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The University of Mount Union football team returns to action on Saturday, hosting Marietta College on homecoming day in Alliance. The Purple Raiders, sporting a 2-2 record, are riding high after a dominant 65-7 victory at Muskingum last week. Marietta, meanwhile, enters with a 3-1 mark and is coming off a convincing 42-7 win over Otterbein.
Live updates will be available starting at 1:30 p.m. ET. For those interested in high school football, the NFHS Network offers live coverage throughout the year.
Series History
Mount Union holds a commanding 55-18-1 advantage in the all-time series against Marietta. Over the last 12 meetings, the Purple Raiders have outscored the Pioneers 565-81. Mount Union has won 46 consecutive games against Marietta, with the Pioneers' last victory coming in 1977 by a score of 20-6. Marietta has won back-to-back Ohio Athletic Conference games and has outscored conference opponents 74-17 in that span.
Coaching Matchup
Marietta is led by first-year head coach Tom Hinkle, who took over on an interim basis last season for Tom Kaufman in 2025. Hinkle spent nine years as an assistant at Marietta before assuming the top role. A former player for the Pioneers, he graduated in 2016 and was a three-year letterman, playing quarterback, punter, and defensive line. Mount Union is coached by Geoff Dart, now in his seventh season. Dart boasts a career record of 69-7 and has guided the Purple Raiders to the Division III playoffs in every year of his tenure, winning six straight OAC championships. He led Mount Union to national title game appearances in 2022 and 2024. Prior to becoming head coach, Dart served as offensive coordinator for seven years, winning national titles in 2012 and 2015. As a player, he won three national championships as an All-OAC offensive lineman in 2002, 2005, and 2006.
Players to Watch
Marietta quarterback Joe Tenta ranks second in the OAC in passing, having thrown for 1,050 yards and nine touchdowns this season. Tenta is the grandson of late WWE Hall of Fame wrestler John Tenta, better known as 'Earthquake,' who famously feuded with Hulk Hogan in 1990. John Tenta was also a professional sumo wrestler in Japan, compiling a 21-0 record before transitioning to professional wrestling. He passed away from bladder cancer in 2006 at age 42. Running back Benny Lewis leads Marietta in rushing with 310 yards. For Mount Union, wide receiver Mason Ashby (Hoover) has recorded three straight 100-yard receiving games and is in his first year as a full-time starter. Freshman running back Bo Bokman leads the team with 301 rushing yards and four touchdowns, coming off back-to-back 100-yard performances. Quarterback Mikey Maloney tops the OAC in average passing yards (292.5) and ranks second with 11 passing touchdowns. Maloney has posted back-to-back 300-yard passing games and has five such games in his career.
Remaining Schedules
Marietta's 2026 schedule (all games 1:30 p.m. unless noted): Sept. 3 vs. Westminster (W, 34-24); Sept. 12 vs. Ohio Northern (L, 20-13); Sept. 19 vs. Capital (W, 32-10); Sept. 26 vs. Otterbein (W, 42-7); Oct. 10 at Mount Union; Oct. 17 vs. Baldwin Wallace; Oct. 24 at Muskingum; Oct. 31 at Heidelberg; Nov. 7 vs. Wilmington; Nov. 14 at Mount St. Joseph. Mount Union's 2026 schedule: Sept. 5 at #5 Wheaton (L, 24-23); Sept. 12 vs. Grove City (W, 21-17); Sept. 19 vs. Heidelberg (L, 37-34); Oct. 3 at Muskingum (W, 65-7); Oct. 10 vs. Marietta; Oct. 17 at Capital; Oct. 24 vs. Wilmington; Oct. 31 at Ohio Northern; Nov. 7 vs. Baldwin Wallace; Nov. 14 at Otterbein.
Originally reported by yahoo.