CRESTVIEW HILLS, Ky. (Oct. 25, 2008) – Thomas More's potent option attack looked unstoppable while Thiel struggled to get in gear as the Saints defeated the Tomcats, 45-14, at The Bank of Kentucky Field on Saturday afternoon.

The Saints' win set the table for next week's unofficial Presidents' Athletic Conference championship game against unbeaten Washington & Jefferson.

Thomas More (6-1, 5-0) scored on its opening possession via a 40-yard Kendall Owens run with 6:43 remaining in the opening quarter.  Thiel responded just over two minutes later with Abe Addison (Akron, Ohio, Revere) dashing 57 yards for the touchdown, which, after a successful John Madeline (Hubbard, Ohio/Hubbard) (Hubbard, Ohio, Hubbard) PAT, tied the game at 7-7.

The Saints reeled off the game's next 38 points.  Thiel, on the other hand, saw nine of its last 11 drives end with either a punt or a fumble.

The Tomcats did manage to find the end zone in the fourth quarter on a three-yard touchdown run by freshman Brice Mertiff (Tyrone, Pa., Tyrone) to close out the scoring.

Thiel was led on the ground by Addison, who ran for 83 yards on just four carries.  Junior quarterback Willie Bova (Port Allegany, Pa., Port Allegany) chipped in 42 yards rushing, in addition to 146 yards through the air. 

Bova turned in a decent effort, completing 17 of 27 passes with no interceptions.

Kick returner Matt Joy (Coraopolis, Pa., Cornell) rolled up a 110-yard day on five attempts with a long of 32.

Defensively, Clint Walker (Madison, Ohio, Madison) paced Thiel with 10 tackles, while three Tomcats – Matt Turek (Grove City, Pa., Grove City), Robert Lemon (St. Petersburg, Fla., St. Petersburg), and Aaron Grill (Erie, Pa., Mercyhurst Prep)– forced Saints fumbles.  Scott Thompson (Pittsburgh, Pa., Wilkensburg) made Thiel's lone fumble recovery.

The Tomcats (1-6; 1-3 PAC) return to action next week when they travel to Saint Vincent for a 1:30 contest.