Football 2018: Game #8 at St. Scholastica

Game recap courtesy of ThomasMoreSaints.com

Thomas More University senior running back Hjavier Pitts (Cincinnati, Ohio/Mt. Healthy) crossed the 1,000 yard rushing plateau for the season and the Saints clinched their 23^rd winning season today (Saturday, October 20, 2018) as they defeated The College of St. Scholastica, 35-0, at Public School Stadium in Duluth, Minnesota.

• Thomas More took a 7-0 lead with 2:31 to play in the first quarter when senior running back Luke Zajac (Edgewood, Ky./Dixie Heights) scored on a two-yard run and junior kicker Cole Mathias (Reynoldsburg, Ohio/Reynoldsburg) made the point after attempt.

• The Saints extended the lead to 14-0 when junior quarterback Justin Post (Macedonia, Ohio/Nordonia) connected on a 17-yard touchdown pass to junior wide receiver Da'marco Canty (Bogart, Ga./North Oconee) and Mathias added the PAT with 10:58 to play in the quarter.
• Post and Canty connected on a 39-yard scoring pass with 22-seconds to play in the quarter to give the Saints a 20-0 halftime lead.

• The lead grew to 22-0 with 10:19 to play in the third quarter when St. Scholastica snapped a punt out of the back of the end zone for a safety.

• Thomas More increased the lead to 28-0 with 9:15 to play in the game when Post connected on a 26-yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Darrell Crenshaw (Dayton, Ohio/Trotwood-Madison).
• The Saints closed out the scoring with 4:07 to play in the game when sophomore running back Dillion Powell (Independence, Ky./Simon Kenton) scored on a nine-yard touchdown run and junior kicker Alex Barnhart (Westerville, Ohio/Westerville Central) added the PAT for the final score of 35-0.

• The win clinched Thomas More's 23^rd winning season in 29 years of football at the University.
• Thomas More improves to 6-2.
• St. Scholastica falls to 4-3.
• Thomas More out-gained St. Scholastica 569 yards (361 rushing/208 passing) to 154 yards (0 rushing/154 passing).
• Pitts finished the game with 200 yards on the ground on 20 carries and now has 1,176 rushing yards this season.  He also had five catches for 26 yards.
• Post was 17-of-26 passing for 208 yards and three touchdowns.
• Zajac carried the ball 21 times for 103 yards and one touchdown.
• Canty had two catches for 56 yards and two touchdowns.
• Crenshaw finished the game with 44 yards and one touchdown on three catches.
• First-year linebacker Peyton Van Horn (Hebron, Ky./Conner) led the defense as he had 11 tackles (six solo/five assisted), including four and a half tackles for a loss and one sack.
• Junior linebacker Cody Coffey (Anderson, Ohio/Anderson) had five tackles (four solo/one assisted), including one tackle for a loss.
• Junior defensive lineman Noah Sayre (Lebanon, Ohio/Lebanon) had five tackles (three solo/two assisted), including two sacks.
• Junior defensive back Thomas Williams (Oregonia, Ohio/Clinton-Massie) finished with five tackles (two solo/three assisted).

Football 2018: Week #7 vs. Muhlenberg

The Thomas More University football team fell, 34-31, to 23^rd-ranked Muhlenberg College today (Saturday, October 13, 2018) on Homecoming Saturday at BB&T Field in Crestview Hills, Kentucky.

• Neither team could find the end zone in the opening quarter as the game was 0-0 after the first quarter.

• Thomas More took a 7-0 lead with 12:43 to play in the quarter when senior running back Hjavier Pitts (Cincinnati, Ohio/Mt. Healthy) scored on a one-yard touchdown run and junior kicker Cole Mathias (Reynoldsburg, Ohio/Reynoldsburg) added the point after attempt (PAT).
• The Mules tied the game at 7-7 when Mike Hnatkowsky connected on a 25-yard touchdown pass to Nick Ugarte and Todd Spirt added the PAT.
• Muhlenberg took a 14-7 lead with 4:10 to play in the quarter when Brian Raguseo recovered a fumble and returned it 12-yard for a touchdown and Spirt added the PAT.
• The Saints cut the lead to 14-10 at halftime as Mathias made a 28-yard field goal with 24-seconds to play in the half.

• Senior running back Luke Zajac (Edgewood, Ky./Dixie Heights) scored on a 23-yard touchdown run and Mathias added the PAT go give the Saints a 17-14 lead with 10:13 to play in the quarter.
• Muhlenberg retook the lead at 21-17 with 9:23 to play in the quarter when Hnatkowsky connected on a 51-yard touchdown pass to Ryan Curtis and Spirt added the PAT.

• The Mules increased their lead to 24-17 with 14:48 to play in the game when Spirt made a 37-yard field goal.
• The Saints tied the game at 24-24 when Pitts scored on a three-yard touchdown run and Mathias added the PAT with 13:29 to play in the quarter.
• Thomas More took a 31-24 lead when junior quarterback Justin Post (Macedonia, Ohio/Nordonia) connected on a one-yard touchdown pass to first-year wide receiver Nick Hall (Cincinnati, Ohio/Elder) and Mathias added the PAT with 10:15 to play in the game.
• James Diggs scored on a three-yard run and Spirt added the PAT to tie the game at 31-31 with 7:54 to play in the game.
• Spirt made a 20-yard field goal as time expired for the 34-31 victory.

• Thomas More falls to 5-2.
• The Mules improve to 6-0.
• The Saints had 257 offensive yards (125 rushing/257 passing), while the Mules had 483 yards (107 rushing/376 passing).
• The lost was only the sixth  (49-6) for the Saints at BB&T Field since it opened in 2008.  The six losses have been by a combined 16 points.
• Post was 17-of-26 passing for 257 yards and one touchdown.
• Pitts had 23 carries for 70 yards and two touchdowns.
• Zajac finished the game with 14 carries for 55 yards and one touchdown.
• Senior wide receiver Darrell Crenshaw (Dayton, Ohio/Trotwood-Madison) finished with three catches for 86 yards.
• Senior wide receiver Logan Winkler (Independence, Ky./Simon Kenton) had four catches for 79 yards.
• First-year linebacker Peyton Van Horn (Hebron, Ky./Conner) was named the Jimmy John's Player of the Game as he led the defense with 19 tackles (13 solo/six assisted), including a half sack.
• Junior linebacker Cody Coffey (Anderson, Ohio/Anderson) had 11 tackles (six solo/five assisted), including a tackle for a loss.
• Junior defensive back Thomas Williams (Oregonia, Ohio/Clinton-Massie) finished with eight tackles (all solo).
• Junior linebacker Adam Guard (Lawrenceburg, Ind./Pinecrest Academy (Ga.)) had eight tackles (six solo/two assisted).

Football 2018: Week #6 at Emory and Henry

Another Saturday, another big game at a school we had never ben to before. Emory and Henry is in the hills where Kentucky, West Virginia, and Virginia all collide. Absolutely beautiful campus, one of the best I have ever seen, about six hours from our campus. Half the trip was off the highways, as we winded through hills and hollows, and crossed and drove along more than a few rivers. It was a beautiful ride, and after last weekends 12-hour trip back from St. Lawrence it went by relatively quickly.

I’ve been to many campuses both big and small in my day and Emery and Henry is one of the most beautiful. Located on hills, it is a cluster of brick buildings connected by cobblestone walkways. Lots of trees, a duck pond, plenty of green space.

They had a good crowd at the game, and one of the best DIII bands I have ever heard. It made a for a great environment, too bad for them that we lead the whole way on some explosive plays that put us up early and kept us there. Our kicker had a 47-yard field goal and all eight kickoffs went in the end zone, and our tailback had over 200 yards rushing.

On Sunday our team volunteered for the Special Olympics Flag Football State Championships, which took place in our stadium. It was a warm, sunny day with a nice crowd and some great kids participating. As I left our coaching meeting around 2:30 I went out and observed for a while and I could tell most of our kids were really enjoying it and not just putting time in.

The official game report once again courtesy of ThomasMoreSaints.com:

 The Thomas More University football team extended its winning streak to five games as it defeated Emory & Henry College, 41-27, today (Saturday, October 6, 2018) at Fred Selfe Stadium in Emory, Virginia.

• Thomas More took a 7-0 lead when sophomore tight end Jaeison Jefferson (Northport, Ala./Tuscaloosa County) scored on a 12-yard touchdown pass from  junior quarterback Justin Post (Macedonia, Ohio/Nordonia) and junior kicker Cole Mathias (Reynoldsburg, Ohio/Reynoldsburg) added the PAT with 13:10 to play in the quarter.
• The Wasps tied the game with 8:25 to play in the opening quarter when Tyree Ward scored on a one-yard run and Matt Seals added the PAT.
• Mathias connected on a 33-yard field goal and the Saints led 10-7 with 6:14 to play in the quarter.
• Thomas More extended the lead to 17-7 with 1:38 to play in the game when Post connected on a 27-yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Logan Winkler(Independence, Ky./Simon Kenton) and Mathias added the PAT.

• Seals made a 21-yard field goal for Emory & Henry to cut the lead to 17-7 with 11:09 to play in the quarter.
• Thomas More answered with 10:47 to play in the second quarter when senior running back Hjavier Pitts (Cincinnati, Ohio/Mt. Healthy) scored on a 63-yard touchdown run and Mathis made the PAT to me the score 24-10.
• Emory & Henry cut the lead to 24-13 at halftime when Seals made a 21-yard field goal with two-seconds to play in the quarter.

• Emory & Henry cut the lead to 24-20 with 10:12 to play in the quarter when Derrick Yates scored on a 30-yard touchdown pass from Hunter Taylor and Seals added the PAT.
• The Saints answered quickly when Post connected on a 61-yard touchdown pass to junior wide receiver Da'marco Canty (Bogart, Ga./North Oconee) and Mathias made the PAT to increase the lead to 31-20 with 9:19 to play in the quarter.

• Mathias gave the Saints a 34-20 lead with 10:00 to play in the game when he made a school record-tying 47-yard field goal.
• Thomas More increased the lead to 41-20 with 3:44 to play in the game when Pitts scored on a 35-yard touchdown run and Mathias added the PAT.
• Emory & Henry's Yates scored on a seven-yard touchdown pass from Taylor and Seals added the PAT with 12-seconds to play, but it wasn't enough as the Saints posted the 41-27 victory.

• Thomas More improves to 5-1 and Emory & Henry falls to 2-2.
• The Saints out-gained the Wasps 471 yards (291 rushing/180 passing) to 446 yards (174 rushing/272 passing).
• Post was 10-of-19 passing for 180 yards and three touchdowns, while also rushing the ball six times for 62 yards.
• Pitts carried the ball 21 times for a career-high 204 yards and two touchdowns.
• Canty finished the game with one catch for 61 yards and a touchdown.
• Winkler pulled in two catches for 36 yards and a touchdown.
• Junior linebacker Cody Coffey (Anderson, Ohio/Anderson) led the team with 12 tackles (eight solo/four assisted), including a tackle for a loss.
• Junior defensive back Thomas Williams (Oregonia, Ohio/Clinton-Massie) had 11 tackles (seven solo/four assisted) and a forced fumble.
• First-year linebacker Peyton Van Horn (Hebron, Ky./Conner) finished the game with nine tackles (five solo/four assisted), including a tackle for a loss.

On Sunday, after another long road trip to Virginia and back, our team spent the afternoon volunteering at the Kentucky State Championship of Special Olympics Touch Football in our stadium. 

On Sunday, after another long road trip to Virginia and back, our team spent the afternoon volunteering at the Kentucky State Championship of Special Olympics Touch Football in our stadium. 

Football 2018 Week #5 at St. Lawrence

On the way to St. Lawrence University, 12 hours north of our campus by bus, we passed a lot of towns I’ve never heard of…Clifton Springs, Cheerful Valley, Sodus Bay, Port Byron.

It was a beautiful early fall day for football, even a tree or two that started to turn. Enjoyed looking out the window as I listened to some old Jerry Jeff Walker album. It was our first leave Thursday trip and it was hard on everyone. Missed classes, two nights in strange beds, too much road food.

We had to hit the breaks hard when there was a sudden accident in front of us. I’ll write later about the time when we were coaching at CWRU and our driver actually dozed off and one of our coaches had to scream to wake him up. Pretty scary sometimes. Look what happended a few year ago to the Bluffton baseball team.

We took I71 north to 271 over to I90 east , then to I81 north towards Canada. We spent Thursday in a Windham near Erie, practiced at Mercyhurst College, then back on the road. Lunch was at a Pondarosa, how any of them are left?

Friday night we stayed at a fishing/boating resort right on the St. Lawrence seaway. A combination of a motel, lodges, and free standing houses, it had a real old style feel to it. Knotted pne paneling in the rooms, a musty smell in the closets. Real nice people, the only negative is some of the rooms had no hot water, like mine!

On the road when you order pizza for a 90 it is always mediocre. No one can make that many pizzas and have them tste good. However, the pizza on Friday was pretty decent, it was a New York style with large thin crusted slices.

Besides the game, the part of the trip most of the kids and coaches will remember was stopping and seeing Niagra Falls. If you have never been there it is quite the sight, and most on the trip had never been there. We spent on hour there walking through the park on the American side, taking pictures, and enjoying a sunny mid day.

We won the game 48-12.They had a chance. They scored to make it 17-12 us. They went for two, we stuffed them. But on the kickoff we were called for a penalty, so they had us stating our drive inside our own ten. A fumble or interception could give the lead, a three and out would force us to punt and give them great field position. But we once again answered the call, driving 90 yards for a touchdown and we never looked back and they were never back in the game.

The official game report care of ThomasMoreSaints.com:

 The Thomas More football team had 334 yards of rushing today (Saturday, September 29, 2018) as it defeated St. Lawrence University, 48-12, at Leckonby Stadium in Canton, New York.

• Thomas More took a 7-0 lead with 6:49 to play in the quarter when senior running back Luke Zajac (Edgewood, Ky./Dixie Heights) scored on a five-yard touchdown runs and junior kicker Cole Mathias (Reynoldsburg, Ohio/Reynoldsburg) added the point-after-attempt.

• Mathias extended the lead to 10-0 when he made a 35-yard field goal with 10:48 to play in the quarter.
• Thomas More made the score 17-0 with 6:39 to play in the first half when senior running back Hjavier Pitts (Cincinnati, Ohio/Mt. Healthy) scored on a one-yard run and Mathias added the PAT.
• St. Lawrence cut the lead to 17-6 at halftime when Aaron Ruthman connected on a 26-yard touchdown pass to Travis Marnell and Austin Pinard's PAT failed with 4:05 to play in the quarter.

• St. Lawrence made the score 17-12 with 11:10 to play in the third quarter when Jamie Battaglia scored on a nine-yard run and the two-point try failed.
• Thomas More increased the lead to 24-12 when junior wide receiver Da'marco Canty (Bogart, Ga./North Oconee) scored on a 43-yard touchdown pass from junior quarterback Justin Post (Macedonia, Ohio/Nordonia) and Mathias added the PAT with 7:19 to play in the quarter.
• Sophomore running back Dillon Powell (Independence, Ky./Simon Kenton) scored on a three-yard run and Mathias added the PAT to extend the lead to 31-12 with 1:25 to play in the quarter.

• Thomas More made the score 38-12 with 14:53 to play in the game when Post connected on a 13-yard touchdown pass to Pitts and Mathias added the PAT.
• Zajac scored on a 10-yard run and Mathias added the PAT to make the score 45-12 with 7:00 to play in the game.
• Thomas More closed out the scoring with 1:44 to play in the game when Mathias connected on a 32-yard field goal for the final score of 48-12.

• Thomas More improve to 4-1 and St. Lawrence falls to 1-4.
• This is Thomas More's fifth game of the season and the fifth different state it has played a game this season.
• Thomas More had 600 yards of offense (334 rushing/266 passing) to St. Lawrence's 243 (42 rushing/201 passing).
• Post was 16-of-27 passing for 266 yards and two touchdowns and had four rushes for 12 yards.
• Pitts had 26 rushes for 142 yards and a touchdown, while also pulling in three catches for 33 yards and a touchdown.
• Zajac had 18 carries for 117 yards and two touchdown, while also having one catche for 48 yards.
• Canty finished the game with three catches for 86 yards and a touchdown.
• Senior wide receiver Logan Winkler (Independence, Ky./Simon Kenton) had four catches for 69 yards.
• Junior linebacker Cody Coffey (Anderson, Ohio/Anderson) had six tackles (five solo/one assisted).
• First-year defensive back Lashunn Townsend, Jr. (Erlanger, Ky./Lloyd) had five tackles (all solo) and one interception.
• Junior linebacker Adam Guard (Lawrence, Ind./Pinecrest Academy (Ga.)) finished game with five tackles (three solo/two assisted), including two tackles for a loss.