Philippi W.Va. -  The St. Thomas Aquinas College Sprint Football team dropped a 23-13 road decision to Alderson Broaddus University on Friday evening at the Multi-Sport Performance Stadium. Hassan Blakney totaled 92 yards on seven receptions including a 43-yard catch, but the Spartans were unable to overcome the Battlers scoring prowess in the second half.

STAC falls to 1-1, while Alderson Broaddus picks up its first win on the year and improves to 1-2.

STAC HIGHLIGHTS AND GAME NOTES

• Hassan Blakney led the way with 92 yards receiving on 7 receptions, including a 43-yard catch.
• Jayden Bennermon had 6 carries for 54 yards on the evening.
• Kasey Sullivan powered the defense for the Spartans, picking up 7 total tackles on the day (7 solo), while also blocking a punt and recovering it in the end zone for the score. Sheriffh Bittaye, Esmond Oldums and Kyle Marsha also registered 5 tackles apiece.
• Starting quarterback Ryan Kenny completed 7 of 13 passes, for 61 yards and threw an interception.
• Kicker Bo Maroney went 2-for-3 on field goal tries, hitting from 36 and 15 yards, but was blocked on his 22-yard attempt. He also nailed an extra point on STAC's only touchdown.
• The Spartan defense core compiled 49 total tackles against the Battlers.

HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter

• St. Thomas Aquinas took the game's first lead with just under five minutes to play in the opening stanza. Kasey Sullivan blocked a Dalton Dunkle punt in the end zone and recovered the football for the score, giving the visitors the 7-0 advantage.

Second Quarter

• A 2-yard pass from Tim Tillman to Blake Baxter tied the game at 7-7 with just under 10 minutes to play before halftime.
• STAC retook a three-point lead at 10-7 on a Bo Maroney 36-yard field goal with just a tick over four minutes remaining in the quarter.

Third Quarter

• Bo Maroney's 15-yard chip shot field goal early in the third quarter, made it 13-7 Spartans.
• Backed up in their own end zone, STAC QB Phillip Johnson was sacked by the Alderson Broaddus defense, taking a safety, to cut the deficit to four, at 13-9.
• On the very next play the Battlers Blake Baxter returned the kick-off 75-yards for the touch down, giving AB its first lead of the night, 16-13.
• Just before the buzzer sounded to end the quarter, Willie Hopper took a handoff and scampered four yards for the score, pushing the Alderson Broaddus advantage to 23-13.

Fourth Quarter

• Neither team would score in the final quarter, but St. Thomas Aquinas would have several chances to get back into the game. However, a missed field goal, and thrown interception and several untimely penalties would allow the hosts to capture its first victory of the season.

UP NEXT

STAC visits CSFL North Division opponent Mansfield University on Saturday, October 8. Kick-off is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. at Karl Van Norman Field in Mansfield, Pa.