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TIFFIN -- Marietta College upset No. 24 ranked Heidelberg by the score of 24-13 Saturday afternoon. The Pioneers improve to 5-3 overall and 4-3 in the Ohio Athletic Conference. The Student Princes fall to 6-2 on the season and 4-2 in the OAC.
“I couldn’t be prouder of this team. We have had a very up and down season and they never quit. They show up to work every day and that’s all a coach can ask for,” Marietta head coach Tom Hinkle said. “Heidelberg is a very good football team. We knew defensively they were going to be tough. We had to capitalize with points in the red zone, and we were able to do that.”
The win was Marietta’s first against a ranked opponent since the Pioneers defeated No. 24 Heidelberg, 44-21, in Don Drumm Stadium on Homecoming during the 2017 season.
Heidelberg drew first blood with an 11-play, 64-yard scoring drive late in the first quarter. Alex Arledge capped the drive with a 1-yard run. Gryffin Bradley added the extra point for a 7-0 Berg lead with 55 seconds left in the opening period.
Marietta was looking to answer right back but Joe Tenta was intercepted on the Heidelberg 11-yard line ending the Pioneer drive. Marietta’s defense forced the Student Princes to punt, and Liam Kerr dropped the snap and was brought down at the one. Benny Lewis converted the Berg mistake into points diving in for the touchdown. James Cornwell hit the extra point tying the game, 7-7, with 11:24 left in the half.
After forcing Heidelberg to punt on the ensuing possession, Marietta took over at its own 29-yard line. Tenta connected with Nas Foster for 30 yards and three Zion Jackson-Wilborn carries netted 12 more yards. The Pioneers moved to the Heidelberg 15-yard line before stalling and settling for a 32-yard Cornwell field goal. Marietta took the 10-7 lead into halftime.
The Pioneer defense was nearly impenetrable in the third quarter. The Student Princes missed a 38-yard field goal, turned the ball over on downs twice and was intercepted once. Meanwhile the Pioneers went on its best drive of the day moving 83 yards on 8 plays as Lewis dove in from a yard out. After Cornwell added the extra points, Marietta lead 17-7 with 11:53 left in the game.
“Our Defense absolutely played their tails off today. They had a lot of backed up situations and they never gave in,” Hinkle said. “Austin Cordova, our defensive coordinator, has been preaching turnovers and causing havoc and today they did exactly that.”
Things got worse for Heidelberg when Jonah Asebrook stepped in front of a Student Prince receiver picking off the Alex Arledge pass and returning it 40-yards for the pick-six. Cornwell’s kick made it 24-7 with 11:30 left.
Heidelberg finally found the end zone with 1:01 left on the clock. Lance Rickle scored on a 10-yard run. The two point conversion attempt was picked off.
Tenta completed 13-of-27 passes for 142 yards. Lewis carried the ball 16 times for 58 yards and two scores. Jackson-Wilborn rushed for 24 yards on seven carries. Dalton Miller led Marietta with six catches for 60 yards.
Asebrook finished with 12 tackles and the interception. Leo Grandizio had 10 tackles, two interceptions and broke up three passes.
Arledge completed 27-of-45 passes for 287 yards but was picked off three times. Leo Martin caught five passes for 72 yards. On the ground, Rickle carried the ball eight times for 50 yards and one touchdown. Drew Miller had 31 yards on 18 carries.
Marietta returns home to host Wilmington next Saturday on Senior Day. Kickoff is set for 1:30 p.m. It will also be Veterans Appreciation Day at Don Drumm Stadium.