GREENVILLE, Pa. – Trailing 17-7 at the half, the Thiel Tomcats scratched out a 21-20 homecoming victory over the Saint Vincent Bearcats Saturday behind two second-half touchdowns.
The Tomcats began their comeback after receiving the opening kickoff in the second half. Taylor Fink carried the ball seven times on the drive for 64 yards, which culminated with a seven-yard touchdown pass from Ryan Radke to fullback Rich Smallwood. Jon Fennick tacked on the extra point, and the Tomcats trailed by just three points.
The Bearcats added to their lead on the ensuing drive when Morgan Porter kicked a 28-yard field goal, which hit the left upright but ricocheted through the posts.
Backed up in his own end late in the third quarter, Bearcat quarterback Andy Borgen's third-and-six pass was intercepted by freshman Joe Serratore. He picked off the pass at the Saint Vincent 33-yard line and returned it to the 19-yard line.
Serratore's interception set up the game-winning touchdown for the Tomcats, which was scored four plays later when Branden Dice, another freshman, scored on a 2-yard run. Fennick added the crucial go-ahead point on the free kick, and the Tomcats held on to win their third straight homecoming game.
The Bearcats drove into scoring range twice later in the fourth quarter, but Porter missed field goals of 30- (wide left) and 42-yards (short).
After Porter's second missed field goal, the Tomcats took over at their own 24-yard line and embarked on their most important and perhaps most impressive drive of the game. Behind Fink, who carried eight times for 29 hard-fought yards, the Tomcats successfully ran out the final six minutes and 27 seconds, refusing to allow the Bearcats another chance to earn the win.
In all, Fink carried 31 times for 147 yards. Radke ran for 148 yards, including a 55-yard scamper, on 16 totes. Dice carried four times for 17 yards and scored his first two collegiate touchdowns.
Fink and Radke's 100-yard performances marked the first time two Thiel players ran for more than 100 yards in a game since Nov. 10, 2012 when the Tomcats suffered a 21-7 loss to the Grove City Wolverines.
Thiel ran for 310 yards Saturday and limited the Bearcats to 77 yards on the ground.
Radke completed 7-of-20 passes for 62 yards with one touchdown pass. Borgen, who played the second half, completed 7-of-12 passes for 92 yards with one interception. Matt Deakins, who played the first half for the Bearcats, completed 9-of-18 throws for 153 yards with one touchdown strike.
Linebacker Jack Sindlinger led the Tomcats with 10 tackles while Wes Schmidt made nine stops and broke up two passes, including one in the end zone. Defensive tackle Reily Shane notched two sacks while defensive end Cody McClelland recorded two quarterback hurries. Serratore made seven total tackles, and his fourth-quarter interception set up the Tomcats' game-winning touchdown.
Matt Jenkins led the Bearcats with nine tackles. He also recorded an interception.
The Tomcats (2-3, 1-2 PAC) will travel to New Wilmington, Pa. Saturday to take on the Westminster Titans. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at Burry Stadium.