Thomas More 24, Franklin 21
Oct 11, 2003
FRANKLIN, Ind. — Thomas More sophomore tailback Tyran Thompson's 2-yard touchdown run with 4:45 remaining in the game, lifted the Saints to a come-from-behind road victory. Thomas More improved to 2-3 while Franklin fell to 0-5.Oct 11, 2003
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Thompson carried the ball 31 times for 188 yards and two touchdowns, marking the fourth game this season that the sophomore has rushed for over 100 yards. Through five games this season, Thompson is averaging 140.6 yards rushing per game and has six rushing touchdowns. His game-winner capped a six-play, 80-yard drive to give Thomas More the lead, 24-21 with.
Following Thompson's 2-yard run, the Saints' defense was responsible for holding the Franklin offense to preserve the victory. On the ensuing possession for Franklin, the Grizzlies drove the ball down to the Thomas More 47-yard line where they faced a third-and-6. After Thomas More sophomore cornerback Chris Willis deflected Franklin quarterback Geoff Zentz's pass, the Grizzlies faced a fourth-and-6, but were also turned away when Saint senior cornerback Dante Flanigan broke up Zentz's pass to receiver Ryan Vest.
However, the Saints were not out of the woods as the offense stumbled in its attempt to run out the clock, forcing Thomas More to punt the ball back over to Franklin with 2:29 remaining in the game. The Saint defense was again asked to make a stop in the game's final two minutes after the Grizzlies had totaled 261 yards on 25-of-38 passing and two touchdowns leading up to the final drive. Facing a third-and-five from their own 17-yard line, Franklin quarterback Geoff Zentz was intercepted by Thomas More senior safety Tim Nieman, preserving the Saints first road win of 2003.
In addition to defense, field position also played a huge part in today\'s game as Franklin's average starting field position was their own 28-yard line. Thomas More senior Jeff Runion had a lot to do with the that as he punted four times for an average of 40.0 yards per punt with two punts inside the Franklin 20-yard line. Runion, who serves as the team's punter and placekicker, made a 23-yard field goal in the third quarter, tying the school record for career field goals made with 21.
Other notable performances from Saturday included sophomore linebacker Mark Carlisle who led the Saints' defense with 10 tackles, including six unassisted. Junior defensive tackle Gannon Vogelpohl also had a strong game, totaling eight tackles with two for loss and one qarterback sack. Sophomore quarterback Nate Berkley completed nine-of-13 passes for 182 yards and one touchdown, but was intercepted twice and sacked three times. His lone touchdown, an 18-yard completion to senior receiver Greg Harris, gave Thomas More the lead, 17-14 early in the fourth quarter.
After being held to just one touchdown in its first seven possessions, the Thomas More offense, after some key halftime adjustments, scored on its next three possessions in taking the lead. Following halftime, the Saints had the ball for 11:27 of the third quarter compared to just 3:33 for Franklin. Meanwhile, after two first half touchdowns en route to a 14-6 halftime lead, the Grizzlies scored just one touchdown on five second half possession as the Thomas More defense forced two punts, one turnover on downs and one interception.
Next up for Thomas More will be a trip to Canton, OH on Saturday, October 18 when the Saints travel to Malone for a 1:30 p.m. kickoff at Fawcett Stadium. Thomas More defeated the Pioneers, 14-7 last season at Thomas More Stadium.