Football erupts for 22 points in the first nine minutes of second half to remain perfect in PFL play

Clinton, S.C. – After trailing 17-14 after the first half, St. Thomas posted 22 unanswered points in less than nine minutes to start the second half to push its lead to 36-17 and didn't look back from there.

After trailing the Blue Hose 10-0 after one quarter of play, and 17-7 with less than a minute to play in the first half, the Tommies rattled off 39-unanswered points to spoil the Presbyterian homecoming game and earn their sixth-straight win and improve to 4-0 in conference play.

Presbyterian took the opening kick and marched down the field on an 11-play 61-yard drive before the St. Thomas defense shored up and held the Blue Hose to a field goal attempt, giving Presbyterian a 3-0 lead with just over 10 minutes remaining in the opening quarter.

After scoring a touchdown on all five of their first drives of the season, the Tommies saw their opening drive stall in each the last two games. On their second drive of the game, the Blue Hose pushed their lead to 10 points after a 53-yard touchdown strike through the air.

The Tommies responded with a touchdown drive of their own. St. Thomas found pay dirt 18 seconds into the second quarter as senior RB Joshua Komis bullied his way into the endzone cutting the lead to 10-7 in favor of the home team.

With 8:40 remaining in the first half, Presbyterian pushed its lead to 17-7. St. Thomas battled its way to a score of 17-14 heading into the locker room by way of a rushing touchdown by sophomore RB Shawn Shipman with 53 seconds remaining in the second quarter.

The Tommies were outgained 236 to 171 in the opening half. Sexauer led the rushing attack with 30 yards on five carries. Senior WR Wesley Juszczak posted 39 receiving yards in the first half.

St. Thomas received the second half's opening kick and marched right down the field, highlighted by a 40-yard strike from Sexauer to Juszczak, and capped off by a QB plunge from Sexauer.

With 10:40 remaining in the third quarter, freshman LB Ryan Sever blocked his third punt of the season, this time he returned it to pay dirt himself pushing the lead to 29-17. Sexauer scored his first passing touchdown of the game, this time to senior TE Max Zimmerman opening up a 36-17 lead with 6:22 to play in the third.

Sophomore LB Luke Herzog posted his first collegiate interception with 1:45 remaining in the third. Freshman QB Amari Powell then took over the reins of the offense at that time, that drive ended in a 40-yard field goal by fellow freshman Stephen Shagen to push the lead with 39-17 with 12:41 to play.

Later in the fourth, Powell scored his first collegiate touchdown after leading a 14-play, 72 yard scoring drive that drained over seven minutes off the clock to give the Tommies the 46-17 win.

When the dust settled, the Tommies outgained the Blue Hose, 369 yards to 302, including 172 yards by St. Thomas and only 50 rushing yards by Presbyterian.

Individually, Sexauer finished the game completing 14-of-19 passing attempts for 173 yards and one touchdown and 31 rushing yards. Powell completed 3-of-6 passing attempts for 24 yards two rushing yards and a rushing touchdown.

Defensively, the a dui of sophomores in Jonathan Bunce, Herzog and senior DB Luke Glenna all finished with six total tackles. As a team, the Tommies finished with 6.0 sacks, by seven different players.

St. Thomas returns home to defend its 35-game regular-season home winning streak as it faces San Diego, looking to avenge one of the Tommies three losses from a season ago. Kickoff is slated noon at O'Shaughnessy Stadium.

Next Event

Team Stats

Cade Sexauer

Amari Powell

Players Mentioned

Jonathan Bunce

Luke Glenna

Luke Herzog

Wesley Juszczak

Joshua Komis

Amari Powell

Ryan Sever

Stephen Shagen

Shawn Shipman

Max Zimmerman