By Don Owen
NKyTribune reporter
Having lost two games by a combined eight points in its inaugural season of NAIA competition, Thomas More hits the road this weekend for a clash against NCAA Division III member Wisconsin-Platteville.
Thomas More enters Saturday’s 2 p.m. contest with a 1-2 record after dropping a 17-14 decision to Cumberland (Tenn.) last week at BB&T Field. Cumberland drove 79 yards in 14 plays late in the fourth quarter to rally for the victory.
Cumberland’s Joseph Rushin scored on a 1-yard quarterback keeper for the winning touchdown with 1:27 left in the game. With a chance to tie the game in the closing seconds, Thomas More’s Alexander Haley missed a 40-yard field goal off the left upright as time expired.
Thomas More generated 368 yards of total offense, while Cumberland finished with 355 yards. It marked the Saints’ first-ever Mid-South Conference Bluegrass Division game.
Two weeks earlier, Kentucky Christian had scored a touchdown with just nine seconds remaining to pull out a 54-49 win over Thomas More at BB&T Field. Kentucky Christian and Cumberland — both members of the Mid-South Conference — are a combined 4-1 this season. Cumberland is ranked No. 25 in this week’s NAIA national poll.
Wisconsin-Platteville is 1-0 after holding on for a 38-30 win over visiting East Texas Baptist on Sept. 7. It also marked the 21st consecutive year that the Pioneers have opened the season with a victory.
Junior quarterback Colin Schuetz completed 23 passes in 45 attempts for 373 yards and four touchdowns in the victory against East Texas Baptist. The Pioneers piled up 484 yards of total offense while allowing 388 yards.
Donald Allender caught four passes for 117 yards, including a 57-yard touchdown. David Urke hauled in five receptions for 106 yards for the Pioneers, while Tyler Knigge added a team-high eight receptions for 91 yards.
Senior running back Wyatt Thompson rushed for 60 yards on 18 carries to lead the Wisconsin-Platteville ground attack.
A year ago at BB&T Field, Thomas More rallied from a 21-0 first-quarter deficit and stunned nationally ranked Wisconsin-Platteville, 35-28. Hjavier Pitts capped the Thomas More comeback with a 28-yard touchdown reception from 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. Pitts carried the ball 16 times for 123 yards and one touchdown in that win, and he added three receptions for 38 yards and another score.
Wisconsin-Platteville entered that game ranked No. 16 nationally in the NCAA Division III poll. The Pioneers scored three touchdowns in the opening quarter to jump out to a 21-0 lead. Schuetz threw for a touchdown, while Mark Johnson and Bo Babich each rushed for a score.
Contact Don Owen at don@nkytrib.com and follow him on Twitter at @dontribunesport