BETHANY, W. Va. – The Thiel College football defeated the Bethany Bison in a Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) game, 30-23, on the road Saturday afternoon to close out the 2024 season.

The Tomcats started the game on defense, forcing a fumble on the Bison opening possession. Chad Morningstar (Saxton, Pa./Tussey Mountain) forced the fumble, with fellow senior defensive lineman Jaellen Rose (Midlothian, Va./James River) recovered the fumble, and returned it to the Bethany three-yard line.

Two plays later, Deon Logan (Richmond, Va./James River) would punch the ball into the endzone from two yards out to give the Tomcats an early 6-0 lead.

On Bethany's ensuing drive, they were able to put a drive together, but again, the Tomcat defense was able to get a stop. Another Bethany fumble, recovered by Luke Faber (Greenville, Pa./Reynolds), gave the Tomcats the ball back at their own 36-yard line.

Two plays later, Bethany would get the ball right back as Santino Fox picked off Daniel Rennie (Cape Coral, Fla./Oasis) at the Thiel 46-yard line.

Once again, the Thiel defense would step up, forcing a Bethany turnover-on-downs to hey the ball back.

On Thiel's ensuing drive, Fox forced another Tomcat turnover, this time forcing a Logan fumble that was returned for a touchdown to give Bethany a 7-6 lead midway through the first quarter.

The Bison lead would not last long, as Jayveerh White (Sharon, Pa./Sharon) would take the ensuing kickoff to the house, a 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, to regain the Tomcat lead 12-7.

A third Thiel forced fumble, this time by Jake Badger (Mercer, Pa./Mercer Area), took a Bison bounce and rolled out of bounds to remain with Bethany. The Tomcats were able to force another turnover-on-downs.

Thiel would drive down the field, converting on a 3^rd-and-five at the Bethany nine yard line, resulting in Logan's third touchdown of the day.

Bethany would add a field goal with 1:14 left in the first half to make the score 24-10 at halftime.

Thiel would take the opening drive of the second half 61 yards in seven plays, capped off with a six-yard touchdown run by Logan, his fourth of the day, to give the Tomcats a 30-10 lead.

However, Bethany would not go away.

The Bison would march down the field on a 10-play, 56-yard drive to cut the Thiel lead to 30-16.

Bethany would force a Thiel punt on the Tomcats' next possession.

Bethany would cut Thiel's lead to just seven early in the fourth quarter.

With less than a minute left in the game, on a fourth-and-12, senior Thomas Howard (Syracuse, N.Y./Westhill) picked off a Bethany pass in the endzone to seal the victory for the Tomcats.

For Thiel, Daniel Rennie (Cape Coral, Fla./Oasis) went 15-23 with 114 yards and one touchdown. He also threw two interceptions.

Deon Logan (Richmond, Va./James River) had a career day for the second straight game, recording four touchdowns, including three on the ground and one through the air. Logan rushed for 86 yards on 23 carries, and caught three passes for nine yards. Logan is the first Tomcat running back since Nick Barca in 2016 to rush for three touchdowns in a single game.

White's 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the first quarter is the first kickoff returned for  a touchdown since Andre Rodgers did so in 2022.

Jason Stone (Chester, Pa./Chester) caught four passes for 44 yards, while Blake Joseph (Canonsburg, Pa./Canon-McMillan) caught two passes for 24 yards.

Defensively, Rose tallied 10 tackles and a fumble recovery. Badger also added 10 tackles and forced two fumbles. He also recorded a sack and three tackles for a loss. Alex Mittner added four tackles and blocked an extra point.

For Bethany, Brett Phillips completed 22 passes for 218 yards.

TJ Owensby rushed for 53 yards on nine carries, while Richard Buchannon added 29 yards on 13 carries.

Garrell Leeper caught eight passes for 97 yards and a touchdown.

Santino Fox made nine tackles, including one tackle for a loss. He also forced one fumble, and picked off a pass. Amarion Williams added two sacks.

The Tomcats finish the season 3-7 (3-7 PAC) for the second consecutive season.