UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, Ohio — Marietta College's bid for a first ever victory over John Carroll University fell just short as the host Blue Streaks held off a Pioneer rally for a 24-18 win at Don Shula Stadium Saturday (Sept. 25) afternoon. [Box Score]

The Pioneers fell to 1-2 overall and 0-2 in the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC), while the Blue Streak, who improved to 22-0-1 all-time in the series, moved to 1-2 overall and 1-1 in league play.

Marietta took advantage of a John Carroll fumble on its first play from scrimmage to take an early lead in the first quarter. Junior #Kyle Cardwell (Uniontown/Green)# connected on a 33-yard field goal to put his squad ahead 3-0.

The Blue Streaks responded the next time they had the ball and took the lead for good with a four-yard touchdown run by Corey Castro with 11:19 to play in the first quarter.

John Carroll extended it lead to 14-3 one possession later when Michael Locke ran it in from three-yards on the fifth play of the second quarter.

The Blue Streaks made it three straight possessions with a score by connecting on a 23-yard field goal by Brad Marchese with 5:33 left in the half. John Carroll threatened to increases its lead as the half came to a close but sophomore defensive lineman #Joe Terrell (Clinton, Md./Fredrick Douglas)# intercepted a pass in the end zone to preserve a 17-3 game.

Marietta pieced together a 13-play, 58-yard drive to open the second half but was again held to a field goal. Cardwell hit from 29-yards to cut the deficit to 11 points, 17-6, with 10:09 to play in the third quarter.

John Carroll answered with its third touchdown of the game on its next possession to increase its lead to 24-6. Locke picked up his second rushing touchdown, this time an eight-yard run.

The Pioneers found the end zone for the first time on their second possession of the fourth quarter. Another Blue Streak fumble, forced by Terrell and recovered by sophomore defensive end #Gaston Hayes (Cleveland/Rhodes)#, set up a three-yard touchdown run by sophomore running back #Tevin Dones (Antioch, Calif./Antioch)# to make the score 24-12 in favor of John Carroll.

Marietta forced John Carroll to punt in its next possession and then pieced together a 12-play, 59-yard drive to pull within a score, 24-18, with 2:41 left in the game. Keller finished the drive with a four-yard touchdown run, his fourth of the year.

The Pioneers forced a Blue Streak punt to give their offense the ball back with 1:28 on the clock. Marietta's drive, however, stalled on its 49 yard line with 11 seconds left after an unsuccessful fourth down.

John Carroll finished with a slight 364-355 advantage in total offense. The Pioneers had 66 yards on the ground and 289 yards through the air. The Blue Streaks collected 155 yards rushing and 209 yards passing.

Keller completed 27-of-49 passes and threw for 289 yards. Dones led the running game with 18 carries for 49 yards. Senior #Cory Kriechbaum (Marietta/Marietta)# caught a team-best 11 passes for 129 yards.

Locke went 16-of-23 and threw for 209 yards while adding nine rushes for 19 yards  and two scores. His favorite target was Frank Ross, who caught eight passes for 81 yards. Mark Elsaesser added 15 carries for 89 yards in the win.

Senior free safety #Jake Depp (Geneva/Geneva)# led all tacklers with 13 stops, while freshman corner back #Jordan Ellison (Douglasville, Ga./South Paulding)# had nine hits and junior linebacker #Dan Starr (Senecaville/Buckeye Trail)# finished with eight tackles. C.J. Seitzinger led paced John Carroll with 11 tackles, while four of his teammates had eight stops in the win.

Marietta is back in action Saturday (Oct. 2) afternoon when the Pioneers visit Berea, Ohio, for an OAC showdown with host Baldwin-Wallace College at 1:30 p.m.