The Muskingum University football team will travel to Ohio Athletic Conference foe Wilmington College on Saturday, October 5. Kickoff for the Homecoming game is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.
This marks the 18th meeting between the two squads with the Muskies leading the overall series, 10-8.
The game will be broadcast live on WMCO 90.7 FM and simulcast on the Muskie Sports Network located on the Muskingum athletic web site beginning with the pregame show at 1:45 p.m. The Muskies enter the contest with 499 program wins, one shy of the 500-win milestone.
The Fighting Muskies (0-3, 0-2) will look to rebound after dropping their last contest against Baldwin Wallace University, 23-13.
The Muskie offense, which averages 235 yards and 10 points per game, will have a new look with sophomore quarterback Cody Williams under center. Williams, who led the Muskies receiving core last week with seven catches for 66 yards, will be making his first career start.
Along with Williams, senior running back Shane Dotson is counted on to propel the Muskie rushing attack. Dotson has carried the pigskin 39 times for 122 yards.
The aerial threats are senior two-time All-OAC receiver James Washington and senior tight end Wes Rataiczak.
Washington, who ranks third all-time at Muskingum with 1,704 receiving yards, is 11th in the conference with 13 receptions, for 181 yards and two scores. He is only 262 yards shy of breaking the career receiving record held by former Muskie and current Purdue University Head Coach, Darrell Hazell.
Rataiczak has caught eight passes for 92 yards.
The Muskingum defense, which allows 344 yards and 27 points per game, is led by senior defensive back Darell Jones and junior linebacker Damond Goggins.
Jones leads the conference with four pass breakups, while Goggins ranks ninth with 24 tackles.
Also aiding the Muskie defense is sophomore defensive back Ethan Jones and sophomore linebacker Steven Vinson, Jr. Jones has notched 18 stops and one pass breakup. Vinson, Jr. has contributed 17 tackles and one sack.
Muskingum special teams are guided by senior kicker Caleb Carpenter and freshman punter Samuel Green. Carpenter has connected on a 32-yard field goal and is averaging 60 yards per kickoff. Green has punted 23 times, averaging 40.2 yards, with a long of 59.
Wilmington College (0-3, 0-2) enters the fray after falling to Heidelberg University, 66-12.
The Quaker offense, which averages 406 yards and 17.7 points per game, is led by senior signal-caller Brandon Arehart. Arehart is second in the league in passing, throwing for 997 yards and six scores. He also handles the punting duties and has averaged 39.4 yards per punt.
Helping the ground game is freshman running back Zak Kruer, who's rushed for 155 yards and two scores.
Sophomore receiver Jeremy Duncan and senior receiver Kyle Akers help anchor the aerial attack for the Quaker offense. Duncan leads the conference in receptions with 27 and is third with 332 receiving yards. Akers is fourth with 300 yards and has hauled in three scores.
The Quaker defense, which allows 448 yards and yields 48 points per game, is led by sophomore linebacker Tarrell Starckey and senior defensive lineman Aaron Day. Starckey has 29 stops on the season, which ranks fourth in the conference. Day has notched 21 tackles and one sack.