Thomas More scores in final minute, pulls out 38-35 win at Huntingdon (Ala.) on Saturday

By Don Owen
NKyTribune reporter

Late-game heroics are becoming synonymous with the Thomas More College football team.

Trailing 35-31 with 2:43 remaining in Saturday’s game at Huntingdon (Ala.) College, Thomas More drove 79 yards and scored the go-ahead touchdown with 50 seconds left on the clock to pull out a 38-35 victory. Quarterback Justin Post capped the winning drive by avoiding pressure and scrambling for a 10-yard touchdown to give the Saints (3-1) their third straight victory.

A week ago, Thomas More rallied from a 21-0 deficit to knock off Wisconsin-Platteville, 35-28, with a fourth-quarter touchdown. The Saints pulled off more heroics in the state of Alabama on Saturday, just after the Hawks had taken the lead.

Huntingdon (0-2) capped an eight-play, 90-yard drive with a 41-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Michael Lambert to Otis Porter, giving the Hawks a 35-31 advantage with 2:43 remaining. Thomas More responded quickly, with two Post completions — sandwiched around a pair of carries by Hjavier Pitts that resulted in 24 yards — keying a drive that put the Saints inside the Huntingdon 20-yard line with a minute remaining.

On third-and-8, Post threw an incompletion, but Huntingdon was flagged for roughing the passer, giving Thomas More a first down at the 10-yard line. Post then dropped back to pass, saw an opening and rushed in for the go-ahead touchdown with just 50 seconds left.

Huntingdon was unable to get past midfield on its final possession, and Thomas More departed Charles Lee Field with its third consecutive win.

Post was 15-of-25 passing for 178 yards and three touchdowns. He also ran the ball eight times for 35 yards and a score.

Pitts led the Thomas More ground attack with 176 yards, while Luke Zajac rushed for 108 yards. Darrell Crenshaw had two receptions for 42 yards, including a crucial 24-yard catch during the winning drive.

Lambert threw for 319 yards and five touchdowns for Huntingdon, while Eric Thomas rushed for 122 yards. Porter caught five passes for 153 yards and three touchdowns for the Hawks.

Thomas More finished with 510 total yards, including 332 on the ground. Huntingdon gained 518 total yards, 319 of those through the air. Thomas Williams led the Saints defense with 15 tackles (six solo/nine assisted), and he also forced a fumble.

After battling to a 21-21 deadlock at halftime, Thomas More scored 10 unanswered points to take a 31-21 early in the fourth quarter. Post hit Da’marco Canty for a 14-yard touchdown pass to give the Saints the 10-point lead with 9:55 left on the clock.

Huntingdon, however, countered with two consecutive long drives to take a 35-31 advantage, only to watch as Post’s late-game heroics allowed Thomas More to pick up the rugged road victory.

Thomas More is now 3-0 all-time against Huntingdon.

The Saints travel to Canton, New York, next Saturday to play St. Lawrence at 1 p.m.

Thomas More…7-14-3-14—38
Huntingdon…… 7-14-0-14—35

Scoring Summary:
TM-Hjavier Pitts 14 yd run (Cole Mathias kick)
HUNT-Otis Porter 22 yd pass from Michael Lambert (Chase Young kick)
TM-Hjavier Pitts 14 yd pass from Justin Post (Cole Mathias kick)
HUNT-Otis Porter 62 yd pass from Michael Lambert (Chase Young kick)
TM-Nick Hall 9 yd pass from Justin Post (Cole Mathias kick)
HUNT-C.J. Pugh 38 yd pass from Michael Lambert (Chase Young kick)
TM-Cole Mathias 40 yd field goal
TM-D’marco Canty 14 yd pass from Justin Post (Cole Mathias kick)
HUNT-Hunter Huckbay 15 yd pass from Michael Lambert (Chase Young kick)
HUNT-Otis Porter 41 yd pass from Michael Lambert (Chase Young kick)
TM-Justin Post 10 yd run (Cole Mathias kick)
RECORDS: TMC 3-1, HC 0-2