Written by: CJ Wilt (cjw012@marietta.edu)
Despite significantly trailing Capital University for the first half of their Sept. 19 game, the Marietta College Pioneers improved to sit 2-1 overall after a decisive 32-10 victory.
The Pioneers did not have much going offensively until a touchdown pass from quarterback Joe Tenta to tight end Matt Krutowskis in the final three minutes of the first half. This play gave the Pioneers a 6-3 lead following a blocked point after touchdown.
Capital took exactly one play to answer with a 97-yard kickoff return from Jenson Petro, which would ultimately be their last score of the game. The Comets’ lead closed to 10-9 after kicker Nathaniel Demuth scored a field goal for Marietta with five seconds left in the half.
Capital took exactly one play to answer with a 97-yard kickoff return from Jenson Petro, which would ultimately be their last score of the game. The Comets’ lead closed to 10-9 after kicker Nathaniel Demuth scored a field goal for Marietta with five seconds left in the
In the second half, the Pioneers saw an offensive explosion, with touchdowns from wide receiver Dalton Miller, tight end Payton Newman, and quarterback Antwon Johnson. But the defense stifled its competition as well — Capital would only get to the Pioneers’ side of the 50-yard line one time before turning the ball over.
Defense also succeeded in scoring two safeties, with Lukas Ratliff both blocking a punt and forcing a strip-sack through the back of the end zone. In addition to putting four points on the board for the Pioneers, the senior defensive back finished with three tackles, two tackles for loss, two pass breakups, and a blocked field goal in the first half.
Both the offensive and defensive lines are performing well this season. After scoring over 30 points in two of their three contests, offense sits comfortably in the fourth rank of the Ohio Athletic Conference. Defense has climbed to second — up two places from last season — returning eight starters this season and allowing only 15 points per game against other OAC teams. The Pioneers sat third overall in the OAC standings after their first conference win.
Edited by: Jackson Bandy (knb003@marietta.edu)
