(CRESTVIEW HILLS, Ky.) – The ninth-ranked Thomas More College football team advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division III Championship Playoff as it defeated 16th-ranked Washington & Lee University, 51-21, today in a first round game at BB&T Field in Crestview Hills, Kentucky.
With the win, the Saints remain undefeated as they improve to 11-0. Thomas More will play Wabash College in a second round game next Saturday (November 28). The location of the game will announced Sunday. The Generals end the season at 10-1.
Thomas More never trailed in the game as it led 14-0 after one quarter, 28-0 at halftime and 42-14 after three quarters.
The Saints took an early 7-0 lead when sophomore running back C.T. Tarrant (Hamilton, Ohio/Hamilton) scored on a one-yard touchdown run and senior kicker Tommy Budke (Cincinnati, Ohio/Colerain) added the point-after-attempt with 8:19 to play in the first quarter. Thomas More increased the lead to 14-0 with 1:03 to play in the first quarter when sophomore full back Cam Evans (Indianapolis, Ind./Decatur Central) scored on a six-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Jensen Gebhardt (Kings Mills, Ohio/Kings) and Budke added the PAT.
Senior wide receiver Goose Cohorn (Independence, Ky./Dixie Heights) scored on a five-yard touchdown pass from Gebhardt and Budke added the PAT to extend the lead to 21-0 with 7:21 to play in the second quarter. The Saints increased the lead to 28-0 at halftime as sophomore quarterback Brenan Kuntz (Independence, Ky./Simon Kenton) connected on a 44-yard touchdown pass to Cohorn and Budke made the PAT with 1:18 to play in the first half.
Thomas More took a 35-0 lead with 9:46 to play in the third quarter when Gebhardt connected on a 15-yard touchdown pass to senior Michael Bernecker (Cincinnati, Ohio/LaSalle) and Budke made the PAT. The Generals' Charlie Nelson scored on an 11-yard run and Matt Underhill added the PAT as the lead was cut to 35-7 with 6:42 to play in the third quarter. Gebhardt connected with senior wide receiver Jeremy Duncan (Cincinnati, Ohio/Moeller) on a 27-yard touchdown pass and Budke added the PAT to increase the lead to 42-7 with 5:15 to play in the third quarter. Washington & Lee cut the lead to 42-14 with 17-seconds to play in the third quarter when Connor Chess scored on a seven-yard run and Underhill added the PAT.
Freshman running back Luke Zajac (Edgewood, Ky./Dixie Heights) scored on a nine-yard touchdown pass from Kuntz and the PAT failed as the Saints increased the lead to 48-14 with 11:49 to play in the fourth quarter. Budke made a 23-yard field goal with 4:15 to play in the game to make the score 51-14. Washington & Lee closed out the scoring with 58-seconds to play in the game when Walker Brand scored on an eight-yard run and Underhill made the PAT for the final score of 51-21.
Thomas More out-gained Washington & Lee 522 yards (306 rushing, 216 passing) to 332 yards (323 rushing, nine passing).
Gebhardt was 15-of-26 passing for 163 yards and four touchdowns, while Kuntz was two-of-two passing for 53 yards and two touchdowns. Tarrant had 26 carries for 145 yards and a touchdown, while Cohorn led the receivers with six catches for 91 yards.
Sophomore defensive back Johnny Lammers (Cincinnati, Ohio/Elder) had seven tackles (four solo, three assisted) and junior linebacker Austin Copeland (Cincinnati, Ohio/Kings) had seven tackles (three solo, four assisted), including a tackle for a loss and had an interception. Senior defensive end Erick Butler (Eminence, Ky./Henry County) had six tackles (four solo, two assisted), including a tackle for a loss, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Senior defensive back Trey Wells (Louisville, Ky./duPont Manual) and senior linebacker Nick Pennekamp (Cincinnati, Ohio/Elder) each had five tackles (two solo, three assisted)