BEREA, Ohio — Marietta College spoiled Homecoming for Baldwin Wallace University with a convincing 42-21 victory Saturday (Sept. 30) afternoon in Ohio Athletic Conference football action. The Pioneers improve to 3-1 overall and 2-1 in the OAC. The Yellow Jackets fall to 2-3 on the season and 2-2 in the OAC.
"A year ago, we played an unbelievable football game against BW and just fell short. I think our guys in that moment had their hearts ripped out a little bit and this offseason really used that as fuel to motivate them," Marietta head coach Andy Waddle said. "We really wanted to come out and get this one. Our guys were hungry to prove that we are a better football team than whate we have shown."
Baldwin Wallace jumped on top with a 15-play, 92-yard drive on its first possession of the game. The Yellow Jackets converted a fourth down and two in Marietta territory to keep the drive alive. Derk Hutchinson capped the drive with a 5-yard touchdown run. Joseph Evans added the extra point for a 7-0 BW lead.
Bryce Agnew got the Pioneers on the board in the second quarter. The All-American running back broke loose for a 24-yard touchdown run with 5:09 left in the first half. Marietta's point after attempt was no good leaving BW with a slim 7-6 lead.
Baldwin Wallace was whistled for a personal foul on the ensuing kickoff forcing the Yellow Jackets to put the ball in play from their own 15-yard line. On the first play from scrimmage, quarterback Joey Marousek mishandled the shotgun snap and Marietta's Brady McManaway recovered the fumble in the endzone for a Marietta touchdown. Derek Cline added the point after for a 13-7 lead with 4:55 left in the half.
Both teams scored one touchdown in the third quarter. Marousek connected with Austin Schuck on a 65-yard touchdown pass for the Yellow Jackets. Marietta answered with another Agnew rushing touchdown to take a 21-14 lead into the fourth quarter.
"There were no bigger performances today than our two captains," Waddle said. "Bryce (Agnew) in the fourth quarter showing up and just wore them down and Chance (Knight) with 11 tackles and a sack. Those two guys led us with their emotions and their play on either side of the ball."
The fourth quarter belonged to Marietta. Connor Vierstra scored on runs of 8-yards and 14-yards, and Agnew notched his third score of the afternoon with a 19-yard scamper.
"Connor (Vierstra) had a really solid day," Waddle said. "He does a good job of commanding the offense we have put together. It's not always as flashy as other offenses, but we are able to wear defenses down."
The Yellow Jackets' final points came on a 24-yard pass from Marousek to Vinny Lomeo.
Agnew finished with 139 yards and three touchdowns on 30 carries. Vierstra completed 14-of-21 passes for 147 yards and rushed for 33 yards and two touchdowns on eight carries. Dawson Snyder caught nine passes for 88 yards, while Jay Melchiori had four receptions for 45 yards.
Marousek accounted for most of Baldwin Wallace's offense completing 20-of-38 passes for 317 yards and two touchdowns. He was picked off twice. George Linberger rushed for 32 yards on six carries. Lomeo had four catches for 80 yards and one touchdown, while Schuck had the one 65-yard touchdown reception.
Lukas Ratliff had five tackles and a pair of interceptions for the Pioneers. Chance Knight and McManaway recorded 11 and 10 tackles, respectively. Knight had 1.0 sack. Jake Visnic tallied eight tackles, including 2.5 tackles for a loss and 1.5 sacks.
Marietta returns home to host nationally-ranked John Carroll University next Saturday (Oct. 7). Kickoff at Don Drumm Stadium is set for 1:30 p.m.