MARIETTA, Ohio — Heidelberg University outscored Marietta College 13-0 in the fourth quarter to come from behind and defeat the Pioneers 30-27 Saturday (Oct. 11) afternoon in Ohio Athletic Conference football action. The Pioneers fall to 3-2 overall and 2-2 in the OAC. Heidelberg improves to 3-2 overall and 2-1 in the OAC.
 
Marietta grabbed the early lead with a pair of first quarter touchdowns. After trading punts to start the game, the Pioneers went on a 13-play drive that resulted in an 8-yard touchdown pass from Joe Tenta (Palm Bay, Fla./Heritage) to Louis Goodnow (Williamstown, W.Va./Williamstown).
 
Heidelberg went three and out on its next possession and the Pioneers wasted no time extending the lead. Tenta connected with John Sierputowski (Mentor, Ohio/Mentor) for 48 yards and then turned the ball over to Zion Jackson-Wilborn (Whitehall, Ohio/Reynoldsburg). Jackson-Wilborn ran the ball for four yards and then scored on a 3-yard run.
 
Marietta's momentum was short-lived as Korbyn Haley fielded the kickoff at his own 7-yard line and returned it 93 yards for Heidelberg's first touchdown of the game.
 
Jackson-Wilborn's second touchdown of the afternoon capped a 12-play, 65-yard scoring drive for the Pioneers. But another big play kept the Student Princes within striking distance.  Kris Williams scooped up a Pioneer fumble and returned it 81 yards for a touchdown making it 21-14 at halftime.
 
Marietta took advantage of a Heidelberg miscue to score first in the third quarter. The Student Princes muffed a Pioneer punt and Brady McManaway (Pleasant City, Ohio/Meadowbrook) recovered the loose ball at the Heidelberg 15-yard line. Four plays later Tenta connected with Payton Newman (Ringgold, Ga./Heritage) on a 1-yard touchdown pass. The extra point was wide right.
 
Ethan Ramsdail hit a 24-yard field goal to get the Student Princes within ten, 27-17 heading into the fourth quarter. Following a Marietta punt, Heidelberg marched 67 yards on seven plays to make it 27-24. Haley dove in from a yard out for the touchdown.
 
Tenta was picked off on Marietta's next possession giving Heidelberg the ball at the Pioneer 35-yard line. Drew Miller rushed for nine yards and Ty Poorman hit Dmitry Peters for 19 more. On first and goal from the 7-yard line, Miller ran it in giving the Student Princes the lead for the first time, 30-27.
 
Marietta drove the ball into Heidelberg territory only to get stopped on a fourth and two. The Pioneers forced Heidelberg to punt and had one more chance on offense. Marietta took over at its own 9-yard line with 42 seconds left in the game.
 
Tenta completed passes to Sierputowski for 24 yards and Kenyon Franklin (Gallipolis, Ohio/Gallia Academy) for 12 yards. A completion to Benny Lewis (Sanderson, Fla./Baker County) for 5 yards moved the ball to midfield but a pair of incomplete passes ended the Marietta drive.
 
Tenta completed 20-of-44 passes for 209 yards and two touchdowns in his first career start. He was picked off twice. Lewis carried the ball 28 times for 113 yards, while Jackson-Wilborn had seven carries for 16 yards and two touchdowns. Sierputowski had four catches for 99 yards.
 
Miller rushed the ball 22 times for 108 yards and one touchdown for the Student Princes. Poorman completed 9-of-22 passes for 117 yards and one interception.
 
Marietta hosts rival Muskingum University next Saturday (Oct. 18) for Homecoming. 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 X and Instagram.