Pioneers play host to Yellow Jackets in River City Bowl on Alumni Day
Baldwin-Wallace College (1-1, 1-0 OAC) at Marietta College (1-1, 0-1 OAC) • 7 p.m. • Saturday, Sept. 27 • Don Drumm Stadium

Sept. 24, 2008
MARIETTA, Ohio — The 2008 Marietta College football season continues in week four on Saturday (Sept. 27) night when the Pioneers play host to Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) rival Baldwin-Wallace College in their home opener at Don Drumm Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. because the game will be featured live locally on WTAP-TV and online at www.wtap.com. The Pioneers would like to welcome everyone to the fourth annual River City Bowl, especially those back in town for Football Alumni Day.

The College has numerous pre-game activities planned to honor those attending the game. There will be a tailgate for fans of both teams starting at 5:30 p.m. The tailgate will include free soda, hot dogs, bratwurst and many other treats outside the stadium. The College is also pleased to be giving the first 1,000 fans through the gates a River City Bowl T-shirt. [Complete Game Notes (.pdf)]

Here is a look at both teams:

Baldwin-Wallace College: Led by seventh-year head coach John Snell, the 2008 Baldwin-Wallace College football team (1-1, 1-0 OAC) ranks sixth in the OAC in scoring, averaging 28.0 points. The Yellow Jackets rank second in total offense (465.0). They are first in passing (302.5) and third in rushing (162.5). Baldwin-Wallace is the sixth-most penalized team in the OAC, giving up an average of 69.5 penalty yards. The Jackets have converted 5-of-7 red-zone chances and 16-of-31 third down opportunities this season. Baldwin-Wallace is controlling the clock for 31:11 while on defense for 28:49. The Jackets have collected 49 first downs, while its defense has allowed 41.

Junior Anthony Gardner has completed 45-of-70 passes and thrown for an OAC-leading 605 yards with five touchdowns and two interceptions. Junior Kyrell Crook leads the rushing attack with 36 carries for 171 yards, while Gardner has added 34 carries for 98 yards; both have one rushing touchdown. Senior Matt Lepley is Baldwin-Wallace's top wide receiver, pulling in an OAC-best 19 receptions for 181 yards and two scores.

The Jackets' defense is allowing 29.5 points per game, which ranks eighth in the league. Baldwin-Wallace has surrendered an average of 47.0 yards on the ground and 309.0 yards through the air, which ranks second and 10th, respectively. The Jackets, who have a +1 turnover margin, have compiled six sacks and two interceptions this season. The Jackets have allowed their opponents to convert 5-of-6 red zone chances, including four touchdowns. Opponents have converted 12-of-28 (.429) third-down opportunities against Baldwin-Wallace. Junior Brad Koester leads the squad and in total tackles with 14, while sophomore Richard Starr has added 12 total hits.

Junior Cory Ramos is 0-of-1 in field goal attempts; he had a 31-yard attempt blocked against John Carroll. Junior Scott Nealon is averaging 36.6 yards on eight in 2008. Baldwin-Wallace, led by freshman Tim Miker, is averaging 19.0 yards in kick returns.

Marietta College: Head Coach Jeff Filkovski's Marietta College football team (1-1, 0-1 OAC) is averaging 14.0 points and 372.5 yards this season, which rank ninth and seventh in the OAC, respectively. Of those yards, 145.5 come on the ground and 227.0 are through the air. The Pioneers are ranked sixth in both passing offense and rushing offense. Marietta has converted 10-of-27 third down and 1-of-2 red-zone chances. The Pioneers enter with a -8 turnover margin. Marietta is leading in time of possession, holding onto the ball for an average of 31.17, while on defense for 28:43. The Pioneers are ranked eighth in penalties, giving up 84.0 yards on 18 infractions.

Individually, junior quarterback Dexter Hughes is 37-of-66 passing, throwing for 407 yards. He has thrown two touchdowns and four interceptions. Hughes ranks sixth in the OAC in passing yards per game (203.5). Sophomore Cory Kriechbaum leads the team with 11 receptions for 146 yards, while junior Marty Mueller has added nine catches for a team-high 166 yards. They, along with freshman Jake Long, who has seven grabs for 78 yards, have one touchdown reception. Junior Lamar Hunter leads the ground attack with 37 rushes for 205 yards. He is ranked second in the OAC, averaging 102.5 yards. Senior Garrett Banks has added 14 rushes for 51 yards.

Marietta enters the week ranked sixth in scoring defense, giving up 18.0 points. The Pioneers rank sixth in total defense. It is allowing 306.5 yards per game. The Pioneers rank fourth against the run (92.0) and seventh against the pass (214.5). Marietta has recorded three sacks and 10 tackles for loss to go along with one interception this season. The Pioneers have allowed their opponents to convert 6-of-6 red zone chances, including six touchdowns. Opponents have converted 6-of-26 (.230) third-down opportunities against Marietta. Junior Corey Lemke leads the team with 12 total stops, while senior Grant Cowell and sophomore JR Gibson have both added 10 total hits.

Sophomore Nick Perko is averaging 35.1 yards on eight punts. Marietta, led by Cory Kriechbaum, is averaging 21.7 yards on kick returns and 6.8 yards on punt returns.

Week 4 Game Notes

THE RECORDS: Saturday marks the third game of the 2008 season for both teams. Marietta College is 1-1 overall and 0-1 in the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC). Baldwin-Wallace College is also 1-1 overall, but 1-0 in league play.

GAME TIME: 7 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 27, Don Drumm Stadium in Marietta, Ohio.

THE COACHES: Marietta's Jeff Filkovski is in his first season as the leader of the Pioneers. Filkovski was named the 2007 OAC Assistant Coach of the Year while the offensive coordinator at Heidelberg College. He is the former signal caller for the Cologne Centurions of NFL Europe. Filkovski, who earned his bachelor's degree from Allegheny College in 1991, led the Gators to a national championship in 1990. Baldwin-Wallace's John Snell is in his seventh season with the Yellow Jackets. The 1987 Baldwin-Wallace graduate has a career record of 42-22 and is 3-3 against Marietta.

ALL-TIME SERIES: Saturday marks the 31st time that the two teams will meet on the gridiron. The series began in 1974 with Baldwin-Wallace winning 73-0. The Yellow Jackets, who leads the series 25-5, won the first 17 match-ups. Marietta, however, has won three of the last four games.

LAST MEETING: Marietta's bid to defeat Baldwin-Wallace for the fourth straight time was denied by a strong showing from the No. 14 Yellow Jackets, who topped the Pioneers 24-6 in Berea, Ohio, on Sept. 15, 2007. Marietta finished with 211 total yards with 84 coming via the ground and 127 by way of the pass. Marietta's Ryan Merrill connected on 12-of-29 pass attempts and threw for 104 yards with three interceptions and one touchdown, while Baldwin-Wallace's Mickey Mental was 17-of-26 and threw for 234 yards with one score. Ryan Dawson pulled in five catches for 40 yards, while Vinny Latessa had six catches for 98 yards. George Davis led the Pioneers' rushing attack with 18 carries for 36 yards. Nick Ranallo paced the Yellow Jackets ball carriers with 28 rushes for 68 yards. Grant Cowell (13 stops) was one of three Marietta players to have at least 10 tackles. Luke Chronister led Baldwin-Wallace with a game-high 14 total hits.

LAST GAME FOR MARIETTA: The Pioneers' offense turned the ball over six times in a 34-7 loss at Wilmington College on Sept. 20. The Pioneers snapped a four-game win streak against the Quakers. Marietta finished with 274 total yards—215 yards rushing and 59 yards passing. Wilmington, meanwhile, racked up 346 yards with 114 coming on the ground and 232 coming through the air. Junior Lamar Hunter ran for a career-high 172 yards and one score on 26 carries. Junior Dexter Hughes completed 8-of-23 and threw for 59 yards. Junior George Davis, junior Cory Lemke and sophomore Adam Tate all had eight stops in the loss.

LAST GAME FOR BALDWIN-WALLACE: The Yellow Jackets overcame a 10-point fourth quarter deficit to defeat cross-town rival John Carroll University, 21-17, on Sept. 20. Baldwin-Wallace finished with 354 total yards—130 on the ground and 224 through the air. The Blue Streaks complied 366 yards of total offense—65 on the ground and 301 through the air. Junior Anthony Gardner completed 17-of-28 passes for 224 yards with three TD and one interception. Junior Kyrell Crook led the ground game with 18 carries for 92 yards. Junior Paul Burger and junior Pete Taylor paced the defense with nine total tackles each.

TV COVERAGE: For the second time in school history, Pioneer fans will be able to watch the team on local television. Anthony Lima and Mike Hayden will provide live play-by-play on WTAP-TV. The broadcast is being sponsored by Gene Haynes and State Farm Insurance. Fans can also watch the game live on http://www.wtap.com. The game will re-air that night on Fox Parkersburg (Channel 14) at 11:30 p.m. and then again on Sunday (Sept. 28) at 10 a.m.

RADIO COVERAGE: Marietta College is scheduled to have WMRT-FM 88.3, its student radio station, and WMOA-AM 1490 broadcast the game for Pioneer fans. Both broadcasts will take the air with a short pregame at 6:50 p.m.

LISTEN ONLINE: Marietta College is proud to once again offer its fans on the World Wide Web the opportunity to listen to all 10 Pioneer football games through a partnership with Stretch Internet. All you need is QuickTime. For more information visit Marietta's athletic web site: http://pioneers.marietta.edu. Archives are also available to listen to or to purchase.

ESCORES: Marietta fans can once again receive scores, schedule updates and alerts directly on their cell phone or email by signing up for eScores at http://escores.stretchinternet.com.

STAY UP TO DATE: Visit http://pioneers.marietta.edu to stay up to date on all of the Marietta College athletics' news.

SCHEDULE CARDS: Free Fall Schedule Cards are now available. Stop by the athletics office to pick one up today.

MEDIA GUIDES NOW ON SALE: Pioneer fans can now purchase 2008 fall sport media guides. They will be made available at all home contests and in the athletics office.

83RD SEASON OF OAC PLAY: Saturday's game will continue Marietta's 83rd season of football in the OAC. The Pioneers, who joined the league in 1926, are 303-432-29 (.416) all-time in Conference play.

NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT: The OAC has two teams ranked in the top four of the d3football.com Top 25; Mount Union sits atop the poll and Capital is fourth.

NATIONAL REPRESENTATION: Marietta's roster currently features 88 total student-athletes—52 from Ohio, 12 from Pennsylvania, nine from Florida, eight from West Virginia, two from Texas and one from Colorado, Connecticut, Maryland, Michigan and Massachusetts.

CAPTAINS ANNOUNCED: Marietta College will have three captains during the 2008 season: senior running back Garrett Banks, senior linebacker Grant Cowell and senior linebacker Joe Deppen.

GETTING OFF TO A QUICK START: Marietta will look to get off to a fast start out of the locker room after struggling in the first half in 2007. The Pioneers were outscored 72-30 in the first quarter and 110-38 in the second quarter last year. On the other hand, Marietta outscored its opponents 59-54 in the final frame.

CONTROLLING THE CLOCK: Marietta will look to do a better job controlling the clock in 2008. Last year, the Pioneers trailed in time of possession in eight of 10 games, and opponents held the ball for an average of 3:38 more than Marietta. This year, Marietta is holding onto the ball for an average of 31:17, while on defense for 28:43.

TURNOVERS: Marietta needs to improve its turnover margin. In 2007, the Pioneers ranked 10th in the OAC and 222nd in NCAA Division III with a -17 turnover margin. Through two games, Marietta has turned the ball over nine times.

THIS WEEK IN THE OAC: There is a full slate of games on the OAC schedule this week. At 1:30 p.m., No. 4 Capital hosts Heidelberg, No. 1 Mount Union visits Muskingum and Otterbein is at Ohio Northern. In addition, John Carroll welcomes Heidelberg for a 2 p.m. kickoff.

NEXT GAME: On Oct. 4, Marietta will travel to Capital for a 1:30 p.m. kickoff. Baldwin-Wallace will play host to Mount Union at 2 p.m.

HOME OPENER: Saturday is Marietta's home opener at Don Drumm Stadium with kickoff taking place at 7 p.m. It will be the fourth annual River City Bowl and Alumni Weekend. A full evening of activities are planned for all of those in attendance. Free t-shirts will be given away to the first 1,000 fans. The College is also having a tailgate for fans of both teams starting at 5:30 p.m. The tailgate will include free soda, hot dogs, bratwurst and many other treats outside the stadium.

ALUMNI DAY: Marietta would like to welcome back all football alumni who are in town this weekend. We hope that you enjoy the game.

IN-GAME ENTERTAINMENT: The Pioneers would like to welcome the Tyler Consolidated High School marching band who will be performing throughout the evening, including during pre-game and at halftime.

SHOE-RECYCLING DRIVE: Marietta College's Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) is sponsoring a shoe-recycling drive.The program allows individuals to drop off their unwanted athletic shoes at either the Dyson Baudo Recreation Center or Upper Gilman on campus, as well as various other locations in Marietta such as the O'Neill Senior Center, Marietta Family YMCA and Marietta High School. The donated shoes must be athletic shoes of any brand. Gently used shoes will be donated to EVE, Inc. and the Salvation Army of Parkersburg, W.Va. The final drop off time and location is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 1 at the College's Gathering Place so please bring your old shoes to any one of the five drop-off locations starting on Sept. 22 and continuing until Nov. 1.