Area colleges roundup Saturday’s games

Thiel 20, Albion College 10

GREENVILLE, Pa. — The Thiel College football team earned its first win of the season — and the first career win for head coach Kurt Reiser — in a home-opening victory at Alumni Stadium. Paced by a promising defense and a timely offense, Thiel jumped out to a, 13-0, lead and from the intermission on, never trailed by fewer than 10 points. The Tomcats scored twice in the opening quarter, first on an eight-yard strike from Willie Bova to fullback Mark Dzuback, and later tacked on a 24-yard John Madeline (Hubbard) field goal.

Bethany 41, Kentucky Christian 33

SOUTH POINT — Sophomore RB Eric Walker rushed for 172 yards and one touchdown and set a new school single-game record with three touchdown receptions to lead Bethany. The first quarter featured 34 combined points, as both teams moved up and down the field. Walker’s big day got started right away, as his 11-yard touchdown catch from sophomore QB Chad Smith (Washington, Pa.) capped a 64-yard opening drive to give the Bison (1-1) a 7-0 lead. The Knights (0-3) needed just four plays to even the score at 7-7, as RB Jake Hughes scored on a nine-yard carry.

Slippery Rock 27, Kutztown 24

KUTZTOWN, Pa. — Senior cornerback Robert Doiley returned an interception 36 yards for a touchdown with 4:29 left to play to lift Slippery Rock. The touchdown accounted for the sixth lead change of a well-played contest between two previously unbeaten teams. The Rock, 3-0 for the second time in the last three seasons and fifth time in George Mihalik’s 22 seasons as head coach, will go in search of its fourth win next Saturday when it travels to Edinboro (2-1) to open PSAC-Western Division action. Kutztown outgained The Rock by a 357-181 margin in total offense behind a 134-yard rushing effort by Dontay Wilson, the No. 2 rusher in the PSAC prior to the game. Rock redshirt sophomore quarterback Rocco Colavecchia was 12 of 27 passing for 99 yards and one touchdown, while redshirt sophomore running back SayQuan Scott-Mitchell had 43 yards on 11 rushing attempts to lead The Rock attack. Senior Damarcus Cleckley added 39 yards on eight carries, including a 12-yard TD run in the second quarter.

Carnegie Mellon 45, Grove City 40

PITTSBURGH — Grove City fell behind 31-7 early in the third quarter before charging back with five second-half touchdowns. The Wolverine comeback effort began with 10:38 left in the third quarter as senior quarterback Andrew DiDonato fired a 38-yard touchdown pass to junior wide receiver Zach Summy. Eight minutes later, DiDonato fired an eight-yard touchdown pass to sophomore tailback Blaine Miller that cut CMU’s lead to 31-21. CMU pushed its lead back to 38-21 on the first play of the fourth quarter as Phil Pantalone threw a 26-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Howe on a flea-flicker. However, Grove City countered with an 11-play, 71-yard drive that culminated in Summy’s 13-yard touchdown reception from DiDonato with 11:27 remaining. The conversion failed. After CMU extended the lead to 45-27 on Justin Pratt’s 28-yard touchdown run, the Wolverines countered with a pair of touchdowns. Sophomore wingback Clayton Hall lofted a 16-yard touchdown pass to junior wide receiver Luke O’Hara (Shenango) with 5:39 left. The two-point pass failed. Then, DiDonato threw a one-yard touchdown pass to sophomore Ed Reith with 1:47 left, bringing the Wolverines to within 45-40. Grove City’s onside kick attempt went out of bounds though and CMU (2-0) successfully ran out the clock. Sophomore linebacker Jason Ferguson (Mineral Ridge) had 11 hits and a forced fumble. Carnegie Mellon owned a 36:02-23:58 edge in time of possession. CMU’s average starting field position for the game was the 50-yard line while Grove City’s was its own 22. CMU also converted nine of 15 third downs while the Wolverines converted three of eight opportunities. Grove City’s cumulative 398 yards passing is a school record.

Gallaudet University 34, Hiram 7

HIRAM — Hiram (0-1) lost their season opener to Gallaudet (Wash. D.C.) University. The Bison improved to 1-1. Neither team would find the end zone until the second quarter when Gallaudet quarterback Jimmy Gardner scored on a one-yard touchdown play with 4:06 left in the first half that capped a nine-play 76-yard drive to give the Bison a 7-0 lead. Hiram junior running back Luke Lewis returned the ensuing kickoff 54 yards to give the Terriers good field position at the Gallaudet 30 yard line, but a personal foul penalty would push the ball back to the Bison 45 yard line. Hiram drove to the Gallaudet eight yard line, but a fourth and goal pass play from freshman quarterback Brendan Rehor to senior wide receiver Mike Guiliano (Newton Falls) was stopped at the one yardline ending the half.

St. Ambrose (Iowa) 34, Malone 14

CANTON — Steve Brohl completed 27 of 47 passes for 269 yards, a TD and an interception in a losing effort for Malone (1-1). The Pioneers surrendered three touchdowns in the final quarter as St. Ambrose (2-0) broke open a close game.