Grove City College Athletics

LORETTO, Pa. -- The Grove City College football team rolled up 432 yards and 25 first downs Saturday afternoon on the way to a 36-6 road victory over Saint Francis (0-1) in the Presidents' Athletic Conference opener at DeGol Field.

Freshman running back Nico Casciato (Irwin, Pa./Penn-Trafford) ran for a season-high 102 yards on 16 carries while senior running back Sutton Ellis (Brunswick, Ga./Frederica Academy) and sophomore quarterback Mike Hollomon (Princeton, N.J./The Pingry School) both ran for touchdowns.

Hollomon completed 19 of 35 passes for 239 yards and two touchdowns. Senior wide receivers Darviae Gray (Buffalo, N.Y./Amherst Central) and Sam Penna (Johnstown, Pa./Richland) both caught touchdown passes while senior Seth McGroerty (Middletown, Del./Red Lion Christian) led Grove City with six catches for 71 yards. Gray netted 72 yards on his three receptions.

Sophomore linebacker Andrew Moberg (Lancaster, N.Y./Lancaster) recorded eight tackles, a sack, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery to help lead the Grove City defense. Sophomore cornerback Cameron Epps (Pittsburgh, Pa./South Allegheny) intercepted a pass, his second theft of the season.

Penna gave Grove City a 7-0 lead at the conclusion of the game's first drive when he caught a 13-yard strike from Hollomon. That capped a 12-play, 73-yard drive that used 6:31.

The lead grew to 10-0 with 3:48 left in the quarter as sophomore kicker Brady Lane (Jefferson, Ga./Mill Creek) drilled a 27-yard field goal. 

Moberg's fumble recovery and return to the Saint Francis 35 set up the Wolverines' next touchdown. Ellis scored from the 3 on the eighth play of the drive, giving Grove City a 17-0 lead with 7:43 left in the half. 

Hollomon's three-yard keeper into the end zone extended the lead to 24-0 with 58 seconds left in the first half.

A bad snap resulted in a safety for Grove City in the third quarter as the lead swelled to 26-0. Gray caught a 28-yard touchdown pass with 18 seconds left in the third quarter. Senior kicker Devon Thomas (Beaver Falls, Pa./Blackhawk) closed Grove City's scoring by drilling a 42-yard field goal with 10:57 left in the game.

Sophomore wide receiver Kaden Spencer (Cabot, Pa./Knoch) added four receptions for 41 yards. 

Sophomore linebacker Aiden Kitts (Rancocas Valley, N.J./Rancocas Valley) and freshman linebacker Brayden Gerst (New Stanton, Pa./Hempfield) both recorded eight tackles. Grove City held Saint Francis to 202 total yards. 

Saturday's game does not count in the conference standings as Saint Francis is a provisional member of NCAA Division III. 

Grove City wlll host Bethany at 6 p.m. next Saturday in the annual Homecoming game at Robert E. Thorn Field.