(CALEDONIA, Mich.) – The Thomas More University football team began their NCAA Division II era Saturday afternoon against the Davenport University Panthers on the road. The Panthers finished 2022 with an 8-3 record and a berth in the NCAA Tournament. They entered 2023 receiving votes in the AFCA poll and ranked No. 24 on D2Football.com. The Saints fought valiantly in the second half, outscoring Davenport 17-7, but fell 31-17 in the contest.
- After Davenport completed a 47-yard pass to get down to the Saints three-yard line on their first drive, Thomas More stepped up and stopped the Panthers on downs.
- Sophomore Wyatt Bullock (Reading, OH / Moeller / University of Indianapolis) came up with a huge tackle for loss on third down when the Panthers had the ball at the one yard line before an incomplete pass, which was broken up by Colton Sandhas (Cincinnati, OH / Elder), on fourth down gave the Saints the football.
- The Panthers would go on to score twice in the first quarter to take a 14-0 lead.
- Davenport added 10 more points in the second quarter to lead 24-0 at halftime.
- The Saints second drive of the third quarter yielded them their first Division II points.
- They took advantage of a blocked punt by redshirt sophomore Jordan Marksberry (Dayton, KY / Dayton) and a penalty on the Panthers to get the ball at the Davenport 25-yard line.
- Sophomore Luke Iden (Taylor Mill, KY / Scott) would eventually knock a 37-yard field goal through the uprights to make the score 24-3 early in the third quarter.
- Later in the quarter a Thomas More drive that started at their own 17-yard line turned into a touchdown.
- A key Jaden Hall (Springfield, OH / Shawnee / Tiffin University) three-yard run on fourth down kept the drive alive before Rae'Von Vaden (Louisville, KY / Marion C. Moore) hit Ish Moss (Columbus, OH / Canal Winchester) for a 23-yard gain before Vaden eventually ran right up the middle for a 33-yard touchdown to cut the lead to 24-10.
- Each team would score one more time in the fourth quarter.
- After being stuck at their own 33-yard line, three straight big plays put the Saints in the end zone, as Vaden hit Josh Gary (Lugoff, SC / Lugoff-Elgin / Limestone University / Georgetown College) for 17 yards, Freddie Johnson (Cincinnati, OH / Colerain) for 27, and Anthony Grossnickle (Chicago, IL / Northwest / Tiffin University) for 19 yards and the touchdown.
- Rae'Von Vaden went 17-39 for 160 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions, while leading the team with 73 rushing yards.
- Freddie Johnson led the team in receiving with six catches for 65 yards.
- Graduate student Del Thomas (Fairfield, OH / Fairfield) led the team with 13 tackles (five solo, eight assists).
- Graduate student Jackson Gear (Amelia, OH / Cincinnati) had 10 tackles (six solo, four assists), while leading the team with two tackles for loss and one sack.
- The defense had four pass breakups and four quarterback hurries in the game.
Thomas More makes their season debut at Republic Bank Field next Saturday at 12:00 p.m. against UVA Wise. The Saints finished 2-3 at home last season.
