Zachary Worstell
zdw001@marietta.edu
Homecoming weekend at Marietta college had students, old and new, venturing to Don Drumm stadium to watch the 2-3 Marietta College Pioneers host the 3-2 Wilmington Fightin’ Quakers. Before the game a crowd of over 2000 held a tailgate, with games of cornhole, food, and booths. Alumni reconnected with one another and made an impression on current students, sharing advice and stories of Marietta past. One booth celebrated 50 years of Title IX, which at half time women athletics were honored. In addition, halftime saw Matt Fouty and Samantha Corbett be crowned homecoming king and queen respectively.
Wilmington would take the opening kickoff and drove into the red zone before being intercepted by Ty’reik Martin in the endzone; which would be a trend as Quaker Quarterback Adam Dixon threw 3 interceptions on the day. Marietta would respond by driving 80 yards downfield for a touchdown. Bryce Agnew would rush 69 yards this drive and get his first of four touchdowns on the day. Agnew would rush for a career high 252 yards on the day, including a 67 yard rush in the second half. Head Coach Andy Waddle would comment on Agnew’s performance stating, “Bryce is a workhorse. We’ve seen this from him before where he gets better as the game goes on and he wears the defense down.”
The four Agnew touchdowns would be enough as the Pios would best the Quakers 34-0. Connor Vierstra went 14 for 27 with one interception and one passing touchdown to John Sierputowski in the fourth quarter. Furthermore, Marietta’s defense would prove formidable, allowing only 232 yards on the day, and sacking Dixon five times. The closest Wilmington came to scoring was the blocked PAT in the third quarter. Jalaun Covington would scoop the blocked extra point and rush it back to the red zone before being tackled by Gabe Tingle. Waddle would praise Tingle commenting “Perhaps the biggest play of the game was Gabe running down the block on our PAT. Sometimes that stuff goes unnoticed, but that play kept the shutout. We think he is going to be a special player in our program when his time gets called.”
Marietta moves to 3-3 on the year, 2-3 in the Ohio Athletic Conference. The Pioneers will travel to Tiffin Ohio on October 22nd to face off against Heidelberg University (4-2). Marietta has won 2 of the last 4 against the Student Princes the last win being in 2018. Kickoff is set for 2 PM.
