Marietta College easily defeated Wilmington College 38-10 on Saturday afternoon at Don Drumm Stadium in the Pioneers’ home finale, Marietta College Athletics reported. The Pioneers improve to 6-3 on the season and 5-3 in the Ohio Athletic Conference, while Wilmington slips to 2-7 overall and 1-6 in the OAC.
The game swung Marietta’s way in the first minutes. Wilmington fumbled on its first play from scrimmage — Ray Kelley knocked the ball loose after a 40-yard pass and Taison Starr recovered — and Isaiah Mitchell capped a seven-play drive with a 6-yard touchdown run, according to Marietta College Athletics. A bad punt snap sailed through the end zone for a safety and an 8-0 lead before Wilmington answered with an 80-yard touchdown drive to make it 8-7.
Marietta took control in the second quarter with two touchdown passes — Antwon Johnson to Dalton Miller for 3 yards, and Joe Tenta to Chrys Taylor for 60 yards — and three straight James Cornwell field goals, from 33, 33 and 36 yards, pushed the lead to 31-7 heading into the fourth quarter, Marietta College Athletics reported. Sulayman Jalloh’s 1-yard touchdown run in the final minutes closed the scoring after a Wilmington field goal.
Benny Lewis rushed for 103 yards on 12 carries and Zion Jackson-Wilborn added 79 yards on 15 carries for Marietta. Tenta completed 15 of 35 passes for 226 yards and a touchdown, Taylor caught three passes for 95 yards and a score, and Miller had six catches for 47 yards and a touchdown, according to Marietta College Athletics. Harper Scott and Ethan Crock led the defense with seven tackles each, 3.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks apiece, and Drew Neal intercepted two passes.
The win was Marietta’s third straight to close the home schedule, and it came on the day the program honored its seniors before kickoff in the home finale at Don Drumm Stadium, according to Marietta College Athletics.
“It was great to send the seniors out on a high note. They have sacrificed so much and have definitely left their mark on Marietta College Football,” Marietta head coach Tom Hinkle said in the Marietta College Athletics recap. “It was another dominant performance by our defense. After the first quarter they took over and never allowed Wilmington back into the game.”
Marietta finishes the season at Mount St. Joseph next Saturday, Nov. 14, at 1:30 p.m., according to Marietta College Athletics.
Photo: Fayerweather Hall at Marietta College. Photo: w_lemay, CC BY-SA