TIFFIN, Ohio – The No. 23-ranked Heidelberg University Student Princes used the big play to defeat Marietta College 56-24 Saturday (Sept. 29) afternoon. Heidelberg scored five touchdowns on plays of over 25-yards. [Photo Gallery]

The Student Princes remain undefeated on the season at 4-0 overall and 3-0 in the Ohio Athletic Conference. The Pioneers fall to 0-4 and 0-3 in league play.

Heidelberg jumped out to an early 14-0 lead. The Student Princes took the opening kickoff and engineered a 13-play scoring drive. Running back Cartel Brooks capped the drive with a four-yard touchdown run.

After forcing Marietta to punt on the ensuing drive, Heidelberg's C.J. Powell returned the punt 67 yards to pay dirt and a 14-0 lead with 6:54 remaining in the opening period.

The Pioneers answered with a 13-play, 80-yard drive to cut the lead in half. Senior #Tom Fulton (Pittsburgh, Pa./Penn Hills)# hit junior wide receiver #Kirby Harris (Greenville, S.C./South Side) for a 12-yard touchdown. Earlier in the drive, Fulton and Harris connected on a 33-yard completion.

Marietta's momentum was short-lived as Robert Gray returned the kickoff 64 yards to the Pioneer 25 yard line. Three plays later Brooks dove in from four yards out for a 21-7 Heidelberg lead.

The Pioneers cut the Student Prince lead to 21-17. Freshman #Conor Durina (Poland/Cardinal Mooney)# nailed a 20-yard field goal followed by an 11-yard scoring strike from Fulton to #Linard Williams (Canoga Park, Calif./El Camino Real)# with 1:20 left in the first half.

Heidelberg put the ball in play at their own 38-yard line when Marietta's kickoff went out of bounds. After an incomplete pass on first down, Michael Mees hit Donteea Dye for a 62-yard touchdown giving the Student Princes a 28-17 lead at halftime.

Heidelberg added two more touchdowns to start the third quarter. Mees hooked up with Christian Dominguez on a 55-yard touchdown pass and Chadd Williamson intercepted a pass and returned it 26 yards for the score and a 42-17 lead.

Mees completed 13-of-26 passes for 232 yards and three touchdowns. He was intercepted once.

The Pioneers responded with a big play of their own. Fulton found junior wide receiver #Tannon Roberts (West Palm Beach, Fla./Berean Christian)# on a 66-yard touchdown pass with 5:20 left in the third quarter.

Fulton finished the day 24-of-48 for 351 yards and three touchdowns. He was picked off four times. Roberts caught six passes for 117 yards and a score, while Harris hauled in eight catches for 148 yards and a touchdown.

The Student Princes added two more scores for the 56-24 victory. Bryan Lacey ran the ball in from eight yards out and Mees threw a 35-yard scoring strike to Powell.

Brooks was the game's leading rusher gaining 130 yards on 27 carries. He scored a pair of touchdowns.

Marietta travels to John Carroll University next Saturday (Oct. 6) for a 2 p.m. kickoff. Fans can catch the action live at pioneers.marietta.edu. You can also follow the Pioneers on Facebook at facebook.com/MariettaCollege and @MariettaPioneer on Twitter.