Local Sports

Pioneers drop OAC opener to Ohio Northern, 20-13

Marietta College quarterback Joe Tenta was sacked on the Ohio Northern 17-yard line as time ran out allowing the Polar Bears to escape with a 20-13 win Saturday evening. The Pioneers move to 1-1 overall and 0-1 in the Ohio Athletic Conference. Ohio Northern is now 1-1 overall and 1-0 in the OAC.

Tenta hit Dalton Miller on a 5-yard touchdown pass with 1:39 left in the game to get the Pioneers within seven, 20-13. The scoring strike capped a 16-play, 75-yard drive for Marietta.

Marietta’s onside kick attempt rolled out of bounds giving Ohio Northern the ball on the Pioneer 41-yard line. MC’s defense did its job stuffing the Polar Bears on four straight runs, including a fourth and inches, to give Marietta the ball back on its own 32-yard line with 1:06 remaining.

After incomplete passes on the first two plays, Tenta completed four straight passes moving the ball to the ONU 24-yard line. A defensive pass interference call moved the ball to the 17-yard line where Tenta was sacked as time ran out.

Ohio Northern took advantage of three big plays in the game to get the lead. On their first play from scrimmage, Jordan Pettaway broke several tackles and scampered 75 yards for a touchdown.

ONU’s Vic Hoelscher and Pettaway combined for a 53-yard kick return which led to a 24-yard field goal by Sean Putt. Finally, Amir Collings hit Mikey Brown on a 32-yard touchdown pass.

Marietta got on the board in the first quarter. Benny Lewis broke free for a 34-yard touchdown run. The extra point was blocked.

Tenta was 24-of-47 for 231 yards and one touchdown. He was picked off three times. Miller finished with 8 catches for 107 yards and one touchdown. Lewis rushed for 75 yards on 13 carries with one touchdown.

Zach Olechnowicz had 32 carries for 79 yards. Pettaway finished with 78 yards and one touchdown on two carries. Collings completed 9-of-11 passes for 76 yards and one touchdown.

Midway through the second quarter, the game was delayed more than 2 1-2 hours due to lightning.

Marietta hosts Capital on Youth Day next Saturday. Kickoff is set for 1:30 p.m.

At Don Drumm Stadium

Ohio Northern 20, Marietta 13

O (1-1) 7 3 7 3 -- 20

M (1-1) 6 0 0 7 -- 13

O: Jordan Pettaway 75 run, Sean Putt kick, 14:45 1st

M: Benny Lewis 34 run, kick blocked, 6:20 1st

O: Putt 24 field goal, 14:18 2nd

O: Mikey Brown 32 pass from Amir Collings, Putt kick, 4:55 3rd

O: Putt 25 field goal, 14:54 4th

M: Dalton Miller 5 pass from Joe Tenta, Nathaniel Demuth kick, 1:39 4th

Team stats

Ohio Northern: First downs: 12; Rushes-yards: 47-192; Passing yards: 76; Total yards: 268; Passing: 9-11-0; Fumbles-lost: 1-0; Penalties-yards: 5-42; Punts-average: 5-42

Marietta: First downs: 20; Rushes-yards: 24-96; Passing yards: 231; Total yards: 327; Passing: 24-48-3; Fumbles-lost: 0-0; Penalties-yards: 6-90; Punts-average: 6-35.3

Individual stats

Ohio Northern: Rushing: Z. Olechnowicz 32-79; Jordan Pettaway 2-78, TD; Amir Collings 8-24; Brayden Bayles 5-11; Passing: Collings 9-11-0, 76 yards, TD; Receiving: Mikey Brown 2-38, TD; Kyle Celestin 3-19; Julian Ponce 1-16; Seth Borondy 2-2; Olechnowicz 1-1

Marietta: Rushing: Benny Lewis 13-75, TD; Isaiah Mitchell 1-11; Zion Jackson-Wilborn 5-10; Joe tenta 3-7; Antwon Johnson 1-0; Mike Banks 1-(-7); Passing: Tenta 24-48-3, 231 yards, TD; Receiving: Dalton Miller 8-107, TD; Johnson 3-40; Nas Foster 6-31; Lewis 1-17; Chrys Taylor 2-13; Jackson-Wilborn 3-13; Louis Goodnow 1-10

Next game: Capital at Marietta, 1:30 p.m. Saturday