GREENVILLE, Pa. — Bethany scored three special teams touchdowns in a 41-7 win over Thiel on Saturday at Alumni Stadium, keeping the Tomcats winless on the season at 0-6.

Quarterback Matt Grimard had a great game passing and running for the Bison (4-3, 3-1 Presidents' Athletic Conference). The 6-4, 240-pound freshman was 10-of-12 passing for 157 yards and one touchdown while also rushing for 60 yards and two scores.

Grimard's first two touchdowns came on 13 and 12-yard runs to give the Bison a 14-0 lead after one quarter. The first capped a nine-play, 80-yard drive midway through the quarter while the second finished off a seven-play, 49-yard drive at the end of the quarter.

Thiel had a chance to cut the lead after Bethany's second scoring drive. The Tomcats drove 60 yards on eight plays before turning the ball over on downs at the Bison 4-yard line. The drive was sparked by a 16-yard completion from Andrew Smith (Williamsfield, Ohio, Pymatuning Valley) to Tyler DeJong (Columbiana, Ohio, Columbiana) and was aided by two 15-yard penalties on Bethany.

Still leading 14-0 with under a minute left in the first half, the Bison scored their first special teams touchdown of the game. Thiel lined up to punt but the snap sailed over punter Tony Rozzi (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin)'s head and was recovered by Bethany's Chris Collins in the end zone. Joe St. Clair kicked his third extra point to put the Bison up 21-0 at the half.

It didn't take long for Bethany to tack on another score in the second half with its second special teams touchdown. Jeff Joyce took the first kickoff 87 yards to the end zone. The third special teams score came less than four minutes later when Jarrell Smalls recovered a blocked punt in the end zone. St. Clair's extra point attempt was blocked, but Bethany led 34-0.

Collins put the Bison up 41-0 with his second touchdown of the game midway through the fourth quarter. He hauled in a 29-yard pass from Grimard for the score.

The Tomcats had a solid drive near the end of the game to avoid the shutout. Smith connected with Tyler Brophy-Davis (Akron, Ohio, Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary) on a 9-yard touchdown pass with 1:35 left in the game. Berend Grube (Venetia, Pa., Peters Twp.) tacked on the extra point to complete the scoring at 41-7. Justin Wazelle (Burghill, Ohio, John F. Kennedy) rushed four times for 38 yards on the scoring drive.

Grimard's favorite target on the day was C.J. Thomas, who finished with 118 yards on seven catches, mostly on routes to the middle of the field. The Bison finished with 305 yards of offense and zero turnovers.

Smith led the Tomcats in rushing with 47 yards on 14 carries while Wazelle had 42 yards on eight carries. Thiel had its most productive day on the ground this season with 95 yards.

Defensively, Bryan Villegas (Spring Hill, Fla., Springstead) and Ethan Ludwig (East Liverpool, Ohio, East Liverpool) had 10 tackles apiece for the Tomcats. Tim Taylor (Girard, Pa., Erie Cathedral Prep) had six tackles and a sack.

Thiel (0-6, 0-4) will play a night game at Westminster on Saturday. The game is scheduled for a 7 p.m. kickoff.

Box Score