By Tim Cleveland

sports @vindy.com

Poland

After a program-best 2012 campaign that ended with nine victories and two playoff victories, Youngstown Christian was decimated by graduation.

This season has been clear evidence of that, as the Eagles are 1-4, the latest defeat a 42-20 pounding Saturday night against Louisville St. Thomas Aquinas.

Youngstown Christian kept pace with the Knights early, tying 7-7 and getting to 14-13, but it was all Aquinas after that. The three-headed monster in Aquinas’ backfield — Ja’Lon Humphries, Joe Pusateri and Tommy McCauley — combined for 253 rushing yards and four touchdowns, with Humphries totaling 110 yards, Pusateri having 85 and McCauley adding 58.

Darien Townsend did what he could to keep the Eagles in the game. He had a combined 130 yards of offense and two touchdowns. He caught 4- and 27-yard scoring passes from Paris Bennett in the first half for Youngstown Christian’s two scores.

Robert Thompson led the Eagles’ ground game with just 37 yards on 20 carries, but he did have a 5-yard score with 7:01 left in the third quarter to bring Youngstown Christian to within 35-20.

McCauley had TD runs of 27 and 17 yards in the second quarter as Aquinas (5-1) built a 35-13 halftime lead. He added a 2-yarder in the fourth quarter.

Knights quarterback Anthony Moeglin was 7-of-10 passing for 90 yards, including a 21-yarder to Alex Benedetti that gave Aquinas the 35-13 lead.

Right after McCauley’s third and final touchdown, which came with 11:55 left in the fourth quarter, the game was delayed 30 minutes because of lightning. After the teams returned to the field, a heavy rain prevented either side from mustering much offense, and the ball became difficult to handle.

Youngstown Christian was held to 168 total yards, with Bennett going 8 of 13 for 100 yards and an interception late in the first half that set up a touchdown. The Eagles fumbled four times, with the one they lost setting up the Knights’ final score.

Aquinas committed 13 penalties for 123 yards, but did have 374 total yards.