MEADVILLE, Pa. – Running backs Nick Barca (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin), James Lewis (Macedonia, Ohio/Willoughby-South) and Payton Hicks (Pittsburgh, Pa. /Woodland Hills) combined for 274 yards and five touchdowns Saturday night to lead the Thiel Tomcats to a 44-21 season-opening, non-conference win over the Allegheny Gators at Frank Fuhrer Field.
 
Hicks was instrumental early. He scored touchdowns on runs of 40 and 10 yards in the first quarter to cap off a pair of seven-play drives that propelled the Tomcats to an early 14-0 lead.
 
Barca scored on a 15-yard run early in the second quarter, and the Tomcats went into the locker room at halftime with a 21-0 lead.
 
Thiel scored on the opening possession of the second half. After a trio of carries by Barca, Ryan Radke (Lancaster, N.Y./Lancaster Central) threw his first touchdown pass of the season, a 23-yarder down the far side of the field, to tight end Ryan Rowland (Pickerington, Ohio/Pickerington).
 
Allegheny scored a pair of touchdowns in the third quarter, but Thiel countered with a 30-yard touchdown run by Lewis to take a 34-14 lead into the final frame.
 
Colin Peal (Pliny, W. Va./Point Pleasant) nailed a 31-yard field goal for the Tomcats less than a minute into the fourth quarter, but Tyler Balla scored a touchdown for the Gators with 9:42 remaining to cut the lead down to 16 points. Lewis went on to seal the win for the Tomcats with 3:30 remaining when he scored on a 46-yard run.
 
Barca led Thiel with 123 yards while scoring one touchdown. Lewis ran for 98 yards and scored two touchdowns while Hicks ran for 53 yards and scored two touchdowns.
 
Radke completed 8-of-10 passes for 148 yards. He threw one touchdown pass and also ran for 33 yards. DeShawon Bracy (Vandergrift, Pa./Kiski Area) led Thiel with three catches for 76 yards.
 
Gator Logan Lee completed 11-of-24 passes for 117 yards in the second half. Balla paced the Gators with 123 yards on the ground.
 
Thiel's defense forced six turnovers on the night, three interceptions and three fumbles. Linebacker Jake Elk (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) intercepted two passes and picked up 106 return yards.
 
Thiel nose tackle Joe Krimm (McKeesport, Pa./McKeesport) and linebacker Tyron Bynum (McKeesport, Pa./McKeesport) each forced a fumble and recovered a fumble. Krimm also recorded two sacks and finished second on the team with nine tackles. Linebacker Doak Walker Jr. (Canton, Ohio/Canton-McKinley) led the Tomcats with 10 tackles.
 
The win was the first for Dan Blume, who was making his debut as head coach of the Tomcats.
 
The Tomcats (1-0) will host the Saint Vincent Bearcats (1-0) Saturday at Alumni Stadium. Kickoff for the non-conference game is scheduled for 7 p.m.