Box Score MEADVILLE, Pa. – Ryan Radke (Lancaster, N.Y./Lancaster Central) was four years old the last time Thiel and Allegheny played a football game in 1997. He's now part of Thiel-Allegheny lore. The southpaw quarterback ran for three touchdowns Saturday to lead the Thiel Tomcats to a season-opening 28-14 win over the Allegheny Gators at Frank B. Fuhrer Field in Meadville, Pa.
 
It was Thiel's first win over Allegheny since 1985. It was also the Tomcats' first win in a season opener since 2006.
 
Radke put the first score on the board with 7:49 left in the second quarter on a 29-yard run which capped off a 12-play, 81-yard drive that consumed a little more than 5:30 of game clock.
 
"Radke made some outstanding plays for us Saturday night," said Thiel sixth-year head coach Kurt Reiser. "He is a dynamic quarterback and athlete."
 
The Gators threatened to score on their ensuing possession, but Travell Sherrod (Fruitland Park, Fla./Leesburg) picked off Tyler McLaughlin's pass in the end zone and returned it all the way to the Allegheny 15-yard line.
 
Sherrod's interception set up Taylor Fink (Kittanning, Pa./Kittanning)'s 1-yard touchdown plunge, which gave the Tomcats a 14-0 lead with less than four minutes remaining in the first half.
 
On the ensuing drive, Thiel's defense forced Allegheny off the field after just five plays, giving Radke the opportunity to run the team's 2-minute offense. Radke completed seven passes on the drive, which ended when he tallied his second touchdown run of the game, this one from 14 yards out.
 
Though they trailed 21-0 at the half, there was no quit in the Gators, who scored two touchdowns in the third quarter to slice the Tomcats' lead down to seven points.
 
Allegheny got an early interception in the third quarter and capitalized on Thiel's miscue when Nick Deichler scored on a 3-yard run. The Gators had perhaps their best drive of the game on their next possession when Jon Nigro completed a 13-play march that covered 73 yards with a 2-yard touchdown run.
 
Following Nigro's score, the Tomcats responded with a long touchdown drive of their own (9 plays, 65 yards), which culminated with Radke's third touchdown run of the game, this one a 22-yarder.
 
The Gators threatened to score one more time late in the game, but Meadville native Trevor Martin (Meadville, Pa./Meadville) broke up a fourth down pass in the end zone and the Tomcats went on to win 28-14.
 
Radke ran for 89 yards and scored three touchdowns on the ground. He completed 16-of-28 passes for 159 yards and threw one interception.
 
Josh Potter (Chipley, Fla./Chipley) ran for 81 yards on 16 carries while Fink ran for 74 yards on 16 totes with one touchdown run. Ron Howard (Sharon, Pa./Sharon) made four receptions for 41 yards while Tim Walker (Cleveland, Ohio/Warrensville Heights) had three catches for 55 yards. In all, the Tomcats outgained the Gators on the ground, 241-113.
 
Wes Schmidt (Kittanning, Pa./Kittanning) led Thiel's defense with eight tackles. He also recorded a sack and a fumble recovery. Sherrod made six tackles with an interception. Martae Hainesworth (Warren, Ohio/Warren JFK) also had an interception, as well as four tackles and three pass breakups.
 
The Tomcats will play their home opener Saturday, Sept. 13 against the Bethany Bison. Kickoff at Alumni Stadium is set for 7 p.m.