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MC going Polar Bear hunting Saturday

Marietta College’s Andrew Barker catches a pass against Wilmington during a college football game earlier this season at Don Drumm Stadium. Photo by Nate Knobel.

The Andy Waddle-coached Pioneers (2-5 overall, 2-4 OAC) are hoping to extend it to three when they host Ohio Northern University (3-4, 3-3) in an Ohio Athletic Conference football game at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Don Drumm Stadium.

Last year, MC dropped a 62-21 decision to the D3 playoff-bound Polar Bears at Diual-Roberson Stadium in Ada.

Marietta is coming off a 41-28 setback to Heidelberg University (3-4, 3-3) last Saturday at Paul Hoernemann Stadium in Tiffin. The Pios — who hurt themselves early on with four turnovers, one pick and three lost fumbles — trailed the Student Princes, 34-0, at halftime. Kicker Jimmy Embrescia also missed a 26-yard field goal attempt.

Needless to say, the navy blue and white gridders will be focusing on securing the football better in practice this week.

MC outpointed the Berg, 21-0 in the third period, but it proved to be too little, too late.

Quarterbacked by sophomore Darrien Fields, the Pioneers were able to move the chains on a consistent basis, amassing 28 first downs and 461 total yards of offense. Problem was, so did Heidelberg, with 464 yards.

Junior running back Roger Walker was the Pios’ workhorse, rushing for a career-high 265 yards on 34 carries and three touchdown runs of 80, 9, and 3 yards — all in the third period.

The 5-foot-10, 180-pound Walker has now exceeded 100 yards rushing in four consecutive contests. He figures to be keyed on by the ONU defense.

Against HU, the 5-10, 165-pound Fields had another good Saturday, completing 22 of 31 throws for 212 yards and one TD of three yards to 6-3, 196-pound senior tight end Nick Hineman. The Pioneer signal caller also had one interception.

Freshman wideout Billy Frauens was Fields’ principal receiver with seven catches for 78 yards.

Former Marietta Tiger standout Garrett Davis and Eric Klopfenstein had 11 tackles apiece to spearhead the Pioneer defense.

Marietta College will be facing an Ohio Northern team that routed visiting Muskingum University, 44-3, in its homecoming game last Saturday.

The Dean Paul-coached Polar Bears are expected to be quarterbacked by 6-2, 195-pound sophomore Will Freed, who, against MU, completed 23-of-36 passes for 238 yards and four touchdowns, three of 4, 33, and 9 yards to 6-6, 240-pound senior TE Logan Ray and one of 15 yards to 6-1, 205 WR Reed Allen.

ONU frosh David Haseleu, a 5-8, 175-pound RB, gained 84 yards on 17 attempts to lead the team in that offensive category. He also scored on a 14-yard run in the second quarter.

Defensively, the Polar Bears limited the Muskies to eight first downs and 207 total yards. Senior Dan Eller led the ONU hitmen with nine tackles and one pick.

Ohio Northern also has a pretty good field goal kicker in sophomore Joe French, who has a school record of 11 boots on the season. His three fields against the Muskies tied the school’s single-game record. This fall, he’s kicked three in a game three times.

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