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Nov. 2—The Marietta College football program has reached new heights a number of times over the years with Andy Waddle, a Greenon High School and Wittenberg University graduate, at the helm.
Waddle was named Ohio Athletic Conference Coach of the Year in 2017 in his fifth season when he guided the program to a 6-4 mark. That was its first winning season since 2006. In 2018, the Pioneers started 6-0 for the first time since 1920.
This season, through last weekend, Marietta was off to a 7-0 start for the first time in program history. It earned a national ranking for the first time, landing at No. 25 in the D3Football.com poll on Monday.
“We have a really special group of guys and a really good staff,” Waddle said. “The guys care about each other. The staff cares about each other. It’s a really special feeling — and I don’t know that you get it all the time — where the team is all on the same mission. It’s selfless. It’s special when you have one of those teams, and I think we have one of those right now.”
Marietta’s offense is led by another Clark County native. Reed Florence, a Southeastern graduate who played quarterback at Wittenberg when Waddle was the defensive coordinator on Joe Fincham’s staff, is in his sixth season on Waddle’s staff. He has been the offensive coordinator for the last five seasons. He also spent five seasons as the offensive coordinator at Wittenberg on Fincham’s staff.
Waddle and Florence have not ignored their hometowns in recruiting. Greenon graduate Mason Vawter, a junior, is the starting long snapper and also is in the defensive line rotation.
“He’s one of the best long snappers in the country,” Waddle said. “He’s been perfect.
There are two Southeastern graduates on the roster as well: Jonah Asebrook, a freshman defensive back; and CJ Wilt, a freshman linebacker.
Florence’s offense is…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/clark-county-natives-lead-marietta-141000192.html
Author : Springfield News-Sun, Ohio
Publish date : 2024-11-02 14:10:00
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