Jimmy Embrescia
jje001@marietta.edu
The Pioneer football team recently finished out Spring practice and are looking ahead to the 2019 season. Last season the team broke numerous records, but this year they have the opportunity to do things that haven’t been done in over one hundred years, before the inclusion of the ‘helmet’.
The graduating class of 2019 contained 14 football players, the largest class in recent history. The graduating players played in all three phases; offense, defense and special teams. Many jobs will be won and lost when camp begins in August.
Leading the way for the offense next season will be wide receiver Ryan Vanmeter, wide receiver Andrew Barker, running back Tanner Clark and quarterback Kyle McSweeney. McSweeney has some big shoes to fill after Darrien Fields graduates. Fields is the most decorated passer in school history, breaking all passing records. Clark returns after a dominant season in which he amassed 1446 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns.
Others that are slated to return to the offense next year are lineman Pat Taylor, receivers Maguire Morris and Robert Nelson, running back Justin Bell, and tight ends Bobby Cashaw and Gage Giovengo. Kobe Hughlett will be returning to the team and be a huge addition to the offense.
The defense will be commanded by an experienced group of players. Returning after a breakout season is lineman Kyle Gallagher. Gallagher was credited on 47 tackles and 5.5 sacks last season. Caleb Boy will fill a big leadership role on the defense after being named second-team all-conference last season. Cornerback Tay Pryor will also return after his season that included three interceptions and 12 pass breakups.
Additional players returning to the defense are linebacker safety Max Tice, cornerback James Knox and lineman Jesse Berzonski.
The season starts out with a trip to Hiram College for the season opener. OAC play begins with a game at Capital University followed by a home game against rival Muskingum University. The squad then travels to Ohio Northern before returning home to face off against Heidelberg University. The second half of the campaign begins with a trip to Wilmington College and then a home game versus John Carroll University. The last trip of the season is to Baldwin Wallace University. The team then returns home to face Otterbein University and round the season out against the University of Mount Union.
For more information about Marietta College football visit https://pioneers.marietta.edu/index.aspx?path=football
