The Goose has gotten loose early and often this season, as the Saints have posted record-breaking numbers. Photo by Joe Humphries

Madden NFL and even classics like Tecmo Bowl, 10-Yard Fight and John Elway’s Quarterback – no matter what system or era you like, Thomas More College is off to a video game-like start to the season.

The Saints have run roughshod over their first four opponents by a combined 237-33 margin. That equates to 59.4 points per game, which ranks second in the country. The team’s offense averages 554 yards per outing.

Sure, Thomas More put up a program-best 12 touchdowns and 84 points on Hanover (0-3), but the Saints drilled St. John Fisher, 48-0, which was ranked No. 19 at the time. They crushed Thiel, 60-12, and only topped Westminster, 45-14.

So, what’s the deal?

“We don’t go out there and expect to put up 60 or 70 points. We’re going out each week trying to go 1-0,” Thomas More senior receiver Goose Cohorn said. “We have a lot of veterans on both sides of the ball. Especially on the offensive side of the ball, we’ve gotten off to a great start. It’s fun. We’re looking forward to continuing that.”

While the numbers have been unreal for the Saints, it probably should not be a total surprise.  Eight starters are back from an offense that averaged 45 points and 533.8 yards per game last year. When Regis Scafe took over as head coach in the offseason, he did not have a reason to change much with that group.

“Trevor Stellman is our offensive coordinator and he’s been here for a number of years. I liked what they were doing,” Scafe said. “They had a lot of veterans back, too. We’re running the same offense. I think the difference is we have a lot of guys back who know the system. They’re determined and focused on having a great season.”

The Saints’ offensive onslaught is happening without the services of graduated all-everything running back Domonique Hayden, who rushed for 5,461 yards in his collegiate career and owns nearly every program rushing record.

“It’s more balanced, as far as who is contributing. It’s hard to replace a guy like Domonique,” Scafe said. “Everybody is kind of picking up the slack; we have a nice group of backs with different styles.”

Sophomore C.T. Tarrant, who rushed for 745 yards last year, leads the team with 367 yards. Freshman Hjavier Pitts is next with 248 yards.

“C.T. is more north-south. He has great quickness and can burst through the holes,” Scafe said. “Hjavier Pitts is more of a shifty guy. He’ll cut two or three times; sometimes he cuts too much, but he finds the open areas. It’s a nice contrast for us.”

Thomas More’s passing game has been equally as effective. Senior quarterback Jensen Gebhardt has passed for 959 yards, while sophomore Brenan Kuntz threw for 364 more. Senior receivers Tyler Vogelpohl (91.3) and Cohorn (102) average nearly 100 yards receiving per fray.

“We just have so many weapons on the offensive side of the ball, I think defenses don’t really know who to key on. We have so many weapons,” Cohorn said. “Daylin Garland, Tyler and myself at receiver and some backs come in and make some plays. Jensen Gebhardt being a four-year starter at quarterback is huge. I think everyone is clicking on all cylinders.”

Cohorn has been rewriting the team’s record books as well. He set the program’s single-game receiving yardage mark (216) and added a program-tying 10 catches in the win over Thiel. He became the program’s career reception leader this year, too.

“I couldn’t thank the guys around me enough; I couldn’t do it without them,” Cohorn said. “My focus is on winning the PAC and not any numbers. We have more than 20 seniors and that’s our focus.”

Of course, the Saints’ defense has been outstanding as well.

“Our defense is just incredible. Going up against them in practice, that’s what makes the games a litter easier,” Cohorn said. “When you’re going up against a top-10 defense like ours, it pushes us on the offensive side of the ball to bring it every day.”

Game of the week

No. 8 Wabash broke a two-game skid to NCAC rival No. 24 Wittenberg with a 42-14 win. The Little Giants led, 21-14, after three quarters, but blew the game open with 21 points in the final frame to post the home triumph.

The defeat ended the Tigers’ 23-game NCAC spree. Wittenberg doesn’t get much time to regroup as it welcomes Wooster before hitting the road again for another huge conference clash at DePauw, which is 3-0.  

Lighting up the scoreboard

Speaking of powerful offenses, No. 2 Mount Union continued to roll with a 61-0 win over Marietta for its third shutout in a row. Taurice Scott passed for 279 yards and two touchdowns. The Purple Raiders average 587.3 yards per game.

Lighting up the scoreboard 2

Ohio Wesleyan and Oberlin combined for 97 points in the Battling Bishops’ 55-42 win over the Yeomen.

Ohio Wesleyan built a 27-0 lead in the first quarter. Jesse Beachy’s 40-yard TD run and Mason Tomblin’s 25-yard return of a blocked punt sandwiched around a pair of Dominick Orsini 37-yard TD passes. The Bishops’ lead swelled to 48-12 in the third quarter, but the Yeomen responded with a 30-point final frame.

Close call

No. 11 John Carroll hung on for a 17-14 road win over upset-minded Baldwin Wallace in the Cuyahoga Gold Bowl. The Blue Streaks built a 17-7 lead late in the third, but the Yellow Jackets cut it to 17-14 three seconds into the fourth. On their last drive, they reached the John Carroll 40-yard line, but turned the ball over on downs on a fourth-and-four play with 1:08 to go.

What to watch

No. 13 Washington and Jefferson treks to No. 12 Thomas More on Saturday for the PAC’s biggest game of the season. This is the de facto conference title game, much like Wittenberg-Wabash last week in the NCAC.

The Saints (4-0) have been rolling (see above), while the defending-champion Presidents (3-0) haven’t been too shabby, either. Washington and Jefferson is coming off a bye, though. How much does an extra week of preparation benefit the squad? Or does being off a week so early in the season act as a negative? Can the Presidents contain Thomas More? Have we seen the best of W&J yet? So many questions – we’ll find out Saturday. 

In the polls

No. 2 Mount Union (3-0) cruised to a 61-0 win at Marietta. The Purple Raiders return home to face Capital.

No. 8 Wabash (3-0) defeated NCAC rival No. 24 Wittenberg. The Little Giants play host to Hiram. Wittenberg (2-1) battles Wooster.

No. 11 John Carroll hung on to defeat Baldwin Wallace. It’s the Blue Streaks’ second game in a row decided by a touchdown or less. They welcome Ohio Northern, which only lost to Baldwin Wallace, 28-27.

No. 12 Thomas More posted a 45-14 win at Westminster. The Saints have No. 13 Washington & Jefferson at home. The Presidents did not play last week.