GREENVILLE, Pa. (Oct. 24) -- Thiel College junior Robert Doyle (Crowley, Texas/Arlington Heights) provided a historic start for the Tomcats Saturday afternoon, returning the opening kickoff a program-record 98 yards for a touchdown in a Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) matchup against RV Washington & Jefferson College.
Doyle's electrifying return marked the first game-opening kickoff return touchdown in program history, highlighting the afternoon for the Tomcats. Making his first career kickoff return, Doyle broke the previous program record of 97 yards, shared by Dennis Marburger (1960) and Clyde Morgan (1997).
The return provided an ideal start to interim head coach Greg Polis' debut at the helm of the Tomcats (0-7, 0-5).
The Presidents (6-1, 5-0), who are receiving votes in the latest D3football.com Top 25, responded with touchdowns on each of their eight first-half possessions to take a 59-7 lead into halftime.
Tyler Thermezi (Fort Lauderdale, Fla./Lake Howell) recorded Thiel's longest offensive play of the afternoon, hauling in a 53-yard reception from Isaiah Kim (Torrance, Calif./Gardena). Devin Philips (Frederick, Md./Brunswick) led the Tomcats on the ground with 38 rushing yards.
Defensively, Thiel recorded a season-high nine tackles for loss, led by Shane Myers Jr. (Sharon, Pa./Greenville), who registered a game-high two tackles for loss, including a sack, to go with a forced fumble.
Myers Jr. and Cayden Sturgeon-Jadro (Landisburg, Pa./West Perry) tied for the game high with nine tackles apiece. Tyrese Madry (Indianapolis, Ind./Athens Drive Magnet (N.C.)) added 1.5 tackles for loss, a fumble recovery and a quarterback hurry, while Khalil Daniels (Frisco, Texas/Lebanon Trail) finished with eight tackles. Dwayne Simpkins (Hopewell, Va./Prince George) contributed seven stops and a sack.
The Tomcats return to action next Saturday when they travel to Case Western Reserve for a 1 p.m. PAC matchup.
