TIFFIN, Ohio — Heidelberg University scored 29 unanswered points to defeat Marietta College, 29-21, Saturday (Oct. 22) afternoon in Ohio Athletic Conference football action. The loss drops Marietta to 3-4 overall and 2-4 in the OAC. The Student Princes improve to 5-2 overall and 4-2 in the OAC.
The Pioneers capitalized on a pair of Heidelberg turnovers to build a 21-0 first quarter lead. Marietta sacked Heidelberg quarterback Chayne Treharn on fourth down to end the Student Princes' opening drive of the game. The Pioneers needed just eight plays to find the endzone.
Connor Vierstra (Thornville, Ohio/Lakewood) ran the ball in from the 5-yard line for the score.
Derek Cline (De Graff, Ohio/Indian Lake) added the extra point.
Marietta All-American defensive end
Drake Neuberger (Norwalk, Ohio/Norwalk) intercepted a Treharn pass and returned it to the Heidelberg 35-yard line on the next possession. Vierstra capped a short four-play drive with a 3-yard touchdown run. Cline's kick made it 14-0.
Another Heidelberg turnover gave Marietta the ball with a short field.
Kyler Folkert (West Lafayette, Ohio/Dover) recovered a Student Prince fumble at the 14-yard line.
Bryce Agnew (Cleveland, Ohio/Berea-Midpark) ran the ball twice for eight yards. Vierstra connected with
Dawson Snyder (Pittsburgh, Pa./Moon Area) on an 8-yard touchdown pass. Cline made it 21-0.
Heidelberg got on the board late in the first quarter with a 34-yard field goal by Branden Steckel. Steckel would make all five of his field goal attemptes in the game to become Heidelberg's all-time leading field goal kicker.
The Student Princes erupted for 17 points in the second quarter to get within one point, 21-20. In addition to a 23-yard field goal, Drew Sims threw a pair of touchdowns. One for 77 yards to Glenn Pearson and one for 42-yards to Brandon Reed.
Steckel accounted for all the points in the second half. He converted three second half field goals of 22 yards, 22 yards and 39 yards.
Sims completed 15-of-33 passes for 342 yards and two touchdowns. He was intercepted once. Montavious Yearby carried the ball 24 times for 160 yards.
Vierstra completed 14-of-28 passes for 117 yards and one touchdown. He was intercepted four times. Agnew rushed for 97 yards on 31 carries.
Marietta returns home to host Ohio Northern University next Saturday (Oct. 29). Kickoff is set for 1:30 p.m.
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.
