(WILLIAMSBURG, Ky.) – The Thomas More University football team fell, 20-17, in overtime to the University of the Cumberlands tonight (Friday, April 9, 2021) in a Mid-South Conference Bluegrass Division game at James H. Taylor, II Stadium.
- Neither team could score in the first quarter.
- Thomas More took a 6-0 lead with 9:03 to play in the second quarter when senior running back Monalo Caldwell (Cincinnati, Ohio/Colerain) scored on a two-yard run and junior place kicker Alexander Haley's (Lebanon, Ohio/Lebanon) point-after-attempt failed.
- Cumberlands' Ben Nixon connected on a 21-yard touchdown pass to Alonzo Russell and Tripp Holloway added the PAT to take a 7-6 lead with 5:53 to play in the quarter.
- The Patriots extended the lead to 14-6 with 8:50 to play in the quarter when Martize Smith scored on a two-yard run and Holloway added the PAT.
- The Saints tied the game at 14-14 with 3:14 to play in the fourth quarter when first-year quarterback Blaine Espinosa (Cookeville, Tenn./Cookeville) connected on a 32-yard touchdown pass to sophomore wide receiver Trey Hennekes (North College Hill, Ohio/Roger Bacon) and converted the two-point attempt when Espinosa connected on a pass in the end zone to junior tight end Mason Kramer (Alexandria, Ky./Campbell County).
- Thomas More had the ball first and took a 17-14 lead when Haley connected on a 40-yard field goal.
- Cumberlands then scored on a touchdown on a one-yard run by Smith and posted the 20-17 victory.
- The Saints end the season at 2-4.
- Cumberlands improved to 4-3.
- The Patriots out-gained Thomas More 371 yards (169 rushing202 passing) to 312 yards (127 rushing/185 passing.
- Espinosa was 15-of-31 passing for 185 yards and one touchdown and had seven rushes for one yard.
- Caldwell finished with 20 carries for 88 yards and one touchdown.
- Sophomore wide receiver Roques Dowdy (Athens, Ga./Oconee County) had eight catches for 91 yards.
- Hennekes finished with two catches for 53 yards and a touchdown.
- Sophomore linebacker Del Thomas (Fairfield, Ohio/Fairfield) led team in tackles with 15 (three solo/12 assisted), including a half tackle for a loss.
- Junior linebacker Peyton Van Horn (Hebron, Ky./Conner) had 12 tackles (one solo/11 assisted).
- First-year defensive lineman Tanner Lawrence (Melbourne, Ky./Campbell County) finished with 11 tackles (two solo/nine assisted).
- First-year defensive back Kolton Reeves (Paducah, Ky./McCracken County) had 10 tackles (four solo/six assisted) and a sack.
- Junior defensive lineman Dominic Valentino (Hamilton, Ohio/Hamilton Badin) had eight tackles (one solo/seven assisted) and one sack.
- This was the last game of the season for the Saints.
- Thomas More will return to action in September to open the 2021 season.
