Box Score

MARIETTA, Ohio – A strong second half wasn't enough for Thiel as the Tomcats suffered a 32-24 loss in their 2011 season opener against Marietta College Saturday night. Jared Soell (Oakmont, Pa./Riverview) finished with 128 yards rushing and 18-of-34 passing for 149 yards and three touchdowns to pace the Tomcats' offense.

A fumbled Tomcat punt at the Marietta 36 following Thiel's initial possession was recovered by Berend Grube (Venetia, Pa./Peters Twp.) at the 32 and led to Cody McClelland (Sarver, Pa./Freeport)'s 30-yard field goal with 4:55 to go in the first to give the visiting Tomcats a 3-0 advantage.

On their ensuing drive the Pioneers' Chad Walker returned McClelland's kickoff 50 yards to the Tomcat 40, and after securing a first down with Andrew Keller's eight-yard run on fourth-and-six, were able to get Kirby Harris loose for a 23-yard touchdown strike from Keller to take a 6-3 lead with 1:37 remaining in the opening quarter.

Marietta scored on their second possession of the second quarter with Keller finding Harris once again, this time for a six-yard score with 10:38 to play in the second quarter and extending their lead to 13-3.

Nathan Zarnoski's 36-yard field goal with just over 30 seconds to play in the opening half allowed the Pioneers to go into the break with a 16-3 advantage. Keller finished the first half firing on all cylinders, completing 17-of-25 passes for 148 yards. The Pioneers also converted on three-of-four first half fourth down attempts.

After exchanging drives to start the third quarter the Tomcats were able to strike, as Soell connected with Tim Walker (Cleveland, Ohio/Warrensville Heights) on a 10-yard pitch and catch with just over one minute to play in the quarter to cut the Pioneers lead to six, 16-10.

Kyle Shackle, after entering the game for an injured Keller in the third, wasted little time getting in on the action as he found Harris for a 32-yard score to extend Marietta's lead to 23-10 with 13:45 to play.

After stopping Thiel on a fourth-and-one play at their own 44 Shackle hit Alex Fountain for a four-yard touchdown with just under nine minutes remaining to push their lead to 29-10.

Following the Pioneer score the Tomcats were able to put together a drive that saw them gain four first downs, and after completed a 23-yard strike to Nathan Blazevich which moved the ball to the Pioneer seven, Soell connected with Nate Houpt (Greenville, Pa./Greenville) for a seven-yard touchdown with 6:32 to play and trimmed Marietta's lead to 12, 29-17. Christian Gonzalez (Hollywood, Fla./Somerset Academy) recovered McClelland's onsides kick for the Tomcats at the Marietta 27 and Soell needed just two plays to connect with Houpt for his second touchdown grab of the evening, an 11-yard pass that was wrestled away from the Pioneer defender in the end zone with 5:46 to play and cutting the deficit to five, 29-24.

A Zarnoski field goal from 29 yards out with 2:15 to play put the Pioneers up by eight, 32-24.

With a pair of timeouts in his pocket Soell was able to effectively move the Tomcats down the field, and after Houpt was able to haul in a 21-yard grab that moved the ball to the Pioneer three, Soell was able to use the Tomcats' third and final timeout of the night. After Marietta followed up with a timeout of their own, Soell's pass to Houpt crossing in the end zone was broken up.

Marietta finished with a 390-304 edge in total yards and a 302-149 advantage in passing yards. The Tomcats managed to grind out 158 rushing yards while limiting the Pioneers to just 88.

Soell rushed a game-high 16 times for 128 yards and completed 18-of-34 passes for 149 yards and three scores. Haupt caught five passes for 46 yards and two touchdowns while Blazevich finished with five catches for 53 yards. Marshaun Hainesworth (Warren, Ohio/Warren JFK) registered a game-high 13 tackles and forced fumble while Ethan Ludwig (East Liverpool, Ohio/East Liverpool) added 11.

Before exiting the game Keller completed 18-of-28 passes for 165 yards and two scores. Shackle had a tremendous fourth quarter as he went 10-for-17 for 137 yards and two touchdowns. Harris led a strong contingent of Pioneer receivers, finishing with 11 catches for 116 yards and three touchdowns. On the ground Tevin Dones finished with 57 yards on 14 carries. Kadeem Corbin notched eight tackles with a sack to headline the Pioneer defense.

Thiel returns home on Sept. 10 to take on the Pride of Widener College as part of the Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) / Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Challenge. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. at Alumni Stadium at Stoeber Field.