GREENVILLE, Pa. – The Thiel College football team defeated the Bethany Bison in a Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) game Saturday afternoon, 22-14, to snap the program's 27-game home losing streak.

The Tomcats last home win came back in 2016, a 50-42 thriller over Waynesburg.

Thiel began the game by forcing a Bethany 3-and-out, giving up just two yards.

However, the first quarter would end in a stalemate.

The second quarter is when things began to heat up.

Bethany opened the scoring early in the second quarter after a blocked punt set the Bison up inside the Thiel 10-yard line.

Bethany running back Charlie Mills punched it in from two yards out to give the Bison the lead.

However, the Tomcats response was almost immediate.

Freshman quarterback Joseph Fell (Warren, Ohio/Champion) led the Tomcats on an 11-play, 89-yard drive. Fell found junior wide receiver Chase Lawler (Etters, Pa./Red Land) in the back of the endzone for the Tomcats first touchdown of the day.

The Tomcats successfully converted the two-point conversion after Lawler took the direct snap and took it into the endzone to give the Tomcats an 8-7 lead.

Thiel got the ball back immediately as Donelle Thomas (Miramar, Fla./Miami Carol) got the first of his interceptions on the first play of the ensuing Bethany drive.

Thiel, however, could not capitalize on good field position, as Bethany forced a punt.

Thiel got the ball back right before the half, capping off a 3-play, 17-yard drive with a touchdown. Fell found Blake Joseph (Canonsburg, Pa./Canon-McMillan) in the endzone to give the Tomcats a 15-7 lead heading into halftime.

The second half started about as well as the Tomcats could have wanted.

Thiel began the drive in Bethany territory after Andre Rodgers (Euclid, Ohio/Benedictine) 47-yard return.

Thiel completed an 8-play, 45-yard drive to score their final touchdown of the day.

Fell scored his second rushing touchdown of the season on a two-yard quarterback draw.

Bethany countered with a touchdown late in third quarter after Bethany's Tsi Fofang strip sacked Fell, giving the Bison the ball at the Thiel one yard line.

Mills punched it in for his second touchdown of the day.

The Bison had a chance to cut the Thiel lead to five late in the third quarter, but junior Luke Faber (Greenville, Pa./Reynolds) blocked the field goal attempt.

The Tomcats closed out the game after the Tomcats stopped the Bison on 4^th and 11.

The Tomcat defense gave up just 71 passing yards, including three turnovers.

Fell went 8-for-15 for 48 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. Christian Marantis (Poland, Ohio/Poland Seminary) went 2-for-4 with 44 yards passing.

Fell also led the Tomcats with 63 rushing yards and a touchdown. Donny Pattison (Bradford, Pa./Bradford Area) rushed for 48 yards, while Andrew Plowden (Homewood, Pa./Penn Hills Charter) rushed for 39 yards.

Lawler caught three passes for 49 yards and a touchdown.

Defensively, Thomas recorded one tackle and two interceptions. Jordan Volpe (Sharon, Pa./Sharon) recorded five tackles, including 2.5 tackles for a loss. Raymond Jackson (Pittsburgh, Pa./Imani Christian Academy) led the Tomcats with seven tackles. Chad Morningstar (Saxton, Pa./Tussey Mountain) and Randall Miller (Mineral Ridge, Ohio/Mineral Ridge) recorded four tackles apiece.

Bethany's Kayrus Sam completed six of his 19 passes for 71 yards. He also threw three interceptions.

Mills led Bethany on the ground with 68 yards and two touchdowns, while Trevon Dean led the Bison receiving, catching two passes for 46 yards.

Defensively for Bethany, Fofang led with nine tackles, including four tackles for a loss and 2.5 sacks. He also forced a fumble. Markel Ross recorded an interception.

The Tomcats will hit the road to take on the Washington and Jefferson Presidents next Saturday. Kickoff for the PAC game is scheduled for 1:05 p.m.