Game Leaders
Team Stats
Passing Yards
Rushing Yards
Turnovers
Time of Poss.
TIFFIN, Ohio — Quarterback Connor Vierstra threw for three touchdowns and ran for another leading Marietta College to a 35-7 win at Heidelberg University Saturday (Oct. 12) afternoon. The Pioneers improve to 5-0 overall and 4-0 in the Ohio Athletic Conference. Heidelberg falls to 2-3 overall and 1-3 in the OAC.
"It's good to come away with the win on the road against a good Heidelberg team," Marietta head coach Andy Waddle said. "It's always a tough place to play and we were able to come out on top today. I'm proud of the effort and our defense in the red zone."
The Pioneers forced Heidelberg to punt on the opening possession of the game. Vierstra connected with Evan Gandee for 46 yards on MC's first play from scrimmage setting up the Pioneers' first score of the game. Two plays later, Vierstra found Dawson Snyder open for a 9-yard touchdown. Derek Kline added the extra point for the early 7-0 lead.
Marietta added two more touchdowns in the second quarter building a 21-0 lead. Vierstra capped an 11-play, 70-yard drive with a 5-yard run for MC's second score and then connected with Jay Melchiori on a 19-yard scoring strike.
"Connor played a really sound disciplined game," Waddle said. "Defensively, Brady Panucci played a really good game with two TFL's and an interception."
Heidelberg got on the board with a 10-play, 75-yard drive. Alex Arledge hit Micah Willink on a 7-yard touchdown pass to make it 21-7 with 1:54 left in the first half.
Marietta took over on its own 39-yad line and quickly completed three straight passes moving the ball to the Heidelberg 27-yard line. Following an incomplete pass, Vierstra hooked up with Dawson again for a 27-yard touchdown for a 28-7 Pioneer lead at halftime.
After a scoreless third quarter, Marietta capped the scoring with a 2-yard run from Vonte' Hodges with 12:13 left in the game.
Vierstra completed 21-of-32 passes for 270 yards and three touchdowns. Snyder had seven catches for 108 yards and two scores. Gandee caught four passes for 76 yards, while Melchiori had six catches for 68yards and one touchdown.
Taz Morris led the ground attack for Marietta with 13 carries for 81 yards. Hodges finished with 13 carries for 55 yards and one touchdown.
Arledge completed 21-of-39 passes for 219 yards and one touchdown. He was intercepted three times. Cole Poorman had seven catches for 81 yards. Drew Miller was the game's leading rusher with 85 yards on 25 carries.
Marietta plays at Muskingum University next Saturday (Oct. 19) at 7:00 p.m. in the annual Shrine Game.