WILMINGTON – Sometimes, it’s the little things that can determine the outcome in a football game. Something like a missed opportunity on a two-point conversion can deflate a team’s momentum. It’s a razor-thin margin between a win or loss.
On Saturday, Wilmington’s missed chance at a two-point conversion and Marietta’s subsequent two points turned the tide and helped the Pioneers to a 43-33 win over WC on Homecoming.
Instead of a potential 28-28 tie score, had the conversion been successful, Marietta capitalized on the miscue and Marietta’s Garrett Davis returned it 85 yards for two points which stopped the Quakers’ momentum and made it 30-26.
With the victory, Marietta improves to 3-3 overall (2-3 in the Ohio Athletic Conference), while the Quakers dropped their first home game of the season, falling to 2-4 on the year and 1-4 in OAC action.
First-year WC head coach Bryan Moore believed going for two points was the right thing to do, despite the play ultimately backfiring.
“It’s something we worked on all week. Our players believed in it and we were in a situation where it was a great time to call it,” he said. “But, it’s just been frustrating in the red zone, where we’ve had these type of troubles all year long. We put it in the hands of the kids who could make the big play. Whether it was a bad pitch or not a clean exchange, I’ll take a look at the film. If we get another chance (in the future) we may call it again with the utmost confidence and we will execute it better.”
Moore said going into the game that if it became a shoot-out, then his team just had to make keys plays and eventually outscore the Pioneers to secure the victory. As the score indicates, it did not happen.
“We knew they (Marietta) were explosive and we just made way too many mistakes,” he said. “Too many dropped balls, a crucial penalty here or there, or missed assignments. Those things can come back to hurt you in a game like this. Still, it was a great effort.”
Before a sun-baked crowd inspired by Homecoming festivities, the team was cheered on by a massive throng of Quaker-green rally towels, something which Moore said energized his squad.
“Our fans were tremendous today and they have been behind us from the start of the season. It’s just a shame we could not get the win to make it a successful Homecoming,” he said.
Offensively, Wilmington outgained Marietta in total yards, 516-472. WC’s attack came through the air, as senior quarterback Luke Creditt completed 28 of 44 passes for 354 yards. Eight different receivers had receptions, with freshman Ameer Jackson grabbing ten catches for 162 yards.
Creditt had five touchdown passes in the contest, including a pair to PJ Meyer, plus TDs to his brother Matt as well as Eric Flynn and Kysean Yorker.
On the final play of the first half, Creditt hooked up with Flynn on a diving over the shoulder grab in the right corner of the end zone with no time remaining. Marietta’s lead was cut to 21-13 at halftime. After Marietta scored the opening touchdown of the third quarter, Wilmington mounted a comeback with a pair of touchdown drives.
On the defensive side of the ball, Quaker standouts were Leroy Wilson with 11 tackles and Tre’Quez Parks had nine. Parks also recorded Wilmington’s first interception of the season. Wilmington recorded five quarterback sacks on the afternoon. Ryan Prince had a pair, while David Henry, Kyle Ackley and Nolan Keller had one each.
The season does not get easier for the Quakers, as they will face the OAC’s top team over the past decade in Mount Union next Saturday at Williams Stadium, with kickoff at 1:30 p.m. The Purple Raiders turned back Capital, 72-14 on Saturday.
SUMMARY
Oct 14 2017
@Townsend Field
Marietta 43 Wilmington 33
M 07.14.15.07…..43
W 00.13.13.07…..33
First Quarter
M: Anches, fumble recovery in the end zone. Embrescia PAT, 8:36
Second Quarter
M: Capshaw, 1-yd. pass from Fields. Embrescia PAT, 14:56.
W: Meyer, 8-yd. pass from Creditt. Shamp PAT, 6:55.
M: Hughlett, 13-yard pass from Fields. Embrescia PAT, 2:13.
W: Flynn, 27-yard reception from Creditt. Shamp PAT, 00:00.
Third Quarter
M: Walker, 9-yard run. Embrescia PAT, 12:35.
W: Meyer, 5-yard pass from Creditt. Shamp PAT, 10:06.
W: Matt Creditt, 2-yard reception from L. Creditt. 2-pt. conversion failed 6:08.
M: Davis, 85-yard return on failed conversion, 6:08.
M: Van Meter, 25-yard pass from Fields. Embrescia PAT, 4:07.
Fourth Quarter
M: Walker, 20-yard run. Embrescia PAT, 10:30.
W: Yorker, 14-yard pass from Creditt. Shamp PAT,t 00:42.
