McKenzie, Tenn. - The football program at Thomas More defeated the #22 team in the nation on Saturday afternoon by a score of 24-14. With the win the Saints improve to 5-4 on the season and 4-2 in Mid-South Conference play.
- Senior kicker Alexander Haley (Lebanon, Ohio/Lebanon) made a 25 yard field goal to open up the scoring with 1:34 remaining in the first quarter to give the Saints a 3-0 lead after one.
- Senior defensive back Chaz Lumpkin (Cincinnati, Ohio / Winton Wood) intercepted a pass and returned it 85 yards to give Thomas More a 10-0 lead with 13:57 remaining in the half.
- The Wildcats would get on the board with 7:30 remaining in the quarter as Anthony Hughes ran one out from 12 yards and Luis Morales would convert the extra point to cut the Saints lead to 10-7.
- Thomas More's Maleek Jarrett (Hamilton, Ohio / Hamilton) gave some reassurance before halftime as the junior running back ran it in from four yards out, Haley converted the extra point to take the score to 17-7 heading into the locker rooms.
- The Saints opened up the third with a bang driving down the field and scoring a touchdown via a 18 yard touchdown pass from sophomore quarterback Blaine Espinosa (Cookeville, Tenn. / Cookeville) that found senior wideout Charles Gaines Jr. (Elsmere, Ky. / Lloyd Memorial) Haley would close out the scoring for the Saints with the extra point opening up a 17 point lead at 24-7.
- With two seconds left in the third Nolan Chowbay would find James Dixon for a touchdown to cut Thomas More's lead to 24-14.
- Sophomore defensive back Colton Sandhas (Cincinnati, Ohio/Elder) had a crucial interception inside the 20 that stopped Bethel's drive dead in its tracks.
- Junior linebacker Del Thomas (Fairfield, Ohio/Fairfield) had the game clinching interception with a little over a minute to go to allow the Saints to enter victory formation for a final score of 24-14.
- Thomas More had a season high six interceptions that totaled 162 yards.
- Jarrett led the team in rushing with 64 yards on 12 carries with a touchdown.
- Gaines Jr. recorded four catches totaling 89 yards and a touchdown.
- Six of seven Elgin Phillips (Fairfield, Ohio/Fairfield) punts were downed inside the 20.
- Thomas led the team in tackles registering 13 with a sack and an interception.
- Senior linebacker Peyton Van Horn (Hebron, Ky./Conner) notched 12 tackles with seven solo.
- Thomas More out possessed Bethel by a time of 33:44 to 26:16.
The football team returns to Republic Bank Field for their regular season finale where they play host to Mid-South foe Pikeville at 1 p.m. ET.
