Thomas More football hits road this weekend with plenty of momentum, meets Huntingdon (Ala.)

By Don Owen
NKyTribune reporter

After pulling off an upset of nationally ranked Wisconsin-Platteville at BB&T Field last Saturday, Thomas More College hits the road this weekend with plenty of momentum.

The Saints will meet Huntingdon (Ala.) at 2 p.m. Saturday at Charles Lee Field in Montgomery. Thomas More (2-1) has won two straight games, including a 35-28 triumph over then-No. 16 Wisconsin-Platteville. The Saints rallied from a 21-0 deficit in the first quarter to stun the visiting Pioneers.

Huntingdon is 0-1 after suffering a 41-35 loss to Birmingham-Southern last week. The Hawks opened the season Sept. 1 against Guilford (N.C.) and owned a 58-48 lead in the fourth quarter, but lightning forced the stoppage of the game and it was declared a no contest.

Thomas More features running back Hjavier Pitts, who carried the ball 16 times for 123 yards and one touchdown, and he added three receptions for 38 yards and another score. Pitts capped the comeback against Wisconsin-Platteville with a 28-yard touchdown reception from quarterback Justin Post with 5:01 remaining in the game.

Pitts caught a screen pass in the right flat, eluded several tacklers then cut back across the field and rambled in for the go-ahead score. For the season, Pitts leads Thomas More in rushing (384 yards) and has scored four touchdowns.

Post has completed 48 of 86 passes for 602 yards and four touchdowns. Logan Winkler has hauled in nine receptions for a team-leading 145 yards and two touchdowns.

The Saints are averaging 30 points per game along with 428 yards of total offense. The defense is allowing 27 points per contest, and the opposition is averaging 427 yards per game.

Huntingdon built a 15-point lead against visiting Birmingham-Southern on Saturday, but the Hawks faltered in the second half and dropped a 41-35 decision. Birmingham-Southern erupted for 22 points in the fourth quarter to rally for the victory.

Running back Eric Thomas led Huntingdon with 158 yards on the ground and three touchdowns. He also returned five kickoffs for 127 yards finished the game with 285 all-purpose yards — the third-most in program history. Thomas was named the USA South Athletic Conference the Offensive Player of the Week for his performance against Birmingham-Southern.

Against Guilford two weeks ago, Huntingdon bolted out to a 20-0 lead in the first quarter and owned a 41-21 advantage at halftime. The Hawks had generated 538 yards of total offense before the weather halted play in the fourth quarter.

Quarterback Michael Lambert completed 15 of 18 passes for 319 yards and five touchdowns in that game, including scoring strikes of 75 and 73 yards. Lambert threw all five touchdown passes in the first half.

Thomas More is 2-0 all-time against Huntingdon. The Saints posted wins over the Hawks in both 2004 (37-36 in overtime on the road) and 2006 (20-9 at home).

TMC VOLLEYBALL MOVES UP IN POLL: The Thomas More volleyball team moved up to No. 11 in this week’s NCAA Division III national poll. The Saints are 11-1 and play host to Mount St. Joseph at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the Connor Convocation Center.

Thomas More setter Jenna Fesler was named the American Collegiate Athletic Association Offensive Player of the Week on Tuesday. Fessler helped lead the Saints to a 3-1 record last week and was named to the all-tournament team at the Wittenberg Fall Classic. She effectively directed the offense last week with a total 111 assists, while recording nine service aces, 30 digs and two blocks.

Contact Don Owen at don@nkytrib.com and follow him on Twitter at @dontribunesport