PART II of two-part series

CANTON, Nov. 23 – In the second contest of the Opendorse Bowl Series, football teams representing the Ohio Athletic Conference and the Presidents’ Athletic Conference will square off in the Extra Points Bowl.

The Marietta Pioneers, 8-2 and 7-2 in the OAC, will oppose the Westminster Titans, 7-3 both overall and in the PAC. Kickoff will be at 6 p.m. at the Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. For Marietta, the Extra Points Bowl represents an opportunity to end an outstanding season on a high note. The Pioneers had registered 13 consecutive victories – tying the record for the longest win streak in the history of the program, with 5 wins at the end of 2023 and eight triumphs in their first eight games of this season. Only losses at Mount Union (28-21 on November 9) and John Carroll (49-35 on Nov. 16) have marred their performance this year.

(Fans/others: See link to Part I of this for a map to parking, tickets, and livestream of the game.)
https://eyeoncleveland.com/2024/11/22/forever-lawn-bowl-preview/

Westminster’s Titans won three consecutive contests twice in the 2024 campaign. Its only losses were to PAC conference tri-champions Grove City, Washington & Jefferson, and Carnegie Mellon. All five of the colleges which have registered defeats against these two teams are in the NCAA Division III playoffs.

These two programs have opposed each other only five times in the past, with Westminster holding a 3-2 lead. Westminster won the last contest between the Titans and Pioneers, 21-19, in 1972. Marietta’s last win, 14-8, was in 1968. But when they meet today, expect a lot more offense from both squads.

Marietta has scored 40 or more points six times this season, and notched 50 or more points four times. It’s averaging nearly 44 points per game. Westminster scored 40+ points four times, and also put 50 or more points up on the scoreboard twice. It is average more than 37 points a game.

Both teams are also aggressive and opportunistic in the giveaway/takeaway department. Westminster is plus 9, and has turned the ball over only four times all season. Marietta is even better with a +13 in this category, including 15 interceptions and six fumble recoveries.

Westminster’s offense has scored 21 rushing and 16 passing touchdowns. It is led by junior quarterback Ty McGowan, who averages 169 yards per game. Senior running back Ryan Gomes is the team’s top rusher, with 343 total yards and a 4.4 yard per carry average. Senior Jalen Washington leads the team in receiving with 33 catches for 548 yards and four touchdowns (a 16.6 yards per catch average). On defense, junior linebacker Dylan Sleva has 89 tackles/assists.

For the Pioneers, senior quarterback Connor Viestra leads an offense which has scored 58 touchdowns on the season, 29 rushing and 29 passing. Viestra has thrown for 2,403 yards and 24 TDs. Junior running back Taz Morris has gained 666 yards and scored 8 touchdowns while averaging 5.6 yards per carry. Senior Dawson Snyder, who’s broken every single season and career receiving record in Marietta’s history, has 78 receptions for 946 yards (12.1 yards per catch) and 11 scores. Marietta also ranks among the top 20 teams in DIII in total defense. Senior defensive lineman Chance Knight and junior linebacker Harley Hopkins anchor the defenders, with Hopkins notching 86 tackles/assists, 11.5 tackles for loss, and 5.5 sacks.

Extra Points, a leading newsletter covering business, policy and off-the-field stories in the college sports industry, the sponsor of The Extra Points Bowl, the second part of the Opendorse Football Bowl Series. Here’s a link to Extra Points’ publisher Matt Brown’s post about the game: https://www.extrapointsmb.com/p/the-extra-points-bowl-is-tomorrow-here-s-how-to-watch