MARIETTA, Ohio-- Cody Farley rushed for a career-high 170 yards on 25 carries, helping Denison to a 34-21 win over Marietta College.

Denison pulled out to a 20-0 lead early in the fourth quarter after a 4-yard touchdown pass from Canaan Gebele to David Weimar, capped off a 12-play, 83-yard drive.

The Pioneers responded on its ensuing drive as Nick O'Neal punched in a 2-yard touchdown run that closed out a 12-play 73-yard drive.  With Marietta feeling some positive momentum for the first time Denison's Joel Lohoua provided the biggest play of the night, returning the kickoff 87 yards for a touchdown, putting DU back on top, 27-7 with 9:05 remaining.

One minute later, Marietta struck back with some offensive trickery as Pioneer wide receiver Nick Hineman threw a 70-yard touchdown pass to Roger Walker, trimming DU's lead back to 13.

The Denison offense went back to work and a 27-yard run by Farley on the first play of the drive had the Big Red off and running.  On first-and-10 from the Marietta 31, Aaron Johnson forced Gebele to fumble, giving the ball back to the Pioneers on their own 42-yard line.

With 5:48 left on the clock, Darrien Fields completed a 29-yard pass to Hineman.  On second-and-10 from the DU 29, Fields completed a 26-yard pass to Jared Deep.  On the next play, Nick O'Neal scored from 3 yards out trimming the DU lead to just six at 27-21.

With the game in the balance, the Denison offense gave Marietta a steady dose of Farley.  The sophomore from Johnstown kept the chains moving and the clock rolling before punching in the clinching touchdown from 8-yards out with 52 seconds remaining.  Farley's TD set the final at 34-21.  It also closed the book on what amounted to a 42-point fourth quarter.

The Denison offense was balanced, passing for 264 yards while rushing for 211.  The defense held Marietta to 348 yards of total offense, 219 of which came in the fourth quarter.

First-year defensive end Nate Keirn made an impact in his first college game.  The Cleveland St. Ignatius product posted seven tackles, one forced fumble and a 43-yard fumble return.

Senior safety Andrew Baird led the team in tackles with nine.

Gebele was efficient, completing 24-of-31 passing attempts for 264 yards and a touchdown.  Weimar posted career highs in receptions (10) and yards (104).

Conor Dunn was 2-for-2 in field goal attempts.  He booted a 25-yard field goal with 4:25 left in the second quarter.  He also connected on a 39-yard field goal as time expired in the first half.

Denison (1-0) is idle next week.  They return to action on September 17 when they travel to Oberlin College for a 6 p.m. kickoff against the Yeomen.