HIRAM, Ohio (Nov. 1) – The Thiel College football team earned its first victory of the 2025 season Saturday afternoon with a 48-20 rout of Hiram College in Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) action on Charles A. Henry Field at Malmisur Stadium.
Thiel's 48 points marked its highest offensive output since Oct. 29, 2016, when the Tomcats defeated Waynesburg 50-42. It was also their most points in a road game and highest margin of victory since Nov. 10, 2007, when they topped Saint Vincent 62-14.
The Tomcats improved to 1-7 overall and 1-5 in league play, snapping a four-game series skid against the Terriers (3-4, 2-4). Saturday's meeting was the first between the two programs since 1989.
After Hiram opened the scoring to take a 6-0 lead in the first quarter, Thiel responded with a four-play, 74-yard drive, capped by a 33-yard touchdown pass from Keller Herzberger (Pasadena, Md./Chesapeake Senior) to Riley Dunbar (Lyons, Ohio/Evergreen). Devin Phillips (Aiken, S.C./Brunswick) added the two-point conversion on a rush to put Thiel ahead 8-6.
Herzberger completed 16-of-30 passes for 199 yards, throwing for two touchdowns and adding another on the ground. Dunbar led all receivers with four catches for 76 yards and a touchdown.
Following the opening score, Thiel successfully converted an onside kick and took over at the Hiram 37-yard line. Herzberger finished the ensuing drive with a 1-yard rushing score to extend the lead to 15-6.
The Tomcat defense then made a key fourth-down stop, setting up the offense at the Hiram 33. On the very next play, Herzberger found Deon Logan (Richmond, Va./James River) in the flat, and the senior broke free down the sideline for a touchdown, pushing the lead to 21-6. Hiram added a score before halftime, but Thiel carried a 21-14 advantage into the locker room.
Logan totaled 88 all-purpose yards, including 53 rushing and 35 receiving, while scoring twice.
Thiel's defense struck again to open the second half. Joshua Daniel (Pompano Beach, Fla./Blanche Ely) forced his PAC-leading fifth fumble of the season, which Jake Badger (Mercer, Pa./Mercer Area) scooped and returned 49 yards for a touchdown—the first of his career—to make it 28-14.
Badger finished with a team-high eight tackles (five solo), a fumble return for a score and an interception. Daniel contributed four tackles (three solo), a tackle for loss and the forced fumble.
After forcing a three-and-out, the Tomcats marched 50 yards in nine plays, capped by a 1-yard touchdown run from Logan to extend the margin to 34-14.
Jayveerh White (Sharon, Pa./Sharon) added a career-long 62-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter to make it 41-20. He later sealed the game with a 16-yard rushing touchdown in the fourth, accounting for the 48-20 final.
White finished with a career-high 111 rushing yards on eight carries and two touchdowns, both career bests.
Adam Kreais (Fostoria, Ohio/Hopewell - Loudon) hauled in a career-high six receptions for 41 yards, while Jaylen Benjamin (Hartsville, S.C./Hartsville) added one catch for 37 yards.
Defensively, Brian White (Sharpsville, Pa./Sharpsville) set career highs with two sacks and 2.5 tackles for loss, while Alexander Mittner (New Brighton, Pa./New Brighton) recorded a sack and a career-best four quarterback hurries.
The Tomcats are back in action next Saturday in the home final against Bethany at 1 p.m for Senior Day. The Blue and Gold have won each of the last three series meetings with the Bison.
