Marietta football shut out by host Ohio Northern 28-0
Pioneers play host to Muskingum on Homecoming Saturday at 1:30 p.m.

Oct. 18, 2008
ADA, Ohio — The Marietta College football team was kept off the scoreboard for the first time in 2008, as host Ohio Northern University posted a 28-0 victory Saturday (Oct. 18) afternoon at Dial-Roberson Stadium. The win, improved the Polar Bears' record to 2-4 overall and 2-3 in the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC). The Pioneers fell to 1-5 overall and 0-5 in the OAC.

Ohio Northern dominated the statistics on Saturday. The Polar Bears racked up 403 total yards, rushing for 250 yards and passing for 153 yards. Marietta's offense, meanwhile, was held to just 81 total yards. The Pioneers, who had just seven first downs, finished with 97 yards passing and -16 yards rushing.

Marietta junior quarterback Dexter Hughes (Woodsfield/Monroe Central) completed 12-of-24 passes with one interception and threw for 97 yards. He was also sacked six times for a loss of 33 yards. Senior running back Garrett Banks (Barberton) caught a team-high three passes for 30 yards and rushed seven times for 21 yards. Junior tailback Lamar Hunter (South Euclid/Brush) was held to nine carries for -10 yards. Sophomore wide out Cory Kriechbaum (Marietta) and sophomore fullback Rich Klingel (Marion/River Valley) both pulled in two catches for 14 yards.

Ohio Northern quarterback Kyle Simmons finished the day 8-of-15 and threw for 155 yards and three scores. He threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Ro Grigsby at the 6:20 mark of the first frame. Simmons then found Michael Busch for a 40-yard pass with 1:45 to play in the quarter. The duo then hooked up for a 42-yard touchdown pass with 9:10 left to go in the half. Busch led the Polar Bear receivers with three catches for 82 yards. Brent Donley led the ground attack with 27 carries for 108 yards and the fourth score, a 1-yard run in the opening seconds of the final quarter.

Pioneer senior linebacker Grant Cowell (Perrysville/Loudonville) finished with a career-high 14 total tackles in the game. In addition, senior defensive back Clinton Thompson (Waverly, W.Va./Williamstown), sophomore defensive lineman Adam Tate (Chesterhill/Federal Hocking) and senior defensive lineman David Loyer (Barberton) all added nine hits in the game.

The Polar Bears' defense was paced by Jake Fallis and Josh Horn with six total stops each. Horn also added two and one-half sack in the win.

Marietta returns to action on Saturday (Oct. 25) afternoon when the Pioneers play host to rival Muskingum College. It will be Homecoming at Don Drumm Stadium with kickoff slated for 1:30 p.m.