.7 yards on 3 punts. Marietta, sophomore Jahmaal Jones (Valrico, Fla., Bloomingdale), is averaging 11.3 yards on kickoff returns.

GAME NOTES

THE RECORDS: Saturday marks the 2009 Ohio Athletic Conference opener for both teams. Marietta enters the game 1-0, while Wilmington is 0-1. Last year, the Pioneers finished 1-8 in the OAC, and the Quakers were 4-5 in league play.

GAME TIME: 6 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 19, Don Drumm Stadium in Marietta, Ohio.

THE COACHES: Marietta's Jeff Filkovski is in his second season as the leader of the Pioneers. He is the former signal caller for the Cologne Centurions of NFL Europe. Filkovski, who earned his bachelor's degree from Allegheny College in 1991, led the Gators to a national championship in 1990. Wilmington's Barry Wulf is in his fifth year as the Quakers head football coach. The 1995 graduate of Wilmington has a career record of 11-30.

ALL-TIME SERIES: Saturday is the 19th time that the two teams will meet on the gridiron. The series began in 1915 with Marietta winning 68-7. The rivalry was renewed for eight years during the 1940s and 1950s The teams have played nine times since Wilmington joined the OAC in 2000. During that span, Marietta has won five of the nine meetings to even the all-time series at 9-9.

LAST MEETING: Marietta was plagued by six turnovers in a 34-7 road loss at Wilmington on Sept. 20, 2008. The Pioneers finished with 274 total yards—215 yards rushing and 59 yards passing. Wilmington racked up 346 yards with 114 coming on the ground and 232 coming through the air. Junior Lamar Hunter (South Euclid/Brush) led all ball carriers with 26 rushes for a career-high 172 yards. Junior Dexter Hughes (Woodsfield/Monroe Central) finished 8-of-23 and threw for 59 yards. Billy Blackburn went 17-of-32 and threw for 232 yards. He threw three touchdown passes to Jeremy Stuckey, who finished with five catches for 87 yards. Defensively, junior George Davis (Warren/Newton Falls), junior Corey Lemke (Loundonville/Loundonville) and sophomore Adam Tate (Chesterhill/Federal Hocking) all had eight tackles for Marietta, while Wilmington's Chris Medley paced all tacklers with 12 stops.

LAST GAME FOR MARIETTA: The Pioneers opened the year with a 20-14 victory over visiting Thiel, giving them a season-opening win for the 14th time in the last 16 years. Marietta accumulated 310 yards of total offense, including 122 yards on the ground. Its defense held Thiel to 212 yards but only six rushing yards. Lamar Hunter (South Euclid/Brush) carried the offense with 23 rushes for 90 yards and three receptions for 52 yards and a score. Andrew Keller (Cincinnati/Glen Este) completed 17-of-23 passes and threw for 188 yards and two scores. He also ran eight times for an additional 37 yards. Clinton Thompson (Waverly, W.Va./Williamstown) anchored the defense with 11 stops, all solo, against the Tomcats.

LAST GAME FOR WILMINGTON: The Quakers began the year with a 27-18 loss to visiting Mount St. Joseph on Sept. 5. Wilmington collected 313 total yards while giving up 450 to the Lions. Adam Reynolds led Wilmington's rushing attack with 76 yards on 16 carries. Billy Blackburn completed 11-of-22 passes for 140 yards and two touchdowns. Bryce Martin paced the Quakers' defensive effort with 13 tackles, including five solos.

RADIO COVERAGE: Marietta College is scheduled to have WMRT-FM 88.3, its student radio station, and WMOA-AM 1490 broadcast the game for Pioneer fans. The broadcasts will take the air with a short pregame at 5:50 p.m. The Wilmington College Sports Network will also be covering the game via web cast for Quaker fans around the country.

LISTEN ONLINE: Marietta College is proud to once again offer its fans on the World Wide Web a free opportunity to listen to all 10 Pioneer football games. For more information visit Marietta's athletic web site: http://pioneers.marietta.edu.

SMS SCORES: Marietta fans can receive scores and alerts directly on their cell phone by signing up at http://pioneers.marietta.edu/member/sms_signup.aspx.

PIONEER NEWSLETTER: Want all of the latest athletics news sent directly to your e-mail? If so, sign up at http://pioneers.marietta.edu/subscribe.aspx. Fans can choose which sports they would like to follow.

STAY UP TO DATE: Visit http://pioneers.marietta.edu to stay up to date with all of the Marietta College athletics news.

SCHEDULE CARDS: Free Fall Schedule Cards are now available. Stop by the athletics office to pick one up today.

MEDIA GUIDES NOW ON SALE: Pioneer fans can now purchase 2009 fall sport media guides. They will be made available at all home contests and in the athletics office.

NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT: The OAC has three teams ranked in the d3football.com Top 25: Defending champion #1 Mount Union, #7 Ohio Northern and #19 Otterbein.

NATIONAL REPRESENTATION: Marietta's roster currently features 91 total student-athletes—52 from Ohio, 10 from Pennsylvania, 9 from Florida, 8 from West Virginia, 2 from California, Maryland and Texas and 1 from Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts and South Carolina.

CAPTAINS ANNOUNCED: Marietta College will have two captains during the 2009 season: senior defensive back George Davis (Warren/Newton Falls) and senior offensive lineman Chris Carter (Amesbury, Mass./Amesbury).

GETTING OFF TO A QUICK START: Marietta will look to get off to a fast start out of the locker room after struggling in the first half in recent years. The Pioneers were out scored 87-26 in the first quarter and 108-20 in the second quarter of 2008.

CONTROLLING THE CLOCK: Marietta will look to dominate the time of possession in 2009. Last year, the Pioneers led in time of possession in 7 games, including their game against the Tomcats. This year, Marietta will look to turn that time into more points on the scoreboard.

TURNOVERS: Marietta needs to improve its turnover margin. In 2008, the Pioneers ranked 10th in the OAC and 233rd in NCAA Division III with a -21 turnover margin.

THIS WEEK IN THE OAC: There is a full slate of games on the OAC schedule this week. Muskingum welcomes Otterbein, Ohio Northern plays host to Mount Union, and Heidelberg visits Capital at 1:30 p.m., while Baldwin-Wallace travels to John Carroll at 7 p.m.

NEXT GAME: On Sept. 26, Marietta will visiting Baldwin-Wallace for a kickoff in Berea at 6:30 p.m. Wilmington will play host to Capital at 7 p.m.

GALAXY PIZZA PLAYER OF THE GAME: Congratulations to senior Lamar Hunter (South Euclid/Brush) for being named the Galaxy Pizza Player of the Game during week 1. Hunter rushed for 90 yards and caught three passes for 52 more yards while also scoring as touchdown in Marietta's 20-14 win over Thiel. This week's Galaxy Pizza Player of the Game will be announced on Saturday.

Print Friendly Version