Football hosts Wilmington in OAC clash

The Muskingum football team will host Ohio Athletic Conference foe Wilmington on Saturday, September 25, at Zanesville High School. The game is scheduled to kick off at 1:30 p.m.

The Series

• The contest will mark the 26th meeting between Muskingum and Wilmington, with the first game being played in 1913. The Muskies lead the all-time series, 17-8.
• Muskingum has won 11 straight games against the Quakers.
• In 2013, Muskingum became the 41st school in NCAA Division III history to achieve 500 program wins with its thrilling 35-28 overtime win at Wilmington. The Muskies rallied from a 21-point second-half deficit to spoil the Quakers' Homecoming en route to the milestone victory. The Muskies' memorable comeback was highlighted with a second-half surge that saw Muskingum outscore Wilmington 28-7 to force the extra frame.

The Matchup

The Muskies enter the contest at 2-1 overall and 1-1 in the OAC. Muskingum is averaging 347 yards and 27.3 points per game. The Muskies are led by captain quad of senior quarterback Jordan Garrett, senior defensive back Brian Brown, senior defensive back Cortez McGinnis, and senior offensive lineman Iggy Horvath.

Garrett leads the offense throwing for 652 yards and four touchdowns on 54-of-100 passing attempts. He's also rushed for 91 yards and two scores. Junior running back Donny Wilkinson leads the rushing attack averaging 43.7 yards per game and 3.7 yards per tote. Wilkinson has rushed for two touchdowns and hauled in 11 receptions for 65 yards.

Junior receiver Zuri Edmondson, junior receiver Ja'Lin Goodman, and sophomore receiver Travis Roberson pace the Muskie receiving core. Edmondson has 12 receptions for 212 yards, and Goodman has hauled in nine receptions for 187 yards. Roberson has two touchdowns and a team-high 13 receptions. 

Defensively, freshman linebacker Azarious Williams has a team-best 28 stops, and junior linebacker Tristan Howell has 21 hits and one interception. Brown has 17 tackles and has forced one fumble. Brown's first-quarter interception last week at Marietta moved him into a tie for sixth all-time at Muskingum in career picks. Brown now has 14 interceptions during his career.

Sophomore kicker Hunter Albers and sophomore punter Collin Scozzafava lead the Muskie special teams. Albers is 2-of-3 in field goals (long of 23 yards) and has made 10-of-11 extra-point attempts. Scozzafava is averaging 37.9 yards per punt and has placed five inside the 20.

Wilmington enters the contest at 0-2 overall and 0-1 in the OAC. The Quakers are averaging 402 yards and 30.5 points per outing. 

Sophomore quarterback Derek Larimer leads the Quakers going 70-of-128 for 856 yards and eight scores. Sophomore running back Ben Hobbs leads the ground game with two touchdowns and 5.7 yards per carry.

The receiving trio of senior Ace Taylor, sophomore Gavin Foushee, and senior Itika Wynn Jr. are the main threats for Larimer. Taylor has 187 yards receiving and two scores, Foushee has 125 yards and two touchdowns, and Wynn Jr. has 104 yards. 

Defensively, sophomore Xzerious Stinnett and freshman Jarod Lee led the Quakers. Stinnett has racked up 25 stops with a pair of sacks and two forced fumbles, while Lee has 21 hits with one sack.

Sophomore kicker Gabe Dolan leads special teams' play going 2-for-2 in field goals (long of 29 yards) and 10-of-12 in extra-point attempts.

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