NEW CONCORD, Ohio – Muskingum University opened the game with a 13-play, 61-yard scoring drive and then returned a fumble 62 yards for a score on Marietta's first possession to take a 13-0 lead and never looked back. The Fighting Muskies defeated the Pioneers 34-14. Marietta falls to 1-1 overall, 0-1 in the Ohio Athletic Conference. Muskingum is 2-0, 1-0 in the OAC. [Box Score] [Photo Gallery]

The Pioneers took advantage of a Muskie miscue to cut the lead to 13-7.  Marietta's junior tight end #Jake Kobilarcsik (North Lawrence/Tuslaw)# recovered a fumbled punt on the Muskingum 20-yard line. Three plays later senior quarterback #Andrew Keller (Cincinnati/Glen Este)# connected with classmate #Chad Walker (Spring Hill, Fla./Central)# on a 5-yard touchdown pass with 2:51 left in the half.

Muskingum quickly regained control of the game when Dalton Smith hit James Washington on a 14-yard scoring strike with 11 seconds on the clock. The touchdown capped a 6-play, 62-yard drive that gave the Muskies a 20-7 lead at the half.

Muskingum added two more touchdowns in the third quarter to take a commanding 34-7 lead. First, Alvin Taylor returned a punt 36 yards for a score and then Dalton and Washington hooked up again. This time for 42 yards.

Marietta trimmed the lead to 20 points, 34-14, when Keller hit sophomore #Kirby Harris (Greenville, S.C./South Side)# on a 26-yard scoring strike. It was Harris's fourth TD reception of the season. Harris ended the game with seven receptions for 110 yards.

Keller was 21-of-34 for 218 yards and two touchdowns. He was intercepted three times. Junior running back #Tevin Dones (Antioch, Calif./Antioch)# carried the ball 14 times for 43 yards.

Defensively, Senior #Jake Depp (Geneva/Geneva)# had eight tackles, including six solo stops. Junior #Kadeem Corbin (Cheltenham, Md./Fredrick Douglas)# added seven tackles, while freshman #Jake Green (Yulee, Fla./Yulee)# and sophomore #Franklin Holmes (Vineland, N.J./Vineland)# each had an interception.

Dalton Smith finished the night 7-of-13 for 114 yards and two touchdowns. He was intercepted twice. Smith also rushed the ball 13 times for 53 yards. Palmer Smith carried the ball 15 times for 95 yards.

Alex Thomas anchored the Muskingum defense with 14 tackles and an interception, which he returned for 47 yards. Ethan Wetzel had nine tackles.

Marietta returns home next Saturday to host John Carroll University. Kickoff is slated for 6 p.m.