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COLUMBUS, Ohio — Marietta College used a balanced attack to defeat Capital University by the score of 45-14 Saturday (Nov. 4) afternoon. The Pioneers Threw for 272 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for 207 yards and two scores.
Marietta improves to 7-2 overall and 6-2 in the Ohio Athletic Conference. The Pioneers reach seven wins for the 14th time in program history and the first since going 7-3 in 2018. Marietta has had two 8-win seasons (1969 and 1995) and one 9-win season (1906).
"I am proud of our guys going out and getting the seventh win of the season. They have put themselves in a class that is pretty elite in the OAC and in Marietta College football history," Marietta head coach Andy Waddle said. "Connor (Vierstra) played a really clean game. Sierputowski and Melchiori came up huge and Agnew was really good. Defensively we were really strong for three quarters and did the things we want to do creating turnovers and pressuring the quarterback. McManaway's interception and touchdown before the half was really big."
Bryce Agnew scored the Pioneers' first two touchdowns of the game. He scored on a 15-yard run in the first quarter and then ran it in from four yards out early in the second quarter. Agnew, who didn't play after MC's first possession in the third quarter, finished with 107 yards and two touchdowns. Agnew is the fourth Pioneer in program history to surpass 4,000 career rushing yards.
Marietta pulled away in the second quarter. After Agnew's second touchdown, quarterback Connor Vierstra connected with John Sierputowski on a 40-yard touchdown pass and then found Jay Melchiori open for a 13-yard scoring strike.
Brady McManaway made it 35-0 when he intercepted a Comet pass and returned it 31 yards for a pick six.
The Pioneers extended their lead in the third quarter on a 30-yard field goal from Derek Cline. Marietta's final points came on a 12-yard touchdown pass from Logyn Ratliff to Sierputowski making it 45-0 with 12:51 left in the game.
Held in check all day, Capital finally got on the board against Marietta's reserves. Comet quarterback Ben Everson threw a pair of touchdown passes in the final minutes of the game. Everson hit Josh Kucker for a 13-yard touchdown and then connected with Nate Younker on a 43-yard touchdown.
For the game, Everson completed 8-of-19 passes for 113 yards and two touchdowns. He was picked off twice. Younker caught four passes for 74 yards and one TD.
Viertsra turned in another efficient performance completing 16-of-18 passes for 242 yards and 2 touchdowns. Ratliff completed 3-of-5 passes for 40 yards and one touchdown. Sierputowski caught four passes for 115 yards and two touchdowns. Melichiori had eight catches for 113 yards and one score.
In addition to Agnew's 107 yards rushing, Zion Jackson-Wilborn ran for 34 yards on 12 carries and Ratliff finished with 27 yards on five carries.
Marietta closes out the 2023 season at home next Saturday (Nov. 11) against rival Muskingum University. Kickoff is set for 1:30 p.m. and the Pioneer seniors will be honored before the game.