MARIETTA, Ohio – Marietta College scored at least two touchdowns in each quarter in a 63-21 victory over the Wilmington College football team in Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) play on Saturday afternoon.
The win improves the Pioneers to a perfect 6-0 and 5-0 in league play while the loss drops the Fightin' Quakers to 1-5 overall and 0-5 in conference.
Marietta, which features the second-best offense in the OAC (trailing only No. 1 The University of Mount Union), took the opening kickoff and marched 64 yards in six plays capped by a 15-yard Tanner Clark touchdown rush. A three-and-out as well as a short punt followed, and two plays later, Darrien Fields found Robert Nelson for an eight-yard touchdown pass.
Trailing 14-0, Wilmington embarked on a 19-play, 93-yard drive to took up over 11 minutes that ended with a three-yard touchdown pass from Kyle Barrett to Luke Richardson. Unfortunately, the Quaker defense could not stop the Pioneers on either of their final three drives of the first half. Fields connected with Nelson for a 37-yard touchdown on the final play from scrimmage in the first half to send the hosts into the locker room with a 35-7 advantage.
Wilmington opened the second half with a quick score as Barrett again found Richardson, this time for a 71-yard touchdown strike. Marietta had the answer, however, scoring on its next two drives to put the game out of reach.
The Pioneers outgained the Quakers 505-365 in the game including by a 235-112 advantage on the ground. Both teams were nearly even in the passing department as Barrett threw for 253 yards for Wilmington and Fields and Kyle McSweeney combined for 270 yards for Marietta.
Clark rushed 15 times for 125 yards and two scores for Marietta while DJ Chambers was Wilmington's leading rusher with 57 yards on 16 carries. Luke Richardson hauled in four passes for 99 yards and two scores while both Nelson and Maguire Morris caught two touchdown passes for the Pioneers.
Defensively, Tre'Quez Parks notched 10 tackles while Parris Weathersby and Royon Washington both had nine to lead Wilmington. Kyle Ackley and Weston Trampler combined for a sack. Caleb Boy tallied a dozen tackles for Marietta.
Wilmington returns home to face Baldwin Wallace University next Saturday. Kickoff from Williams Stadium is slated for 1:30 p.m.
