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: September 23, 2006

THIEL DEFEATS THOMAS MORE ON KOYL'S OT FIELD GOAL

GREENVILLE, Pa. (Sept. 23) -- The Thiel College football team won its Presidents' Athletic Conference opener Saturday, defeating Thomas More College 17-14 in overtime.

The game began at 12:45, 45 minutes earlier than scheduled due to the threat of severe weather in the Crestview Hills, Ky. area.

Thomas More took a 7-0 lead with less than 30 seconds remaining the first quarter on a five-yard touchdown run by sophomore tailback Lawrence Colbert. The Saints increased their lead to 14-0 late in the second quarter when Thiel quarterback Chris Ault's pass was intercepted by Rashawn West and returned 65 yards for the touchdown.

With the Tomcats in need of a big play to get back into the game, junior defensive end Robert Hughes (Youngstown, Ohio/Rayen) rose to the occasion. Hughes blocked a punt by Thomas More's Kyle Willson and returned it 25 yards for the touchdown with 20 seconds remaining in the half to get the Tomcats on the scoreboard.

Neither team scored in the third quarter and through most of the fourth. But the Tomcats got the ball back with 2:36 remaining in the fourth frame and put together a 12-play, 55-yard drive that ended with a six-yard touchdown pass from Billy Blankenship (Mogadore, Ohio/Field) to Marc LaScola (Wellsville, Ohio/Wellsville) with just 20 seconds remaining in regulation. Sammy Koyl (Cleveland Heights, Ohio/Benedictine) sent the game to overtime by nailing the extra point.

Koyl gave Thiel a 17-14 lead on a 27-yard field goal on the first possession of overtime. The Tomcat defense took care of the rest. Thomas More opened its overtime possession with a false start penalty and an incomplete pass by quarterback Trevor Stellman. Hughes came through with his second big play of the game on second down when he sacked Stellman for a 10-yard loss and, on third-and-25, Steve Boyle (Warren, Ohio/Howland) put the game away with an interception.

The Tomcats (2-2, 1-0 PAC) travel to Bethany College next Saturday to take on the Bison. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.

 


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www.thiel.edu/athletics