GREENVILLE, Pa. (Sept. 26) -- The Thiel College Football team fell 32-19 to Hiram College on Homecoming in Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) action Saturday afternoon from Alumni Stadium at Stoeber Field.
Isaiah Gladney (Jackson, Ala./Jackson) recorded 203 receiving yards, the ninth-most in program history and most by a Tomcat since Deshawon Bracy had 216 yards in 2016, on nine catches with a pair of touchdowns.
Na'Jier Howard (Youngstown, Ohio/Struthers) set career highs in passing yards (268), completions (17) and touchdown passes (two). He led Thiel with 38 yards on the ground.
The Tomcats dip to 0-4 (0-2) while the Terriers improve to 3-0 (1-0).
Howard got the Cats on the board in the fourth quarter with a 1-yard rushing score followed by a
Ben Paserk (Batavia, N.Y./Batavia) PAT to make it 18-7 Terriers. The visitors responded with touchdowns on their next two drives to grow the lead to 32-7.
Howard connected with Gladney for a 46-yard score with 2:12 remaining in the game to make it 32-13. Paserk successfully executed an onside kick and lightning struck twice in a bottle as Howard found Gladney again for a 40-yard TD on the very next play to make it 32-19.
Thiel's Homecoming magic faded as Hiram recovered the ensuing onside kick and ran out the clock to secure the triumph.
The guests took a 12-0 lead into the intermission as they converted on a 12-play, 82-yard drive and had a pick-6 but were unable to connect on either PAT try.
The Thiel defense provided a spark in the second half as
Tyrese Madry (Indianapolis, Ind./Athens Drive Magnet (N.C.)) forced a fumble 2 minutes into the third, giving Thiel the ball at the Hiram 26. The Terriers defense responded and kept the Tomcats off the board.
Madry had a forced fumble to go with four tackles and a pass breakup.
Owen Dorion (Youngstown, Ohio/Xaverian Brothers) added six stops, one TFL and two QB hurries.
Robert Doyle (Crowley, Texas/Arlington Heights) logged a game-most seven tackles.
Dwayne Simpkins (Hopewell, Va./Prince George),
Zach Mazey (Cortland, Ohio/Mathews) and
J'Marcus Curry (Macon, Ga./Tattnall Square Academy) each recorded five tackles.
Mekhi Carroll (East Syracuse, N.Y./East Syracuse-Minoa Central) had four stops, a half-TFL and a career-high three QB hurries.
Thiel is back in action next Saturday when they host Allegheny at 7 p.m. in a PAC tilt.
