MARIETTA, Ohio — Marietta College scored 21 unanswered points in the fourth quarter blowing open a close game to defeat rival Muskingum University 49-25 Saturday (Sept. 23) afternoon in the annual Shrine Trophy Game. The Pioneers improve to 2-1 overall and 1-1 in the Ohio Athletic Conference. The Fighting Muskies fall to 1-3 overall and 0-3 in the OAC.
Thanks to three failed extra points, including a pair of blocks, Marietta led Muskingum 28-25 at halftime. Neither team scored in the third quarter and then the Pioneers exploded for 21 points in the final period.
Marietta defensive back
Marquese Moore (Aliquippa, Pa./Aliquippa) provided the exclamation point when he picked off a Muskie pass at the Pioneer 1-yard line and returned it 99 yards for Marietta's final touchdown of the game.
After forcing Marietta to punt on its first possession of the game, Muskingum took over in Pioneer territory and quickly marched down the field to grab an early lead. Quarterback Brody Hahn ran it in from three yards out.
Tay Pryor (Canton, Ohio/GlenOak) blocked Austin Alice's extra point kick.
The Pioneers answered with a six-play, 60-yard scoring drive of their own.
Darrien Fields (Aliquippa, Pa./Aliquippa) hit
Andrew Barker (Mogadore, Ohio/Mogadore) for a 30-yard touchdown and
Jimmy Embrescia (Northfield, Ohio/Nordonia) added the extra point for a 7-6 Pioneer lead.
Muskingum went back on top on its next possession. Hahn connected with Bernard Johnson on a 24-yard scoring strike to cap a 9-play drive.
Eric Klopfenstein (New Albany, Ohio/New Albany) blocked the point after.
On the ensuing kickoff
Tanner Clark (Caldwell, Ohio/Caldwell) broke free for a 66-yard return setting the Pioneers up at the Muskingum 25-yard line. One play was all the Pioneers needed as
Roger Walker (Palm Bay, Fla./Bayside) ran the ball in for the touchdown. Embrescia added the point after making it 14-12 with 1:31 left in the opening quarter.
The Muskies fumbled the kickoff and Marietta recovered at the Muskingum 26-yard line. Four straight rushes by
Tanner Clark (Caldwell, Ohio/Caldwell) moved the ball to the 15-yard line. On first down Fields dropped back to pass but pulled it down and scampered into the endzone. The Embrescia kick made it 21-12 with 13:58 remaining in the half.
As expected in a rivalry game, Muskingum responded with its best drive of the afternoon. Johnson scored from five yards out to cap a 12-play, 75-yard drive. MU finally converted an extra point cutting the Pioneer lead to 21-19.
The seesaw battle continued as Fields connected with
Maguire Morris (Dover, Ohio/Dover) on a 48-yard touchdown pass. The scoring strike capped a 5-play, 72-yard drive for the Pioneers and put Marietta in front 28-19 with 5:45 left in the half.
Muskingum refused to go away quietly. The Muskies needed just six plays to go 70 yards. Johnson ran it in from 11 yards out for the score. The point after attempt was no good leaving the Muskies trailing by three, 28-25, heading into halftime.
After a scoreless third quarter it was all Marietta in the fourth. Walker scored his second touchdown of the afternoon when he dove in from two yards out. Fields and Barker hooked up for the second time scoring from 28 yards out and then Moore put the icing on the cake with his pick-6.
Fields completed 17-of-22 passes for 244 yards and three touchdowns. Barker finished with four catches for 101 yards and two scores. Walker led the ground attack with 134 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries.
Hahn threw for 184 yards completing 15-of-30 passes. He had one touchdown and two interceptions. Johnson ran for 75 yards and two touchdowns on 23 carries. He also caught six passes for 75 yards and another score.
Klopfenstein led the Marietta defense with 10 tackles. Linebacker
Garrett Davis (Marietta, Ohio/Marietta) finished with nine tackles. Brian Brown and Cle'Von Burch each had nine tackles for Muskingum.
Marietta travels to Berea next Saturday (Sept. 30) for a 1:30 p.m. game at Baldwin Wallace.
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.
