MARIETTA, Ohio - Muskingum University's freshman quarterback C.J. Snider scored three rushing touchdowns to lead the Fighting Muskies over Marietta College, 38-14, in the annual Shrine Football Game Saturday afternoon at Don Drumm Stadium.
With the loss, Marietta ends the season 0-10 and 0-9 in the Ohio Athletic Conference. The game marked the final contest for seniors Quincy Bell, Kadeem Corbin, Louis DiPaolo, Tevin Dones, Willie Ervin, Brandon Ferguson, Andrew Fox, Gaston Hayes, Jake Kobilarcsik, John Korth, Sean Munfield, David Olach, Joe Terrell, Ashton Watts and Linard Williams.
Muskingum (3-7 overall, 3-6 OAC) scored 28 unanswered points, 14 each in the second and third quarters, to put the game out of reach. The Muskies grabbed the early lead on a 29-yard field goal by Greg Fox to cap a 10-play drive to open the game.
The Pioneers responded with a five-play, 22-yard drive that resulted in quarterback Thomas Hinkle (Fredericktown/Fredericktown) diving in from a yard out for the touchdown. The scoring drive was set-up by an interception from Robert Brown (Middleburg, Fla./Nathan B. Forrest). The rushing touchdown was the Pioneers' first of the season.
The Muskies scored the final 14 points of the half on two touchdown runs by Snider. Snider's first score was a four-yard run that capped off a seven-play, 64-yard drive. His second score was a five-yard run near the end of the half.
Snider continued his impressive play in the second half with a three-yard touchdown run midway through the third quarter to extend the Muskie lead to 24-7. Snider ended the game with 74 yards rushing on 14 carries with a career-high three rushing touchdowns.
Fact Box
Muskingum 38, Marietta 14
Muskingum (3-7) 3 14 14 7 - 38
Marietta (0-10) 7 0 0 7 - 14
MK: Greg Fox 29 field goal 9:29, 1st
MR: Thomas Hinkle 1 run (Conor Durina kick) 5:25, 1st
MK: CJ Snider 4 run (Greg Fox kick) 7:38, 2nd
MK: CJ Snider 5 run (Fox kick) :59, 2nd
MK: CJ Snider 3 run (Fox kick) 7:58, 3rd
MK: Logan Ladd 5 punt return (Fox kick) 3:42, 3rd
MK: Donnie Pickens 12 run (Fox kick) 3:30, 4th
MR: Munfield 18 pass from Willy Ervin (Durina kick) :42, 4th
Team stats
Muskingum: First downs: 21; Rushes-yards: 45-236; Passing yards: 136; Total Yards: 372; Passing: 12-21-1; Punts-average: 5-35.2; Fumbles-lost: 1-1; Penalties-yards: N/A
Marietta: First downs: 15; Rushes-yards: 29-82; Passing yards: 100; Total yards: 182; Passing: 9-26-2; Punts-average: 7-34.9; Fumbles-lost: 1-1; Penalties-yards: N/A
Individual stats
Muskingum: CJ Snider 14-75; Passing: CJ Snider 9-15, 93; Receiving: J. Washington 4-53
Marietta: Quincy Bell 6-43; Passing: Thomas Hinkle 3-13, 39; Receiving: Tannon Roberts 4-40
Snider also threw for 93 yards on 9-of-15 passing with one interception. Snider was recognized for his outstanding play by being named the Muskingum Shrine Player of the Game.
Senior defensive lineman Logan Ladd added to the Muskie advantage late in the third quarter when he returned a blocked punt five yards for a touchdown. Junior wide receiver Alvin Taylor blocked the Marietta punt.
Muskingum freshman running back Donnie Pickens capped of the Muskie scoring with a 12-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter.
Marietta got back on the board late in the final period when a pair of seniors hooked up on an 18-yard scoring strike. Ervin, seeing his first action of the season, hit Munfield to cap a six-play, 67-yard drive.
Making his first career start, Hinkle completed 3-of-13 passes for 39 yards. He was intercepted twice. Freshman Lucas Havens hit 4-of-11 passes for 32 yards, while Ervin completed both of his pass attempts for 29 yards.
Bell was Marietta's leading rusher with 42 yards on six carries. Sophomore running back Julius Nero carried the ball nine times for 23 yards.
Junior linebacker Jake Hammer, the OAC's leading tackler, made a team-high 12 tackles to earn Marietta's Shrine Player of the Game award. Corbin and Hayes closed out their careers with 10 tackles
