Football’s historic win streak ends in NCAA tournament
The football team’s undefeated season came to a close in its first NCAA tournament appearance since 2012
January 23, 2016
Ninth-ranked Thomas More gained 522 total yards and jumped out to a 35-0 lead en route to posting a 51-21 win over fifteenth-ranked Washington and Lee in the first round of the NCAA Division III Football Championship on Nov. 21 at BB&T Field [in Crestview Hills, Kentucky.]
The Generals drove the ball well early on, but committed two first quarter turnovers and missed a field goal early in the second quarter as the Saints (11-0) raced out to a 28-0 lead midway through the second period.
Thomas More took the opening kickoff of the second half and marched 74 yards on 12 plays as quarterback Jensen Gebhardt, ‘16, hit wide receiver Michael Bernecker, ‘16, with a 15-yard touchdown pass that made it 35-0.
W&L erased its first half woes by producing an 8-play, 74-yard drive on its first possession of the second half, with quarterback Charlie Nelson, ‘17, scoring on an 11-yard touchdown run. Despite surrendering another touchdown to the Saints, the Generals marched right down the field on their next drive as running back Connor Chess, ‘17, scored on a 7-yard scamper with 0:17 left in the third period to make it a 42-14 game.
The Saints tacked on a touchdown and a field goal, while running back Walker Brand, ‘18, capped the scoring on the day with an 8-yard touchdown run with 58 seconds left.
The W&L offense finished with 332 total yards, including 323 rushing yards. Nelson led the way with 138 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries. He also was 2-of-10 passing for nine yards with one interception. Brand amassed 60 yards and one touchdown on 16 carries, and Chess posted 54 yards and a touchdown on seven carries. Linebacker Max Garrett, ‘18, produced a game-high 15 tackles, while safety Michael Shields, ‘18, compiled 11 stops and a forced fumble.
Gebhardt completed 15-of-26 passes for 163 yards and four touchdowns, while sophomore quarterback Brenan Kuntz went 2-for-2 for 53 yards and two more passing scores. Sophomore running back C.T. Tarrant rushed 26 times for 145 yards and one touchdown, while Cohorn caught six passes for 91 yards and two touchdowns. Junior linebacker Austin Copeland notched seven tackles and one interception.
Washington and Lee ends its season with a school-record 10 wins (10-1). [Thomas More fell to Wabash in the second round of the tournament on Nov. 23.]
