MEADVILLE, Pa. -- The Allegheny College football team blanked visiting Thiel College in its 2025 Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) opener, 26-0, in front of a capacity crowd under the lights Saturday at Frank B. Fuhrer Field.

Over 4,400 hundred fans packed the stands as the Gators (1-2, 1-0 PAC) broke through in the win column for the first time this fall, a fitting celebration for Allegheny's annual Blue and Gold Weekend. 

Workhorse running back Dominic Berarducci (Erie, Pa./McDowell) did much of the heavy lifting for the Gator offense against the Tomcats (0-3, 0-1 PAC). For the second consecutive week, Berarducci surpassed 100 yards on the ground as he carried the ball 24 times for a career-high 157 rushing yards. He also added four receptions for 33 yards and was responsible for three of Allegheny's four touchdowns.

To cap off the game's opening drive, Berarducci hauled in a swing pass out of the backfield and trotted into the endzone for an 11-yard touchdown reception. On a third and three from the 29-yard line near the end of the first quarter, the Erie native found a lane off the right tackle and down the sideline, which extended Allegheny's lead to 13-0. Berarducci nearly broke through for a 99-yard touchdown at the end of the third quarter, but was caught from behind after an explosive 57-yard scamper. He added one more short-yardage carry in the fourth quarter for the final Gator touchdown.

With Berarducci bulldozing his way through the Tomcats, Allegheny's defense preserved the shutout by forcing four turnovers. On the kickoff following the second touchdown, Landon Wayne (Albion, Pa./Northwestern) jarred the ball loose to give possession right back to the Gators. With Thiel driving towards paydirt on the Allegheny 10-yard line in the third quarter, Cory Holleran (Kill Buck, N.Y./Salamanca) intercepted Thiel quarterback Na'Jier Howard while diving out of bounds. Additionally, the fourth quarter featured a strip sack from Aizik Campbell (Mobile, Ala./Mary G. Montgomery) that halted the final Tomcat drive.

Inside the Box Score

• Allegheny produced 382 yards of total offense, as compared to only 141 yards by the Tomcats.
• The Gators averaged 6.3 yards per play, while Thiel only averaged a mere 2.5 yards per play.
• Most of Allegheny's yardage came on the ground, where the Gators racked up 225 total rushing yards.
• The Gators were efficient on third down with nine conversions on 15 attempts (60.0%).
• Beraducci ran for 157 yards and scored three total touchdowns.
• Carson Colucci (Brewster, Ohio/Fairless) completed 13-of-21 passes (62.0%) for 157 yards and one passing touchdown.
• Devin Larry (Loganville, Ga./Loganville Christian) was Colucci's primary target, as he hauled in five catches for 100 yards.
• Colucci's brother, linebacker Coltin Colucci (Brewster, Ohio/Fairless), logged a team-high seven tackles.
• Huriel Calice (Peabody, Mass./Phillips Academy Andover), Drew Evans (Erie, Colo./Erie), and Campbell each had one sack for the Allegheny defense.

News and Notes

• The Gators opened PAC action with a win for a third time in as many years.
• Allegheny's last shutout victory was a 49-0 decision over Kenyon College on October 19, 2019.
• Allegheny won five of its last six meetings in the all-time series against Thiel. 
• Berarducci ran for 100 yards for the third time in his career and the second time against Thiel.
• Holleran secured his first career interception in his third start in the secondary as a freshman.

Up Next
The Gators are home on Saturday, September 28, when they take on Geneva College at 2 p.m. as part of Allegheny's Hall of Fame Weekend.