Thomas scores 3 TDs in DC's convincing win over Madonna on Senior Day

DEFIANCE, Ohio – The Defiance Yellow Jackets churned out a season-high 271 yards rushing to put away the Madonna Crusaders 56-34 in DC's home finale at Justin F. Coressel Stadium on Saturday.

The Yellow Jackets (3-7, 1-3 Mideast) weathered a chaotic start to the game but gained control to snap a 7-game drought and earned their first Mideast League win.

The special teams units left a mark on the first quarter, setting the stage for an unorthodox start. The first points of the game were scored by Madonna shortly after Defiance muffed a punt return, which handed the Crusaders the football inside the red zone. On third down from 16 yards away, Kwame Miller rumbled into the end zone for his first of four scores on the day. After the made PAT, the Crusaders opted to try an onside kick but DC recovered with prime field position at the Madonna 45. The Yellow Jackets then marched the short field for a game-tying touchdown run by Tristan Thomas.

DC's defense stepped up next to capture their first lead of the day. On Madonna's first play following the Defiance touchdown, Miller dropped a handoff, which was scooped up by Tyshawn Woodson and returned for a go-ahead, 40-yard touchdown. After trading scoreless possessions, Defiance punted the ball back to Madonna and committed a costly penalty on the return. Madonna was awarded starting field position at DC's 27-yard line and scored on the fourth play of the drive, but DC knocked down the PAT to maintain a 14-13 lead.

Defiance extended their lead through the second quarter after a brief tie, highlighted by another defensive score in a 43-yard interception return touchdown by Jay Graves. Miller answered right back for Madonna with a 75-yard rush and a game-tying 2-point conversion. However, Madonna was held to just 19 yards of offense for the remainder of the half. Offensively for Defiance, Thomas' second touchdown pushed Defiance in front for good. Later in the second quarter, Myles Tackett caught a 41-yard touchdown to go ahead by two scores.

The Yellow Jackets remained in the driver's seat throughout the second half. Thomas made it a hat-trick for rushing score to start the second half, capping off a quick 4-play drive with a 41-yard touchdown. DC scored two more times on the ground during the fourth quarter by Tevin Lewis-Johnson and Teon Hill. Madonna's Miller also finished his big day with two more touchdowns in the second half, giving him one in all four quarters

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• The Defiance offense scored their most points in a game this season, breaking the 50-point barrier for the first time this year and first time since beating Madonna 55-27 last season.
• Tristan Thomas became the first Yellow Jacket to score 3 touchdowns in a game this season. His 109 yards accounted for his second 100-yard game of the year while also racking up 36 yards through the air.
• Cameron Turner gave Defiance their full complement of rushing attacks with 88 rushing yards of his own with a long run of 30.
• As a team, Defiance ran for a season-high 271 yards. The Yellow Jackets are now 3-0 with 200 yards or more this year.
• The Yellow Jackets also racked up 474 yards of total offense, the team's fifth game over 400 yards.
• Ethan Thanthanavong continued his efficient season passing the football, completing 14-of-21 attempts for 203 yards. The freshman signal caller has completed 65.9 percent of his throws this year for nearly 1500 yards.
• His top target on Saturday was tight end Myles Tacket, who caught two passes for 47 yards. His 41-yard touchdown grab was his first college scoring reception.
• Tawann Rome recorded the longest play from scrimmage for Defiance with a 43-yard reception that fueled a go-ahead score by Thomas to break a 21-21 tie in the second quarter.
• Defensively, Christian Jackson and Hunter Coltrain each logged 7 tackles. 
• Dominic Harris recorded 1.5 sacks to increase his season total to 8.5.
• Jay Graves' interception returned for a touchdown was DC's second defensive score of the year.
• In the kicking game, Carson Marroquin went a perfect 8-for-8 on PATs and missed a 37-yard field goal attempt.

UP NEXT
The Yellow Jackets finish the season at Lawrence Tech next Saturday with a 1 p.m. kickoff against the Blue Devils.

-JACKETS-