(CRESTVIEW HILLS, Ky.) - The 25th-ranked Thomas More College football team set two school records in a 61-0 win over Geneva College today (Saturday, October 5, 2013) in a Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) game at The Bank of Kentucky Field in Crestview Hills, Kentucky.
Thomas More set the school record for points in a quarter (34 in the first quarter) and points in a half (55 in the first half).
With the win, the Saints improve to 4-0 overall and 3-0 in the PAC and with the loss, the Golden Tornadoes fall to 3-2 overall and 2-1 in the PAC.
The Saints' defense posted their third shutout in four games and held Geneva to only 88 yards of total defense.
Thomas More led 34-0 after one quarter, 55-0 at halftime and 61-0 after three quarters.
The Saints took a 6-0 lead with 12:49 to play in the first quarter when junior running back Domonique Hayden (Lexington, Ky./Lexington Christian Academy) scored on a 19-yard run and senior place kicker Tim Gormly, Jr. (Cincinnati, Ohio/McNicholas) had his point-after attempt blocked.
Sophomore quarterback Jensen Gebhardt (Kings Mills, Ohio/Kings) connected on a 31-yard touchdown pass to sophomore wide receiver Goose Cohorn (Independence, Ky./Dixie Heights) with 6:24 to play in the opening quarter and Gormly added the PAT as the Saints increased the lead to 13-0.
Thomas More extended the lead to 20-0 with 5:17 to play in the first quarter when sophomore defensive back Kyle Fuller (Taylor Mill, Ky./Holy Cross) returned an interception 42-yards for a touchdown and Gormly added the PAT.
Gebhardt scored on a 19-yard run and Gormly added the PAT and the Saints led 27-0 with 3:03 to play in the opening quarter.
The Saints increased the lead to 34-0 when sophomore defensive back Trey Wells (Louisville, Ky./duPont Manual) returned a blocked field goal 75-yards for a touchdown and Gormly added the PAT with 1:33 to play in the first quarter.
Hayden scored on a 30-yard run and sophomore place kicker Tommy Budke (Cincinnati, Ohio/Colerain) added the PAT with 7:38 to play in the second quarter and the Saints led 41-0.
Thomas More extended the lead to 48-0 with 3:54 to play in the first half when Hayden scored on a 37-yard run and Budke added the PAT.
With 52-seconds to play in the first half, Gebhart connected on a three-yard pass to freshman fullback Colin Justice (Park Hills, Ky./Beechwood) and Budke added the PAT to give the Saints a 55-0 halftime lead.
Thomas More closed out the scoring with 10:52 to play in the third quarter when freshman running back Myron Fears (Atlanta, Ga./Heritage) scored on a 32-yard run and Budke's PAT was blocked for the final score of 61-0.
The Saints out-gained Geneva 426 yards (304 rushing, 122 passing) to 88 yards (51 rushing, 37 passing.
Hayden led the Saints' offense as he had 15 carries for 195 yards and three touchdowns, all in the first half. Gebhart was 12-of-14 passing for 99 yards and two touchdowns and also had two carries for 19 yards and a touchdown. Cohorn had three catches for 49 yards and one touchdown, while sophomore running back Scootie Middleton (New Albany, Ind./New Albany) had 14 rushes for 56 yards and one catch for 23 yards and junior wide receiver Ryan Winkler (Independence, Ky./Simon Kenton) had three catches for 20 yards.
Freshman linebacker Dylan Ruter (Cincinnati, Ohio/Moeller) led Saints in tackles with seven (two solo, five assisted), including two tackles for a loss. Fuller had five tackles (three solo, two assisted), two forced fumbles and an interception, sophomore linebacker Nick Pennekamp (Cincinnati, Ohio/Elder) had five tackles (two solo, three assisted), junior linebacker Phil Hofmeyer (Cincinnati, Ohio/Elder) had five tackles (two solo, three assisted), including a half tackle for a loss and senior linebacker Alex Taylor (Cincinnati, Ohio/Elder) had five tackles (five assisted).
The Saints return to action next Saturday (October 12) when they travel to Washington, Pennsylvania to play PAC rival Washington & Jefferson College. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Cameron Stadium.