Sept. 18, 2020 Marietta Game

Big Reds Run Past Tigers, 34-20

Game Statistics / Game Photos

Bryson Singer and Xadrian Snodgrass accounted for over 300 yards rushing and Keenan Curry's 84 yard interception return touchdown sparked the Parkersburg Big Reds to a 34-20 win over host Marietta Friday night in the 116th meeting of the two Ohio River rivals.
Singer ran for 205 yards on 21 carries and scored two touchdowns, one a 76 yarder, while Snodgrass added 117 yards on 18 carries and one score as the two juniors combined for 322 of their team’s 332 yards on the ground to help the Big Reds up their season’s record to 2-1 while dropping Marietta to 1-3.
While the backfield duo was running like the Big Red teams of old, Curry broke the game open and gave PHS the lead for good with his 84 yard interception return score with one minute left in the first quarter. It was one of four takeaways by the Big Red defense which led Marietta’s ground game in check with just 64 yards but did surrender 252 yards through the air with big play receiver Tony Munos pacing the losers with seven catches for 118 yards and two scores.
The Big Red defense also had four sacks with Austin Fleming leading the way along with Justin Waybright and Casey Mahoney.
A 53 yard opening kickoff return by Munos put Marietta in scoring position right off the bat at the PHS 38 and eight plays later he scored from the four on a fourth down slant over the middle of the end zone with 9:09 on the clock.
The Big Reds responded with a drive that took 5:16 and used 16 plays with Singer hitting Carter King for the final 14 yards with 3:44 left in the first period. A 29 yard run on a scramble by Singer was the big play.
PHS held Marietta on the ensuing possession but the Tigers got the ball back on a dropped punt by Curry at the PHS 36. But two plays later Curry made amends for the bobble by interception a Reece Gerber pass on the PHS 16 and the senior raced up the sidelines to the end zone. Freshman Casey Stanley booted the first of four extra points to make it 14-7.
Curry had a 28 yard punt return in the middle of the second period to begin Parkersburg’s third touchdown drive from near mid-field. Eight straight running plays culminated with an 18 yard scoring run on a keeper and sprint to the right sideline by Singer with 3:59 left in the first half.
Curry also temporarily saved a touchdown when he chased Munos down from behind after a 60-yard bomb from Gerber that took the ball to the PHS 14. Three plays later Gerber hit Munos for the touchdown to cut the lead to 21-13 at the half.
Marietta threatened on its first possession of the second half, moving to the PHS 12 but the defense stiffened with back-to-back plays by Jake Barnette and then an 11-yard sack by Waybright that helped force the Tigers to turn the ball over on downs at the 24.
On the very next play Singer faked a handoff and then took off up the left sidelines all the way to the end zone for the touchdown to make it 28-13.
Marietta tried to get back in the game with a nearly eight minute drive late in the third quarter that took 17 plays and moved the ball all the way to the five yard line but Zach Howard tackled Munos for a four yard loss on an end-around and then Howard and Mahoney sacked Gerber for a seven yard loss. A fourth down pass was broken up by Howard.
Pressure by Waybright forced an interception by Mahoney that stopped Marietta’s next offensive try and the Big Reds put the game away two minutes later when Waybright came up with a fumble recovery on a muffed Marietta punt return on the Tigers’ 19 yard line.
Two plays later Snodgrass scored on a 13 yard run to make it 34-13. Stanley actually scored on the extra point attempt when a bobbled snap was picked up by holder Michael Owen, who then lateraled to Stanley and the freshman ran into the end zone for an apparent two points but the official blew the play dead before the lateral.
Marietta tacked on a meaningless score with 1:11 left in the game on a 15 yard pass from Gerber (his third of the game) to Donavon Wheeler for the final 14-point margin.