NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. – A 17-yard touchdown return on a punt block by Thiel College defensive back Brandon Wolfe (Greenville, Pa./Reynolds) on the first series of the game set the tone for a hard-fought 16-10 victory Saturday over the Westminster Titans at Harold Burry Stadium.
 
Westminster was flagged for three straight penalties on its opening possession and never got back to the original line of scrimmage at the 23-yard line. On fourth down, freshman Tim Canady (Baltimore, Md./Baltimore City College) broke through the line and blocked Jake Schnelbach's punt. The ball bounced around a bit before Wolfe picked it up at the 17-yard line and scurried into the end zone down the near side of the field, managing to cross the goal line in spite of being brought down on a wicked horse collar tackle.
 
The Tomcats increased their lead to 10-0 as time expired in the first half when Jon Fennick (New Castle, Pa./Neshannock ) split the uprights on a 30-yard field goal.
 
Fennick's field goal capped off an 11-play drive that was flawlessly orchestrated by quarterback Andrew Smith (Williamsfield, Ohio/Pymatuning Valley). The junior signal-caller, who was a perfect 11-of-11 in the first half, completed all seven of his pass attempts on the drive to give Fennick a shot at the field goal. Smith completed five passes to Zane Garza (Conneaut, Ohio/Conneaut) on the drive for 34 yards and two other passes to tight end Berend Grube (Venetia, Pa./Peters Twp.) for 22 yards. Smith also ran for four yards on the drive on two carries, including a critical 2-yard run on a third-and-1 play from the Titan 31-yard line.
 
The Titans didn't go down without a fight. After the Tomcats went three-and-out on the opening drive of the third quarter, the Titans needed just three plays to score their first touchdown of the game on a 29-yard pass from Dak Britt to Tyler Banks. Zach Baker added the extra point to cut Thiel's lead down to 10-7.
 
Thiel's offense went back to work after Banks' touchdown grab. Starting at its own 34-yard line, Thiel pounded the ball with Taylor Fink (Kittanning, Pa./Kittanning) on the drive. The sophomore tailback carried eight times for 36 yards. However, the drive stalled at the Westminster 5-yard line and Fennick's 22-yard field goal attempt was blocked by Kyle Allen.
 
On their next possession the Tomcats drove down to the Titan 14-yard line, but Smith's third-and-8 pass was intercepted by Nate Moot, who advanced the ball to the Titan 35-yard line.
 
Westminster couldn't get anything going on offense after the interception and punted. Thiel's offense pieced together another good drive after Westminster went 3-and-out and, this time, Smith made the Titans pay when he capped off a 14-play drive with a an 11-yard touchdown run. Fennick's extra point attempt failed, but the Tomcats held a 2-score lead, 16-7, with less than five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.
 
The Titans were able to close the gap on their next possession when Baker knocked in a 32-yard field to cut the lead back to 16-10.
 
Schnelbach and the Titans tried an on-side kick after the field goal, but the Tomcats recovered the ball.
 
Thiel failed to pick up a first down on its next drive, and Cody McCelland booted a 38-yard punt that rolled out of bounds at the Westminster 4-yard line with 1:30 left in the contest.
 
Only four yards in front of his end zone and needing to pass, Britt faced a Thiel defense that brought relentless pressure. Britt threw an incomplete pass on first down. On second down, he was sacked by defensive end Tim Taylor (Girard, Pa./Erie Cathedral Prep) for a 3-yard loss. Britt fumbled on the play, too, but Dan Graham recovered the ball at the Westminster 1-yard line.
 
Taylor wasn't done. He rocked Britt on third down in the end zone, forcing an incompletion. Britt's desperation pass on fourth down fell incomplete, and the Tomcats held on for a 16-10 victory.
 
With the win, Thiel improved to 3-6 overall and 3-4 in the Presidents' Athletic Conference.
 
Smith had a nice day for the Tomcats. He completed 18-of-23 passes for 160 yards and scored the game-winning touchdown on an 11-yard run late in the fourth quarter. Britt was 9-of-18 for 150 yards and one touchdown pass.
 
Garza recorded eight receptions for 63 yards while Grube caught five passes for 49 yards. Fink led Thiel's ground attack with 69 yards on 23 carries. Smith and Josh Potter (Chipley, Fla./Chipley) added 24 and 23 yards, respectively.
 
Thiel's defense held Westminster to just 15 rushing yards on 21 carries. In addition, Westminster managed just nine first downs. Thiel dominated the time of possession battle 37:32-22:28. The Tomcats also outgained the Titans, 276-165.
 
The Tomcats will try to win back the Mercer County Cup Saturday when they close out the 2012 season on the road against the Grove City Wolverines. Kickoff is set for 1:30 p.m.