CRESTVIEW HILLS, Ky. — Thiel senior defensive end Tim Taylor (Girard, Pa./Erie Cathedral Prep) recorded three and a half sacks Saturday to become the college's all-time career leader in the category during the Tomcats' 28-16 loss to Thomas More.

Taylor recorded the record-setting sack in the second quarter. Saint quarterback Jensen Gebhardt dropped back to pass on a third-and-8 play from the Thiel 31-yard line and was met by Taylor, who brought him down for a loss of five yards to force a punt.

Taylor passed former Tomcat defensive end Chris Lorber (2004-2007), who amassed 28 career sacks in his four-year career. Taylor now has 10.5 sacks on the season, keeping him in the PAC lead.

“Obviously, I'd rather have the win today, but it feels good (to be Thiel's all-time leader). It shows that hard work pays off,” said Taylor, who was humbled by the recognition. “Like anything, it's a team effort. Kris Tursky (Linesville, Pa./Linesville Conneaut Summit) does a great job at nose (tackle); freeing things up for me to get to the quarterback...I couldn't do it without him.”

As for the game, the Saints took an early 7-0 lead with 2:11 minutes to play in the first quarter when Gebhardt found Cody Hinkel from six yards out. The Tomcats answered, as newly recruited freshman kicker Jon Fennick (New Castle, Pa./Neshannock ) made his presence felt when he nailed a 28-yard field goal to bring the score to 7-3 with 14:19 to play in the first half.

The Saints added two more scores before halftime, taking what felt like a commanding 21-3 lead into the locker room.

Thiel had other plans as its defense forced Thomas More to go three-and-out to start the second half. The Tomcat offense marched 48 yards on the ensuing possession, capped off by an 11-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Andrew Smith (Williamsfield, Ohio/Pymatuning Valley) to fullback Rich Smallwood (Aliquippa, Pa./Hopewell). Fennick's first-ever point-after-touchdown kick tattooed the left upright to keep the score, 21-9.

The two teams exchanged punts, with the Thiel defense forcing the Saints to punt twice after they ran just 11 total plays on three possessions in the third quarter.

After a Bill Frizzi (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Catholic) return gave the Tomcats the ball at their own 24-yard line with 14:53 to play in the fourth quarter, the Tomcats marched 76 yards to the end zone. Smith played a key role on the drive with a 16-yard pass to Smallwood, a run of 21 yards and a touchdown run from eight yards out to get the Tomcats within five points of the Saints, 21-16.

After the two sides again traded three-and-outs, the Thiel defense was back on the field with 5:44 to play. The Saints ran three plays but went nowhere as the Tomcat defense pushed them back four yards, bringing out the punt team.

Frizzi returned the ball eight yards setting up the Tomcats at their own 29-yard line with 3:52 to play. However, on first down, Thomas More's Kenny Veal stepped in front of Zane Garza (Conneaut, Ohio/Conneaut) on Smith's pass and returned it 28 yards to the Thiel 20-yard line.

Six plays later, Adam Rauch punched it in from four yards out to give the Saints a 28-16 lead, dashing Tomcats' hopes of pulling out the comeback victory.

Smith finished the game 21-of-31. He threw for 141 yards and one touchdown pass. He also ran for 81 yards on 15 carries.
Garza was Smith's top target, catching six passes for 23 yards. Smallwood finished the game with three receptions for 31 yards and a touchdown.

Ethan Ludwig (East Liverpool, Ohio/East Liverpool) and Taylor continued to put up good numbers defensively for Thiel. Ludwig finished with 11 tackles, including three for a loss, while Taylor, who entered the game as the conference leader in sacks, tallied six tackles, four and a half of which were for a loss, and 3.5 sacks. Martae Hainesworth (Warren, Ohio/Warren JFK) added nine tackles and a sack.

Thiel will get a week off before playing its final home game of the season against Bethany on Saturday, October 27, which will also be Senior Day. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.