Box Score GREENVILLE, Pa. – The Bethany Bison erased a 4-point halftime deficit Saturday night, defeating the Thiel Tomcats 45-24 in non-conference action at Alumni Stadium.
Thiel got off to a great start Saturday, taking a 7-0 lead on the first possession of the game on a drive that lasted 13 plays and consumed more than seven minutes of game clock. In a third-and-goal situation from the Bethany 3-yard line,
Ryan Radke (Lancaster, N.Y./Lancaster Central) connected with
Tim Walker (Cleveland, Ohio/Warrensville Heights) in the far corner of the end zone for the game-opening score.
Bethany came right back, knotting up the score on its first possession of the game when quarterback Brian Vales scored on a 4-yard run. Bethany went on to take a 10-7 lead with 5:26 remaining in the second quarter when Chris Ray connected on a 25-yard field goal.
Thiel went back to work on offense after Ray's field goal and took a 14-10 lead into the locker room at halftime when Radke threw his second touchdown pass of the game, this time a 10-yarder to
Ron Howard (Sharon, Pa./Sharon). Radke completed three passes during the drive, which was aided by a Bethany roughing the punter penalty.
Thiel added to its lead early in the third quarter when
Jon Fennick (New Castle, Pa./Neshannock ) capped off an 11-play drive with a 38-yard field goal, putting the Tomcats up 17-10. The 38-yarder was one yard shy of matching Fennick's career long field goal, a 39-yarder against Westminster in 2013.
Bethany controlled the game after Fennick's field goal, scoring 35 points over the remainder of the contest. Over the stretch, Tyler Ambush (8-yard run), Chris Collins (2-yard pass from Vales), Vales (12-yard run) Eric Blinn (20-yard pass from Vales) and Jalen Holmes (4-yard run) scored touchdowns for the Bison.
The Tomcats added a touchdown with 1:25 remaining in the fourth quarter on a 9-yard pass from Radke to
Mike McLaughlin (South Park, Pa./South Park).
Taylor Fink (Kittanning, Pa./Kittanning) led the Tomcats on the ground with 54 yards on 12 carries.
Josh Potter (Chipley, Fla./Chipley) carried the ball 12 times for 25 yards while Radke ran for 46 yards on 12 totes. Vales led the Bison with 63 yards on the ground.
Radke completed 14-of-22 passes for 97 yards with three touchdown passes. Vales completed 19-of-23 passes for 167 yards and three touchdowns.
Blinn made seven catches for 85 yards with one touchdown grab for the Bison. Walker paced the Tomcats with five receptions for 36 yards and one touchdown catch.
Thiel senior linebacker
Tom Thorpe (Charleroi, Pa./Charleroi) recorded nine total tackles. Four of his tackles were behind the line of scrimmage, including three sacks. Nadim Raddar led the Bison with 12 tackles, including 3.5 sacks and a forced fumble.
The Tomcat (1-1) will return to action Saturday when they host the Thomas More Saints. Kickoff at Alumni Stadium is set for 1 p.m.
