MARIETTA – For the first time this season, the Wilmington College football team held a lead in the fourth quarter. Unfortunately, Marietta scored the last two touchdowns of the game and escaped with the 47-37 win Saturday in Ohio Athletic Conference action at Don Drumm Stadium.
Wilmington falls to 0-4 overall, 0-3 in the OAC, while Marietta improved to 2-2 overall, 1-2 in the OAC.
It was a game of momentum swings and seemingly unstoppable rushing attacks. Sophomore Chase Manica (Shelbyville, KY/Shelby County) ran for more than 100 yards for the third straight game as Wilmington racked up 263 yards on the ground. But Marietta chewed up yards in bigger chunks as the Pioneer running back gained 286 yards on 42 carries with five touchdowns. The Pioneers finished with 365 rushing yards in the game.
Sophomore quarterback Austin Jarbo (Gratis, OH/Preble Shawnee) added 90 yards on 19 carries, while completing 12-of-26 for 118 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.
Marietta came out rumbling, scoring on its first two drives of the game to take a 13-0 lead. In the middle of the two scoring drives, freshman Brandon Mitchell (Pittsburgh, PA/Fox Chapel) nearly led the Fightin' Quakers on a scoring drive. After traveling 53 yards in 11 plays, WC ended the drive with no points as they missed a 30-yard field goal.
Manica scored two rushing scores, including a 35-yard sprint up the middle, and Jarbo tallied one rushing score to give Wilmington a 21-13 lead.
The Pioneers had two potential scoring drives come to an end at the goal line in the second quarter thanks to freshman Margust Charles (Lehigh Acres, FL/Lehigh Senior). The freshman corner recorded his first two interceptions to end back-to-back Pioneer drives, preserving Wilmington's 21-13 halftime lead.
After back-to-back turnovers by each offense, the teams combined to score on seven straight possessions. Marietta did gain an upperhand in the scoring column as Wilmington's last score, a 28-yard field goal by freshman Anthony Ruegg (Waynesburg, OH/Malvern) – putting WC up 37-33 – was answered by a Pioneer touchdown and two-point conversion. The Pioneers led 41-37, and then proceeded to get just the second stop of the second half.
They sealed the victory with a rushing with just 39 seconds remaining in the game.
Junior receiver Jeremy Duncan (Cincinnati, OH/Archbishop Moeller) finished with five catches for 58 yards and one touchdown.
Junior Nick Williams (Cleveland, OH/Fairview) recorded more than 10 tackles for the fourth straight game, registering 12 tackles and one sack. Sophomore David Henry (Wilmington, OH/Wilmington) and freshman David Branham Jr. (Cable, OH/West Liberty Salem), in his first career start in place of injured Tarrell Starckey (Richmond, VA/Highland Springs), recorded 10 tackles each. Branham added 1.5 tackles for loss and a forced fumble.
Wilmington returns to Williams Stadium 2 p.m. Saturday to face unbeaten John Carroll for Homecoming.