BEXLEY, Ohio — Nathaniel Demuth (New Philadelphia, Ohio/New Philadelphia) hit a 30-yard field as time expired giving Marietta College a 24-21 victory over Capital University Saturday (Sept. 27) afternoon. The Pioneers improve to 3-0 overall and 2-0 in the Ohio Athletic Conference. The Comets slip to 1-2 on the season and 0-2 in the OAC.
 
"I'm just really, really proud of our effort today. The guys found a way to win. It was a huge drive at the end of the game to put us in a position to kick the winning field goal and Nathaniel (Demuth) nailed it," Marietta head coach Tom Kaufman said. "Prior to that we had a huge fourth down stop. I'm proud of the way our defense played. And our special teams played well for the first time this year."
 
Playing without the OAC's leading rusher Vante' Hodges (Horn Lake, Miss./Horn Lake), who left the game in the first half with an injury, Marietta put the ball in play at its own 32-yard line with the game tied, 21-21, and 5:31 left in the game. Backup running backs Benny Lewis (Sanderson, Fla./Baker County) and Zion Jackson-Wilborn (Whitehall, Ohio/Reynoldsburg) combined for 11 straight rushes moving the ball to the Capital 13-yard line.
 
The Comets called a timeout with two seconds left on the clock to try an ice Demuth before he attempted the game-winning field goal. The junior split the uprights as time expired triggering a celebration on the Marietta sideline.
 
Hodges started the game with a bang breaking free for a 75-yard touchdown run on the second play from scrimmage for the Pioneers. The run was Hodges's fourth of more than 60 yards this season. He carried the ball eight times for 114 yards before leaving the game.
 
Lewis picked up the slack finishing with 92 yards rushing on 25 carries. Quarterback Antwon Johnson (Monaca, Pa./Central Valley) ran for 48 yards on seven carries. Johnson completed 14-of-29 passes for 146 yards and one touchdown. John Sierputowski (Mentor, Ohio/Mentor) had three catches for 54 yards, while Chrys Taylor (Canal Winchester, Ohio/Pickerington Central) caught four passes for 49 yards and one touchdown.
 
Marietta dominated the first half but led just 14-0 at halftime. In addition to Hodges's long run, the Pioneers' other touchdown came from the special teams. Theo Talbott (Pataskala, Ohio/Granville) blocked a Capital punt and Isaiah Mitchell (Hebron, Ohio/Lakewood) recovered it in the endzone for a touchdown.
 
Capital regrouped at halftime and gave the Pioneers all they could handle in the second half. Kassim Johnson broke a 75-yard touchdown run on the first play of the third quarter to get the Comets on the board.
 
Marietta responded with an 8-play, 65-yard scoring drive. Johnson capped the drive with a 28-yard scoring strike to Taylor with 4:49 left in the third quarter.
 
The Pioneers tried to catch Capital off guard with an onside kick, but the ball didn't go 10 yards, and the Comets took over at the Pioneer 39-yard line. Capital needed just two plays to reach the endzone. Johnson rushed for eight yards and then Tyler Love connected with Wesley Armstead on a 31-yard touchdown pass.
 
After forcing a Marietta punt, Capital got the ball back with three minutes left in the third quarter. A 42-yard pass from Love to Johnson had the Comets deep in Pioneer territory. The Comets drove to the 6-yard line before Love and Armstead hooked up on their second touchdown of the game tying the score, 21-21.
 
Capital appeared poised to take their first lead of the afternoon after forcing another Marietta punt. The Comets had the ball first and goal at the Pioneer 9-yard line. Two incomplete passes and a 7-yard run by Love left Capital with a fourth down from the two. Another incomplete pass turned the ball over to Marietta on downs.
 
After trading punts, Marietta took over for the game winning drive.
 
Johnson finished with 119 yards on 12 carries and one touchdown. Love completed 13-of-31 passes for 188 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Armstead had five catches for 96 yards and two scores.
 
Marietta plays at Ohio Northern University next Saturday (Oct. 4). Kickoff is set for 2:00 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.