CHESTER, Pa. — Thiel dropped to 0-2 on the season with a 21-0 loss in a non-conference football game with Widener on Saturday.

The Pride scored all 21 of their points in the first half with Brendan Curran running for a 23-yard score in the first quarter and Colin Masterson plunging in from one yard out in the second quarter. Masterson connected with wideout Justin Horning for a 37-yard touchdown with under four minutes left in the first half.

Thiel's defense stepped up in the second half to hold Widener scoreless, but the young Tomcat offense struggled to advance the ball. The Tomcats finished with 54 yards on the ground and 83 through the air.

A positive for the Tomcats was their improvement on taking care of the ball, especially through the air. After throwing five interceptions in the opener, Thiel's Jared Soell (Oakmont, Pa., Riverview) and Andrew Smith (Williamsfield, Ohio, Pymatuning Valley), both freshman, combined to complete 18-of-32 passes without an interception.

Soell, who took the majority of the team's snaps at quarterback, was also the team leader with 48 rushing yards while Justin Wazelle (Burghill, Ohio, John F. Kennedy) ran 12 times for 25 yards.

Defensively, the Tomcats' Bobby Shew (Mogadore, Ohio, Mogadore) recorded a team-high eight tackles, including one for a loss. Tim Taylor (Girard, Pa., Erie Cathedral Prep) and William Haase (Latrobe, Pa., Derry Area) each tallied a sack while Joseph Grech recovered a fumble.

Thiel will host Waynesburg in the school's Homecoming game on Saturday. The game is set for a 1:30 kickoff at Alumni Stadium.