Bluefield, Va. - The football program at Thomas More University traveled to Bluefield, Virginia on Saturday, September 4, defeating the Bluefield Rams by a score of 45-33. With the win the Saints move to 1-0 on the season.
- Thomas More jumped out to a 7-0 lead with 11:06 remaining in the first quarter following a 33 yard touchdown pass from quarterback Blaine Espinosa (Cookeville, Tenn. / Cookeville) to junior receiver Craig Wills (Cincinnati, Ohio / La Salle), senior kicker Alexander Haley (Lebanon, Ohio / Lebanon) made the extra point.
- Haley converted a 34 yard field goal for the Saints to make the score 10-0 with 6:02 Left in the first.
- Espinosa would once again toss a touchdown for Thomas More, this time he found junior Tyler Hurst (Maryville, Tenn. / Heritage) for 10 yards, making the score 17-0 after Haley made the extra point.
- Bluefield scored their first points of the game when Nathan Herstich found Matthew Trevill for a 76 yard touchdown, Tanner Griffith would make the extra point, cutting the Saints lead to 17-7.
- The Rams found the endzone once again, this time Antonio Strickland crossed the plains via a 22 yard strike from Herstich, making the score 17-13 Thomas More.
- Thomas More would take the momentum heading into the half as senior running back Monalo Caldwell (Cincinnati, Ohio / Colerain) would plow his way into the endzone, making the score 24-13 at the half.
- The Saints would pick up right where they left off at the half, Espinosa found senior tight end Mason Kramer (Alexandria, Ky. / Campbell County) for a five yard touchdown with 8:31 left in the third, increasing the lead to 31-13.
- Espinosa's big day continued as the big righty threw a dart to junior wide receiver Roques Dowdy (Athens, Ga. / Oconee County) with 0:36 remaining in the third, making the score 38-13.
- Bluefield would strike first in the fourth as Strickland ran it in from two yards out and failed the two point conversion, cutting Thomas More's lead to 38-19.
- The Rams would once again find the endzone when Josh Nelson found Strickland for a 27 yard strike, this time converting the extra point, lowering the lead to 38-26.
- Thomas More would run nearly six minutes off of the game clock in rout to junior running back Maleek Jarrett (Hamilton, Ohio / Hamilton) finding a hole in the defense for six yards and a touchdown, Haley converted the extra point, extending the Saints lead to 45-26.
- Bluefield would not go away without a fight as Nelson found Jaquan Ebron for a 62 yard touchdown with 2:01 left in the game, the extra point would be converted, making the final score 45-33.
- Espinosa threw for 228 yards with four touchdowns on 21-25 attempts.
- Sophomore Punter Elgin Phillips (Hamilton, Ohio / Fairfield) averaged 48.2 yards per punt and downed six inside the 20.
- Senior Peyton Van Horn (Hebron, Ky, / Conner) recorded nine total tackles with one sack to lead the team.
- Junior defensive back Sidney Pompey (Palmetto, Fla. / Palmetto) and sophmore defensive back Colton Sandhas (Cincinnati, Ohio / Elder) both tallied one interception each.
- Caldwell led the team in rushing with 57 yards and a touchdown.
- Thomas More had 36:49 time of possession to Bluefield's 23:11.
- The Saints converted on fourth down at a 60% clip, converting three out of five.
- The football team will take the field for their home season opener on Saturday, September 11 at 7 p.m when they face off against Faulkner (Ala.).
- Thomas More University will be celebrating its' centennial throughout the day.
- Tailgating will open up at 3 p.m.
