By Don Owen
NKyTribune reporter
Playing for the final time under the moniker of Thomas More College, the Saints football team continued its big-yardage ways and rolled to a 48-12 win over St. Lawrence on Saturday in Canton, New York.
Thomas More (4-1) churned out 600 yards of total offense and extended its winning streak to four. The Saints built a 17-0 lead in the second quarter, watched St. Lawrence slice the advantage to 17-12 early in the third, but then scored 31 unanswered points to coast to the road victory.
Earlier in the week, Thomas More College announced it would officially become Thomas More University effective Oct. 1, meaning Saturday’s game was the last time the Saints would take the gridiron under the school’s former designation.
Pitts has now rushed for a team-leading 702 yards and six touchdowns this season. The senior running back from Cincinnati also averages 140.4 yards per game on the ground.
Justin Post completed 16 passes in 27 attempts for 266 yards and two touchdowns. The Saints finished with a 34-16 advantage in first downs and held St. Lawrence (1-4) to just 243 total yards.
Holding a 31-12 lead going into the fourth quarter, Thomas More added a pair of touchdowns and a Cole Mathias field goal to pull away. Post found Pitts for a 13-yard touchdown pass on the first play of the final quarter, and Zajac added a 10-yard rushing score with seven minutes left on the clock to cap an 85-yard drive.
Cody Coffey recorded six tackles (five solo/one assisted) to pace the Thomas More defense, while Lashunn Townsend Jr. added five tackles and an interception.
Saturday marked the first meeting between Thomas More and St. Lawrence on the football field. Through five games this season, Thomas More has played in five different states (North Carolina, Indiana, Kentucky, Alabama and New York).
Thomas More remains on the road next week, visiting the state of Virginia to meet Emory & Henry at 1 p.m. The Saints return home on Oct. 13 to play host to Muhlenberg at noon at BB&T Field.
Thomas More…. 7-10-14-17—48
St. Lawrence…… 0- 6- 6- 0 —12
Scoring Summary:
TM-Luke Zajac 5 yd run (Cole Mathias kick)
TM-Cole Mathias 35 yd field goal
TM-Hjavier Pitts 1 yd run (Cole Mathias kick)
SLU-Travis Marnell 26 yd pass from Aaron Ruthman (Austin Pinard kick failed)
SLU-Jamie Battaglia 9 yd run (Aaron Ruthman rush failed)
TM-D’marco Canty 43 yd pass from Justin Post (Cole Mathias kick)
TM-Dillon Powell 3 yd run (Cole Mathias kick)
TM-Hjavier Pitts 13 yd pass from Justin Post (Cole Mathias kick)
TM-Luke Zajac 10 yd run (Cole Mathias kick)
TM-Cole Mathias 32 yd field goal
RECORDS: Thomas More 4-1, St. Lawrence 1-4