Game Stats                                                                                                                                                   October 5, 2002

Thiel takes Cup for second straight year

GROVE CITY, Pa. -- For the second straight season, the Thiel Tomcats claimed the Mercer County Cup with a 23-3 victory over Grove City at Robert E. Thorn Field Saturday afternoon. It is the first time in the 19-year history of the Cup that Thiel has won in consecutive seasons.

Mike Titzel (Greenville, Pa./Greenville) gave Grove City a 3-0 lead on Homecoming with 7:15 left in the first quarter by booting a 20-yard field goal. Later in the quarter, Grove City drove deep into Thiel territory but Todd Smargiasso's (New Wilmington, Pa./Wilmington) pass was deflected and intercepted by Tomcat safety Kennard Davis. Davis returned the interception 82 yards for a touchdown, giving Thiel a 7-3 lead.

Late in the first half, Tomcat quarterback Daryl Moore raced 79 yards to the end zone on an option keep, stretching the lead to 13-3. Moore led all rushers with 104 yards in the game.

Meanwhile, Grove City halfback Steve Roberts (East Petersburg, Pa./Hempfield) ran for 74 yards while Smargiasso went 10-for-20 through the air. Bo Danton (Pasadena, Md./Chesapeake), Jason DeMeo (Washington, Pa./Trinity) and Greg Verch (Warren, Ohio/Champion) all caught a pair of passes.

Wolverine cornerback Gene Iannuzzi (Port Jervis, N.Y./Minisink Valley) recorded his first career interception in the first half. Grove City limited Moore to a 1-of-10 passing performance. 

After Thiel's Paul Stibich booted a 42-yard field goal, Moore capped a 14-play, 73-yard drive with a one-yard plunge into the end zone with 5:07 left, capping the scoring.

Mike Choby (North Huntingdon, Pa./Norwin) led Grove City with 11 tackles while Mike Prioletti (Harmony, Pa./Seneca Valley) had nine stops. Grove City held a six-minute edge in time of possession but Thiel out-gained Grove City, 276-177.

FIRST NATIONAL BANK PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

OFFENSE -- BJ Arnold

"BJ graded out very high and had his best game of the season," head coach Chris Smith said. "He seems to be really hitting his stride this season.

DEFENSE -- Gene Iannuzzi    First career interception    

"Gene is adjusting to Grove City College football and doing a very good job for us,." Smith said. "He had a huge interception that helped in the first quarter to get some momentum going our way."

SPECIAL TEAMS -- Mike Titzel    Two punts inside the 20, field goal

"He kicked a field goal and did a good job of helping our punting game out-duel their punting game," Smith said.

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