Bethany Drops Marathon
Thiel outlasts Bison in four overtimes, 50-44GREENVILLE, Pa. - Thiel quarterback Willie Bova scored on a 10-yard run and an interception inside the 10 ended Bethany's (1-5, 0-3) final chance, as the Tomcats (1-5, 1-2) came away with a 50-44 victory Saturday in four overtimes at Alumni Stadium.
In the first extra period, the teams exchanged field goals, with BC freshman Evan Plescia nailing a 34-yard kick, but Thiel answering with a 37-yard boot from John Madeline.
Thiel took their first lead of the game when Bova threw across the field to TE Dan Mackall for a 23-yard touchdown in the second OT. Bethany kept the game going when Walker scored on a four-yard run to even the score at 38.
Walker found the end zone for the third time in the game on a two-yard scoring run to open the next extra session. In college, teams must go for two-point conversions after two overtimes and the Bison's conversion pass failed.
The Tomcats drew even again when Bova threw a five-yard scoring strike to Van Horn, but the contest needed a fourth overtime when Thiel's pass for the two-point conversion was incomplete.
Bova put the Tomcats ahead for good when he scampered 10 yards for the go-ahead score on a quarterback draw. Once again, they did not convert the two-point try, leaving the door open for the Bison to get the win.
However, facing a third-and-six from the 21, Smith's pass was intercepted by Thiel's Matt Joy at the nine-yard line to end the longest game in Bethany and Thiel history.
It also matched the longest game in Presidents' Athletic Conference history, as Grove City and Waynesburg played through four overtimes in 2000.
The teams combined for more than 1,000 yards of total offense, with Thiel gaining 536 and Bethany totaling 514.
Walker was the game's top ground gainer, pounding out 105 yards and three scores on 27 carries.
Highlighting the Bethany aerial attack was Smith. His 30 completions were the second-most in a game in school history, while his 52 attempts was the third-highest total.
Overall, he threw for 353 yards, the fourth-most by a BC signal caller ever, and two scores. Junior WR Matt Cruse grabbed 13 passes for 82 yards to tie the Bethany mark for most receptions in a game, while Laboy hauled in eight balls for 135 yards and a pair of TDs to tie that Bison single-game standard. McNeil also finished with six receptions for 84 yards and a touchdown.
