MARIETTA, Ohio — Senior quarterback
Lucas Havens (Granville Summit, Pa./Troy Area) threw for 190 yards and ran for 76 more leading Marietta College to a 49-28 win over rival Muskingum University Saturday (Nov. 7) afternoon at Don Drumm Stadium. With the victory, Marietta claims to Shrine Trophy for the first time since it was created in 2009.
The Pioneers rolled up 436 yards of total offense on the Muskies. Marietta's 49 points were the most for MC since scoring 50 in a win over Wilmington in 2013.
Prior to the game, Marietta honored its 15 seniors playing their final game at Don Drumm Stadium and it was a pair of seniors who accounted for the first Pioneers touchdown of the afternoon.
On Muskingum's first possession of the game, senior
Daryl DeWindt (Lilburn, Ga./Meadowcreek) forced a fumble that was recovered by the Pioneers. Three plays later, Havens ran it in from 31 yards out.
Jimmy Embrescia (Northfield/Nordonia) added the point after for a quick 7-0 lead.
The Muskies responded with two scores of their own. Cody Williams hit Griffin Degener on a 38-yard scoring strike and then tossed an 8-yard touchdown to Aron Sutton. Cody Dent kicked both PATs for a 14-7 Muskingum lead with 11:26 left in the second quarter.
Muskingum's lead was short-lived as the Pioneers needed just three plays to even the score. Marietta put the ball in play from its own 25-yard line. Havens hit
Darnell Clemm (Pittsburgh, Pa./Pittsburgh Central Catholic) for 20 yards. Following a rush for no gain, Havens connected with
Alex Smith (Mansfield/Mansfield) on a 55-yard touchdown pass.
Williams answered right back on the ensuing possession with a 45-yard touchdown pass to Darius Hayes-Carruth putting the Muskies back in front. But another Muskie miscue allowed the Pioneers to knot the score, 21-21, before halftime.
A bad snap on a punt gave Marietta the ball on the Muskingum 37-yard line with 2:01 left in the half.
Nick O'Neal (Mont Belvieu, Texas/Barbers Hill) ran for two yards and then Havens completed a 26-yard pass to
Hunter Roknich (Industry, Pa./Western Beaver) setting up first and goal at the nine. Two more carries by O'Neal moved the ball to the one where Havens would dive in on third down.
The second half was pretty much all Marietta as the Pioneers outscored Muskingum 28-7 after the break.
Roger Bush (Palm Bay, Fla./Bayside) added a pair of rushing touchdowns and O'Neal ran one in from 16 yards out. For the third time this season, the Pioneers scored on a trick play as wide receiver
Alex Smith (Mansfield/Mansfield) threw a 32-yard touchdown pass to
Nick Hineman (Beaver, Pa./Beaver Area).
Havens was named Marietta's Most Valuable Player of the game. He completed 8-of-14 passes for 190 yards and one touchdown, while rushing for 76 yards on 12 carries and two touchdowns.
Bush finished with 82 yards and two scores on 23 carries. O'Neal carried the ball 15 times for 68 yards and one touchdown. Smith had two catches for 92 yards and a touchdown and completed one pass for 32 yards and a TD.
Williams earned Most Valuable Player honors for the Muskies after completing 7-of-17 passes for 122 yards and three touchdowns. He ran for 42 yards on 10 carries. Running back Melvin Smith finished with a game-high 105 yards rushing on 19 carries.
A pair of seniors led the Pioneer defense.
Joe Ortega (Fresno, Texas/Hightower), playing linebacker instead of his normal defensive end position, had 11 tackles including one for a loss, while DeWindt made 11 tackles including one for a loss and forced a fumble.
Marietta travels to Capital University on Saturday (Nov. 14) for a 1:30 p.m. kickoff. Fans can follow all the Pioneer teams all year long at
pioneers.marietta.edu. You can also follow the Pioneers on Facebook at
facebook.com/MariettaCollege and @MariettaPioneer on Twitter and Instagram.
