MARIETTA, Ohio (Sept. 5, 2009) – The Thiel College football team opened the 2009 campaign and the Kurt Reiser Era on Saturday with a disappointing, 20-14, loss at Ohio Athletic Conference rival Marietta College.

Thiel was able to keep the game within reach – never trailing by more than a score – despite the lack of any substantive running game. The Tomcats accounted for only six net yards on the ground, with senior running back Dan Hess (Apollo, Pa./Kiski Area) (Apollo, Pa./Kiski Area) leading the way with 34 yards on 20 carries.

However, senior quarterback Willie Bova (Port Allegany, Pa./Port Allegany) (Port Allegany, Pa./Port Allegany) was credited with minus-33 rushing yards, thanks to a tenacious Pioneer defense which administered four sacks.

Bova did manage to put together a solid day through the air, completing 25 of 43 passes for 206 yards and two touchdowns. His only interception of the day came on the final play of the first half.

The Tomcats and Pioneers battled to a 7-7 draw in the first half of play, with Marietta drawing first blood on an 18-yard touchdown pass from Andrew Keller to Lamar Keller. The score came on the heels of a missed 45-yard field goal attempt by sophomore John Madeline (Hubbard, Ohio/Hubbard) (Hubbard, Ohio/Hubbard).

Thiel answered in the second quarter when tight end Dan Mackall (Georgetown, Pa./Southside Beaver) (Georgetown, Pa./Southside Beaver) hauled in a ten-yard pass from Bova to cap an 11-play, 51-yard drive.

Marietta scored two touchdowns to open the second half on a four-yard Keller-Nathan Willis hook up and then on a seven-yard scramble by Keller. The Corey Lemke kick on the second touchdown failed.

Mackall and Bova connected again on the only score of the fourth period, this time on a nine-yard toss.

Mackall ended up with 46 yards on four catches, while senior wide receiver Brendan Taylor (Girard, Pa./Girard) (Girard, Pa./Girard) was Bova's favorite target on the day, hauling in 14 passes for 94 yards.

The Tomcats had one last shot when they got the ball back on downs on their own 22 yard line with 2:44 remaining in the game. Thiel traveled 33 yards on nine plays before a Bova-Taylor pass fell to the turf on fourth down to give the Pioneers the ball back on their own 45 with just 29 seconds to play.

From there Marietta kneeled on the ball to end the game.

Despite an evenly-split time of possession, Marietta out-gained the Tomcats 310 yards of 212. Thiel however, was able to run 71 plays to the Pioneers' 56.

Junior Bobby Shew (Mogadore, Ohio/Mogadore) (Mogadore, Ohio/Mogadore) led Thiel defensively with nine tackles. Junior Will Haase (Latrobe, Pa./Derry Area) also stood out, racking up six tackles – including one tackle for a loss – and fumble recovery.

Thiel opens its home schedule next week when it welcomes Albion University to Alumni Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m.