On a beautiful day in front of a great crowd we played one of those games you don't ever forget. Down 21-0 (again!), we rallied for a 35-28 victory against the #16 ranked team in the country. Lots of heroes and highlights, including some great photos by Dave Hostetler.
First time ever playing against one of the Wisconsin public schools. In that state the flagship campus in Madison plays DI in all sports, most of the other state schools/campuses play DIII. It's like if Ohio State was still DI, but Kent State or Akron played DIII. How can they do it? Schools like Plattville do not give athletic scholarships thus qualifying for DIII. For years coaches, players, and administrators have argued over the fairness of this. Schools like Plattsville have eight or nine thousand students, in state tuition, state funding, and usually better facilities. But today isn't the day to debate, more on that at a later time), especially after we enjoyed a big victory against them.
It was great to play at home in front of a great crowd on a gorgeous late summer day.
Again, thanks to ThomasMoreSaints.com for the game report below:
The Thomas More
football team rallied from a 21-point deficit and defeated 16th-ranked
University of Wisconsin-Platteville, 35-28, today (Saturday, September 15,
2018) at BB&T Field in Crestview Hills, Kentucky.
The Saints improve to 2-1 and the Pioneers fall to 1-1.
First Quarter
•
The Pioneers took a 7-0 lead with 10:29 to play in the
first quarter when Colin Schuetz connected on a 20-yard touchdown pass to Mark
Johnson and Michael Pratl made the PAT.
•
Bo Babich scored on a six-yard run and Pratl added the PAT
to increase UW-Platteville lead to 14-0 with 8:48 to play in the quarter.
•
UW-Platteville extended the lead to 21-0 when Mark Johnson
scored on a 20-yard run and Pratl made the PAT.
Second Quarter
•
Thomas More cut the lead to 21-7 when senior running back Hjavier Pitts
(Cincinnati, Ohio/Mt. Healthy) scored on a four-yard run and junior
place kicker Cole Mathias
(Reynoldsburg, Ohio/Reynoldsburg) added the PAT with 6:29 to play in
the quarter.
•
With 2:25 to play in the quarter the Saints cut the lead
to 21-14 when senior defensive back Steven Everson
(Scottsdale, Ga./Heritage) returned an interception 43 yards
for a touchdown and Mathias added the PAT.
•
The Saints tied the game at 21-21 at halftime when senior
wide receiver Logan Winkler
(Independence, Ky./Simon Kenton) scored on a 35-yard touchdown pass
from junior quarterback Justin Post
(Macedonia, Ohio/Nordonia) and Mathias made the PAT with
nine-seconds to play in the quarter.
Third Quarter
•
The Pioneers opened second half with a 10-yard touchdown
pass from Colin Schuetz to Donald Allender and Pratl added the PAT with 10:42
to play in the quarter.
•
Thomas More answered with 7:49 to play in the quarter when
senior running back Luke Zajac
(Edgewood, Ky./Dixie Heights) scored on a 17-yard run and Mathias
made the PAT to tie the game at 21-21.
Fourth Quarter
•
Thomas More took its first lead of the game at 35-28 with
5:01 to play in the quarter when Pitts scored on a 28-yard touchdown
pass from Post and Mathias added the PAT.
•
The Saints' defense held UW-Platteville twice in the
closing minutes to claim the 35-28 victory.
Notables
•
Thomas More tallied 362 total yards (205 rushing/157
passing)
•
Post was
11-of-21 passing for 157 yards and two touchdowns, while also rushing the ball
eight times for 22 yards.
•
Pitts had
16 carries for 123 yards and one touchdown, while also pulling in three catches
for 38 yards and one touchdown.
•
Zajac had
17 carries for 65 yards and one touchdown.
•
Winkler led
the receiving corps with two catches for 43 yards.
•
Everson had
seven tackles (three solo/four assisted) and had two interceptions, which he
returned a total of 87 yards and one touchdown.
•
First-year defensive back Lashunn Townsend, Jr.
(Erlanger, Ky./Lloyd) had eight tackles (four solo/four assisted).
•
First-year defensive back Kyle Davis
(Indianapolis, Ind,/Brownsburg) had seven tackles (four solo/three
assisted).
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