(Pittsburgh, PA) – The Thomas More University football team dropped their road contest Saturday afternoon at NCAA Division I FCS opponent Duquesne University, 34-14.
Jaden Hall and
Craig Wills Jr. scored the touchdowns for the Saints, while
Rae'Von Vaden tossed the touchdown pass to Wills Jr. in the loss. Hall averaged 5.6 yards per carry and came away with 39 yards while Wills Jr. led the team with five catches for 45 yards. Vaden threw for 68 yards for Thomas More.
How It Happened
The score was 0-0 heading into the second quarter as neither team got much going in the first quarter. The Dukes struck first with a 67-yard touchdown pass and an extra point to make it 7-0 with 5:48 remaining in the first half.
Duquesne would score again on their next drive and after an interception at the end of the half, pick up a field goal to take a 17-0 lead into the break.
The Dukes scored again with 1:48 to play in the third quarter to go ahead 24-0. After advancing to the Dukes 36-yard line to start the final quarter, the Saints were in business. A 12-yard rush by Hall would get Thomas More to the Duquesne 24-yard line where Vaden would find Wills Jr. deep down the right side of the field for the touchdown and a 24-7 deficit.
After a Dukes field goal made it 27-7, the Saints would drive down the field for their final touchdown of the afternoon. After starting at their own 33, a pair of 11-yard rushes by Hall coupled with a
Hunter Ahlfeld 17-yard catch and a Wills Jr. 22-yard catch got the Saints to the Dukes six-yard line. Two plays later and Thomas More was trailing 27-14 with 6:36 to play. Duquesne would score one more time and go on to win 34-14.
Other Notables
- Jevan Rivers (five solo, one assisted) and Trey Brausch (six solo) both recorded six tackles in the game.
- Del Thomas had four tackles (three solo, one assisted), one tackle for loss, one sack, and his first interception of the season.
- Antione Johnson also picked up his first interception of the season to go along with three solo tackles.
What's Up Next
The Saints fall to 1-2 overall this season. Thomas More travels to Campbellsville University next Saturday night for their Mid-South Conference opener, a 7:00 p.m. matchup with the Tigers. They are 3-0 against the Tigers since 2019 and blew them out 73-28 last season in Campbellsville.
