GREENVILLE, Pa. - The Thiel College football team kicked off the 2017 season with a 38-6 loss to Allegheny College at Alumni Stadium on Thursday night.
 
After a failed onside kick by the Tomcats to open the game, the Gators answered with a 43 yard scoring drive capped off by a 25-yard touchdown pass from Logan Lee to Dwaine Barber. The score put Allegheny ahead 7-0 with 13:40 remaining in the first quarter. Lee would throw a total of four touchdowns on the night.
 
Thiel immediately answered with a nine-play, 80-yard drive that resulted in a 31-yard touchdown reception by Marcus Waddy (Frederick, Md./Tuscarora) from Ronald Brown (Munhall, Pa./University Prep) for the Tomcats' first points of the game. A failed point after attempt (PAT) left the Tomcats trailing 7-6 with 9:04 remaining in the first quarter.
 
Both sides remained scoreless throughout the rest of the first quarter until Allegheny forced an early second quarter turnover to give the Gators field position deep in Tomcat territory resulting in the first of two touchdown receptions for Ben Bachik on the night.
 
The Gators broke open the game in the second quarter scoring 24 points in all before the end of the first half to give them a sizeable 31-6 lead going into halftime.
 
Thiel was unable to mount a comeback as they were shut out after their initial touchdown in the first quarter.
 
Tomcat running back Nick Barca (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) had 22 rushes for 128 yards on the night to lead the team in total yards. Barca averaged 5.8 yards per carry.
 
Safety Dalton DuBrosky (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) led the Tomcats with seven tackles on the night.
 
Thiel was unable to sweep the four-year series with the Tomcats having beaten the Gators each of the past three years. Instead the Tomcats finish the series at 3-1 after wins in 2016 (44-21), 2015 (37-21), and 2014 (28-14).