Thomas More Comes Back From 27-Point Deficit, Falls in Final Seconds to Kentucky Christian 54-49

(CRESTVIEW HILLS, KY.) – The Thomas More University football overcame a 27-point deficit to take a second half lead before ultimately falling to Kentucky Christian 54-49 on Saturday, August 31, 2019 in the Saints' first home night football game. Senior quarterback Justin Post set a school record with 436 passing yards in the loss.

• Kentucky Christian scored first with 12:47 left in the first quarter when Devon McCoy caught a six-yard touchdown pass from Dorian Isaak and Eric Parra added the point after attempt.
• Thomas More responded just over a minute later, when senior quarterback Justin Post (Macedonia, Ohio/Nordonia) connected with senior receiver Da'Marco Canty (Bogart, Ga./North Oconee for a 75-yard score and Alexander Haley (Lebanon, Ohio/Lebanon) added the kick to tie the game at 7-7 with 11:42 to go.
• The Knights answered with a 55-yard touchdown reception by Anton Wheeler from Isaak with a Parra kick with 9:12 remaining in the quarter, giving KCU a 14-7 lead.
• Kentucky Christian later extended the lead to 21-7 with another long touchdown when Isaak hit Kris Lewis for a 54-yard score and Parra converted the point after with 4:39 to go in the first quarter.

• Kentucky Christian opened the second quarter scoring when De'Anta Sipp punched in a one-yard run and Parra converted the kick to give the Knights a 28-7 lead with 13:48 left.
• The Knights struck again when Wheeler took an Isaak pass 80 yards for a touchdown with 8:05 to go, extending the lead to 34-7 after a missed PAT attempt.
• The Saints began their comeback soon after when Canty received a Post pass for a 29-yard touchdown and Haley converted the kick with 4:43 to go in the half, cutting the lead to 34-14.

• Thomas More opened the second half with a 21-yard touchdown pass from Post to Johnny McNally (Cincinnati, Ohio/LaSalle) with 12:55 left in the third quarter and Haley added the extra point, making the score 34-21.
• With 5:35 left in the third quarter, Post hit Justin Durham for a four-yard score and Haley made the kick to cut the lead to 34-28.
• The Saints took their first lead of the game when McNally took a Post pass 62 yards for the touchdown with 51 seconds left in the third quarter, giving Thomas More a 35-34 advantage after Haley made the kick.

• Dillon Powell (Independence, Ky./Simon Kenton) ran for a five-yard touchdown with 12:34 left in the game and Haley added the kick to extend the Saints lead to 42-34. After falling behind 34-7, the Saints scored 35 straight points.
• Soon after, Wheeler scored his third touchdown of the game on an 18-yard pass from Jakwon Roberts, who replaced an injured Isaak, and Kentucky Christian made the two-point conversion to even the score at 42-42 with 10:18 remaining.
• Thomas More regained the lead on a one-yard Monalo Caldwell (Cincinnati, Ohio/Colerain) run and a Haley kick with 7:59 left, putting the Saints on top 49-42.
• McCoy caught a four-yard touchdown from Roberts with 5:39 left, but the Knights two-point attempt failed, and the Saints held a 49-48 lead.
• With nine seconds left in the game, Kentucky Christian scored the game-winning touchdown on a one-yard pass from Roberts to McCoy. The Knights' two-point attempt failed, making the final score 54-49.

• The Saints fell to 0-1 in their inaugural season in the NAIA.
• Kentucky Christian improved to 1-0.
• Post was 23-for-43 with 436 yards, a school record, and five touchdowns. 
• Powell led Saints runners with 31 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries.
• Canty finished with 172 yards and two receiving touchdowns on five catches.
• McNally added seven catches for 163 yards and a pair of scores.
• Haley connected on all seven extra point attempts.
• The Saints generated 554 yards of total offense, including 436 passing yards.
• The two teams combined for over 1,200 yards of total offense.
• Defensively, Peyton Van Horn (Hebron, Ky./Conner) led Thomas More with 16 tackles.
• Isaiah Hendley (Tampa, Fla./Lincoln) and Thomas Williams (Oregonia, Ohio/Clinton-Massie) each intercepted passes for the Saints.

• The Saints will travel to Miami Gardens, Fla., to face St. Thomas University on Saturday, September 7.
• Kickoff is scheduled for 12 p.m.