THIEL FALLS IIN SECOND ROUND ACTION TO BRIDGEWATER 24-13

Kevin Fenstermacher
Sports Information Director
75 College Ave.
Greenville, PA 16125
Phone - 724.589.2187
Fax - 724.589.2880
kfenstermacher@thiel.edu
www.thiel.edu/athletics

For Immediate Release: November 26, 2005

THIEL FALLS IN SECOND ROUND ACTION TO BRIDGEWATER 24-13

GREENVILLE, Pa. (Nov. 26) -- The Thiel College football team lost to Bridgewater College (Va.) 24-13 in the second round of the NCAA Division III Playoffs Saturday afternoon at Alumni Stadium in Greenville.

The Tomcats (11-1) finished their season with the most wins in a single season and advanced to the national playoffs for the first time in school history.

Thiel finished with a 23-16 edge in first downs and a 33:43-26:17 advantage in time of possession, but the Eagles (11-1) were a perfect three-for-three in red zone scoring chances and managed to convert eight-of-13 third-down conversions.

Sophomore quarterback Jeff Highfill completed nine-of-14 passes for 115 yards and rushed for 53 yards and a touchdown (5) on 11 attempts to lead the Eagle offense. Senior Marcus Washington carried the ball 10 times for 54 yards and a touchdown (12) while junior Winston Young finished with 45 yards on nine attempts. Seniors Brian Awkard and Corey Hulsebus, along with junior Michael Oakes, each had a pair of catches.

Junior linebacker Brandon Borst had a game-high 16 stops for Bridgewater. Senior safety Adrian Herndon totaled nine stops, an interception, a tackle for loss and a forced fumble for the Eagles.

Freshman tailback Dan Hess (Apollo/Kiski Area) paced the Tomcats offensively with 73 yards on 15 carries. Sophomore tailback Steve Minton (Cranberry Twp./Seneca Valley) added 35 yards and a touchdown (2) on 13 attempts.

Senior quarterback Darrell Satterfield (Orwell, Ohio/Grand Valley) finished15-of-21 for 140 yards on the day. Junior quarterback Billy Blankenship (Mogadore, Ohio/Field) entered the game in relief of an injured Satterfield and completed six-of-16 passes for 67 yards and a touchdown, a 17-yard completion to sophomore wide receiver Jon Adams (Kissimmee, Fla./Osceola) with nine seconds to play in the contest.

Senior wide receiver Brandon Chambers (Farrell/Farrell) finished with seven catches for 68 yards while senior wide receiver Tom McEntire (Greenville/Reynolds) added five grabs for 62 yards.

Junior defensive back Darious Thompson (Nassau, Bahamas/West Oak Acad., Fla.) had 12 total stops, a forced fumble and an interception to lead the Tomcats. Senior outside linebacker Tom Wozniak (Windber/Windber) added nine total stops.

Bridgewater converted a Tomcat interception into points on Thiel's opening drive when Washington scored from 12 yards out with 6:33 remaining in the first quarter. The Herndon interception in his own endzone snuffed out a 12-play, 46-yard drive by the Tomcats.

Thiel responded with their first drive in the second quarter as Minton ran in from two yards out with 11:13 to play before the half, tying the game at 7-7.

Bridgewater's 12-play, 50-yard scoring drive midway through the third period took over six minutes off of the clock and culminated with a 26-yard field goal by senior kicker David Blackwell.

The Tomcats had a punt blocked on their ensuing possession, which was returned 17 yards for the touchdown by senior defensive back Rico Haynes, putting the Eagles up by a 17-7 margin with 33 seconds to play in the third.

Highfill put the Eagles up 24-7 with 7:34 remaining in the game when he scored from five-yards out to give Bridgewater a 24-7 lead before Blankenship hooked up with Adams from 17 yards out to close the scoring.

Bridgewater will travel to Wesley College for the NCAA Division III South Region Final on Saturday, Dec. 3 in Dover, Delaware.

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www.thiel.edu/athletics

		Kevin Fenstermacher Sports Information Director 75 College Ave. Greenville, PA 16125 Phone - 724.589.2187 Fax - 724.589.2880 kfenstermacher@thiel.edu www.thiel.edu/athletics

For Immediate Release: November 26, 2005 THIEL FALLS IN SECOND ROUND ACTION TO BRIDGEWATER 24-13 GREENVILLE, Pa. (Nov. 26) -- The Thiel College football team lost to Bridgewater College (Va.) 24-13 in the second round of the NCAA Division III Playoffs Saturday afternoon at Alumni Stadium in Greenville. The Tomcats (11-1) finished their season with the most wins in a single season and advanced to the national playoffs for the first time in school history. Thiel finished with a 23-16 edge in first downs and a 33:43-26:17 advantage in time of possession, but the Eagles (11-1) were a perfect three-for-three in red zone scoring chances and managed to convert eight-of-13 third-down conversions. Sophomore quarterback Jeff Highfill completed nine-of-14 passes for 115 yards and rushed for 53 yards and a touchdown (5) on 11 attempts to lead the Eagle offense. Senior Marcus Washington carried the ball 10 times for 54 yards and a touchdown (12) while junior Winston Young finished with 45 yards on nine attempts. Seniors Brian Awkard and Corey Hulsebus, along with junior Michael Oakes, each had a pair of catches. Junior linebacker Brandon Borst had a game-high 16 stops for Bridgewater. Senior safety Adrian Herndon totaled nine stops, an interception, a tackle for loss and a forced fumble for the Eagles. Freshman tailback Dan Hess (Apollo/Kiski Area) paced the Tomcats offensively with 73 yards on 15 carries. Sophomore tailback Steve Minton (Cranberry Twp./Seneca Valley) added 35 yards and a touchdown (2) on 13 attempts. Senior quarterback Darrell Satterfield (Orwell, Ohio/Grand Valley) finished15-of-21 for 140 yards on the day. Junior quarterback Billy Blankenship (Mogadore, Ohio/Field) entered the game in relief of an injured Satterfield and completed six-of-16 passes for 67 yards and a touchdown, a 17-yard completion to sophomore wide receiver Jon Adams (Kissimmee, Fla./Osceola) with nine seconds to play in the contest. Senior wide receiver Brandon Chambers (Farrell/Farrell) finished with seven catches for 68 yards while senior wide receiver Tom McEntire (Greenville/Reynolds) added five grabs for 62 yards. Junior defensive back Darious Thompson (Nassau, Bahamas/West Oak Acad., Fla.) had 12 total stops, a forced fumble and an interception to lead the Tomcats. Senior outside linebacker Tom Wozniak (Windber/Windber) added nine total stops. Bridgewater converted a Tomcat interception into points on Thiel's opening drive when Washington scored from 12 yards out with 6:33 remaining in the first quarter. The Herndon interception in his own endzone snuffed out a 12-play, 46-yard drive by the Tomcats. Thiel responded with their first drive in the second quarter as Minton ran in from two yards out with 11:13 to play before the half, tying the game at 7-7. Bridgewater's 12-play, 50-yard scoring drive midway through the third period took over six minutes off of the clock and culminated with a 26-yard field goal by senior kicker David Blackwell. The Tomcats had a punt blocked on their ensuing possession, which was returned 17 yards for the touchdown by senior defensive back Rico Haynes, putting the Eagles up by a 17-7 margin with 33 seconds to play in the third. Highfill put the Eagles up 24-7 with 7:34 remaining in the game when he scored from five-yards out to give Bridgewater a 24-7 lead before Blankenship hooked up with Adams from 17 yards out to close the scoring. Bridgewater will travel to Wesley College for the NCAA Division III South Region Final on Saturday, Dec. 3 in Dover, Delaware.






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