Thiel's aerial attack poised and ready for Bridgewater
The Tomcats face Bridgewater (Va.) Saturday in a second-round playoff.
By JOHN KOVACH
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
GREENVILLE, Pa. -- For the first time in Thiel College football history, the Tomcats have their most prolific passing quarterback and receiver, and three receivers in all with over 400 yards and at least 20 receptions.
That should continue to help Thiel (11-0) when it plays host to the Bridgewater (Va.) College Eagles (9-1) Saturday at noon in Alumni Stadium, in an NCAA Division III second-round playoff game.
Thiel is coming off a 28-3 win over Johns Hopkins last Saturday in a first-round game at Alumni Stadium while Bridgwater advanced with a 30-21 win over Washington & amp; Jefferson.
The Thiel-Bridgewater winner will advance to meet the Wesley (10-1) - Mary Hardin-Baylor (9-1) winner on Dec. 3 in a quarterfinal.
Hub of attack
Senior quarterback Darrell Satterfield (Orwell Grand Valley) and his favorite target, senior wide receiver Brandon Chambers (Farrell), have been the hub of Thiel's aerial attack.
Satterfield has completed 198 of 324 passes for 2,664 yards and 25 TDs -- all four totals single-season school records.
Chambers has 83 catches for 1,320 yards and 16 TDs -- all three totals also being school records.
Chambers has nine school records in all for receiving and punt and kickoff returns.
But in addition, the Tomcats have senior wide receiver Tom McIntire (Reynolds) with 49 catches for 606 yards and sophomore wide receiver Marc LaScola (Wellsville) with 25 receptions for 444 yards,
The three receivers have combined for 2,370 yards, 23 TDs, nine 100-yard games (Chambers 6, LaScola 2, McIntire 1), and an average of 15.1 yards per catch.
Satterfield also has thrown a career-record 42 TD passes, and he ranks No. 2 in career completions (360) and yards (4,730).
Of Satterfield's 42 TD passes, Chambers has caught 28 of them for 66.6 percent.
Leipheimer directs success
Thiel is coached by Jack Leipheimer, a Hickory High and Thiel graduate in his fifth season at the helm.
Leipheimer has directed Thiel to its most wins in one season (11), its first Presidents' Athletic Conference championship (6-0) since 1972, and its first berth in the playoffs.
Thiel will be without senior running back Steve Minton -- the school's first 1,000-yard rusher-- who is injured.
But freshman replacement Dan Hess will try to pick up some of the slack. Hess rushed for 147 yards in 30 carries and one TD in last Saturday's win over Johns Hopkins.
In the eight games he has played in, Hess has 562 yards rushing in 125 carries and four TDs.
Senior safety Shaun Jackson led Thiel's defense last week with eight total tackles and a 51-yard interception return.
The Tomcats' top three tacklers are junior middle linebacker Jeff Wagner (70), junior free safety Darious Thompson ((40.5) and junior cornerback Zjaque Douglas.
Area standouts
Thiel's offensive line is anchored by four-year starter Nelton Neal (Warren Harding), plus the Tomcats have a host of other Youngstown-area standouts in the lineup.
Junior cornerback Steve Boyle (Howland), junior defensive tackle Logan Malie (Sharon) and senior strong safety Kenneth Avery (Farrell) also have helped the Thiel defense, and rank Nos. 7, 9 and 11 in tackles with 34.5, 30.5 and 23.5, respectively.
Other area players on the Thiel roster are seniors Kenneth Avery (strong safety, Farrell) and Sixto Rivera (fullback, Liberty), juniors Greg Gustovich (fullback, McDonald), Chris Hlinka (outside linebacker Chaney), Robert Hughes (defensive end, Rayen), Denver Goodman (defensive tackle, Mineral Ridge), Michael Mukaabya (free safety, Union) and Caleb Quimby (offensive lineman, New Castle); and six freshmen: Rick Hlinka (QB, Chaney), David Myers (TB, Crestview), Adam Moore (free safety, Union), Eddie Dekker (K, Mercer), David Dillon (WR, Brookfield) and Josh Bable (DE, Union).