Football falls against rival Marietta in annual Shriner Game

The Muskingum football team fell against Ohio Athletic Conference rival Marietta in its home opener and annual Shriners Game on a hot Saturday afternoon in McConagha Stadium, 46-20.

The Basics

• Records: Muskingum (1-2 overall, 0-2 OAC), Marietta (3-0 overall, 2-0 OAC)
• Location: New Concord, Ohio
• Attendance: 1,567
• Weather: 85 degrees, sunny and hot
• Game Duration: 2:55

Game Notes

• The contest marked the 10th meeting between Muskingum and Marietta since the inception of the Shriners Game. Muskingum leads the all-time series 7-3.
• Muskingum sophomore defensive back Nehemiah Bowie was named the Muskingum Shriners Player of the Game. Bowie ended the outing 10 tackles, including eight solo stops and one forced fumble.
• Marietta quarterback Darrien Fields was named the Marietta Shriners Player of the Game. Fields ended the contest going 22-of-34 for 311 yards and three touchdowns.

Inside The Numbers

• Muskingum committed six turnovers on the day - five interceptions and one fumble. The Pioneers took advantage of the miscues and converted them into 24 points.
• The Muskies churned out a season-high 467 yards of offense and registered their highest time of possession this year - 32:18.
• The Pioneers had three kickoff returns for 177 yards. Running back Tanner Clark accounted for all the yards including a 90-yard kickoff return for a touchdown on the first play of the game to give Marietta a quick 7-0 lead.
• Muskingum ended the game 8-of-16 on third-down conversions and was a perfect 3-for-3 in the red zone.
• Marietta went 6-of-13 on third-down conversions and was 4-of-5 in the red zone.

How It Happened

• Clark gave Marietta a 7-0 lead after returning the opening kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown.
• Muskingum answered with an eight-play, 74-yard drive that ended with junior fullback Marvis Hood scoring on a three-yard run. The Muskies missed the extra point and trailed 7-6.
• Marietta extended its lead at the 5:12 mark of the first quarter when Fields hit Ryan VanMeter for a seven-yard score. Junior defensive end Tim Ousley blocked the extra point and the Pioneers led 13-6.
• Early in the second quarter, Marietta extended its margin to 20-6 on a Fields 31-yard touchdown pass to Andrew Barker. The score capped off a seven-play, 60-yard drive.
• The Pioneers scored the final points of the half on a Jimmy Embrescia 30-yard field goal. Marietta led 23-6 entering the break.
• Muskingum took the opening kickoff of the second half and orchestrated a 14-play, 75-yard drive that ended with Hood plowing in from one-yard out for his second touchdown of the game. The score trimmed the Muskie gap to 23-13.
• Marietta answered the Muskingum surge with back-to-back touchdowns to regain the momentum and take 36-13 lead early in the fourth quarter. Clark rushed for a four-yard score and Fields hit Andrew Barker for a 24-yard touchdown. 
• Muskingum's final tally came on an eight-yard pass from freshman quarterback Jordan Garrett to senior running back Warren Wilson with 6:57 on the clock.
• Marietta capped the scoring in the final two minutes on a Embrescia 23-yard field goal and Tay Pryor's 38-yard interception return for a touchdown.

Individual Statistics

• Muskingum sophomore quarterback Brody Hahn went 17-of-36 for 247 yards and four interceptions.
• Garrett led the Muskie rushers with 56 yards on eight totes. He also added 44 yards passing and one score.
• Sophomore running back Cameron Near logged 45 yards rushing on 10 carries.
• Freshman wide receiver Amin Shaheed recorded a career-high 109 yards receiving on five grabs.
• Sophomore wide out Terry Geiger had five catches for 63 yards.
• Bowie and senior linebacker Brandon Schon led the defense with 10 stops each.
• Ousley and sophomore defensive lineman Drew Lowery each had seven tackles.
• Clark ended the game with 80 yards rushing and one touchdown for the Pioneers.
• Barker led all receivers with five catches for 134 yards and two scores.
• Jake Tracewell had a game-high 11 tackles, and Garrett Davis had 10 hits.

Up Next

• Muskingum next travels to OAC foe Wilmington on Saturday, September 22. Game time is slated for 2:00 p.m.