The lessons learned from a tough non-league college football schedule are paying off well for Marist.
For only the third time since joining the Pioneer Football League in 2009, the Red Foxes (4-3) are off to a 3-0 start following a 27-22 victory over Drake (3-4, 2-2 PFL) on Saturday, October 17, in Des Moines, Iowa. This was only Marist's second win at Drake in seven tries. The Red Foxes' other 3-0 starts were in 2016 and 2021.
Trailing 16-7 late in the second quarter, Marist rallied with 17 consecutive points for a 24-16 lead. Quarterback Sonny Mannino posted his second 2-yard TD run 49 seconds before halftime, capping a 71-yard drive. Marist traveled 64 yards on 13 plays late in the third, settling for a Luke Stenson 18-yard field goal and 17-16 lead. Zach Garmont hauled in a 57-yard TD pass from Mannino early in the fourth for the eight-point margin.
Drake posted a fourth-quarter touchdown but failed on the potential game-tying two-point try. Stenson tacked on a 37-yard field goal — his second of the game — with five minutes left for the final margin.
Marist defensive back Chase Hatton came up with some critical defensive stops. He broke up the two-point pass play, and on the final Drake snap of the game from the Marist 16, he hurried quarterback Braylon Wilson to throw an incompletion with 67 seconds left.
Mannino was 13-for-26 for 215 yards and one score, adding 12 carries for 61 yards and two scores. Garmont had seven receptions for 156 yards. Isaiah Simmons had 15 carries for 108 yards. Jace Williamson had 10 tackles and two pass breakups, with Wayne Adair and Kade Werner adding seven tackles apiece. Tyrell Powell posted a pass breakup for the seventh consecutive game, totaling 10.
Marist sits alone atop the PFL with five games remaining: home contests with Saint Thomas (Oct. 24), Morehead State (Nov. 7) and Butler (Nov. 14), and road games with San Diego (Oct. 31) and Davidson (Nov. 21). The Red Foxes lead Presbyterian (3-1) and three clubs at 2-1: Dayton, Butler and St. Thomas.
kmcmillan@th-record.com
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This article originally appeared on Times Herald-Record: Marist football — Red Foxes beat Drake to sit atop Pioneer league