By Dave Schutte
Enquirer contributor

CRESTVIEW HILLS, Ky. - The Bridge Bowl Trophy remained on the Kentucky side of the Ohio River.

Led by Justin Frisk's running, Scott Garver's passing and a bend-don't-break defense, Thomas More defeated Mount St.Joseph 30-7 Saturday.

It was the Division III teams' seventh meeting and their first since 1995. Thomas More has won all of the games.

The injury-plagued Frisk proved to be the Saints' unexpected star. Thomas More racked up 317 total yards, 217 on the ground.

"This is my final game, and I was only expecting to get in for one play," said Frisk, who rushed for 160 yards on 33 carries. "I missed the last two games and I'm thankful to close out my career with a good game."

Said Saints coach Dean Paul: "I could sense during the (pregame) warmups that Justin's adrenaline was running high. His ankle was sore, but I could tell he wanted to go."

Although Frisk didn't score, the 5-foot-10, 205-pound senior pounded into the Lions' line time after time.

"The ankle popped a few times during the game, but I kept going," Frisk said. "Coach Paul gave me a chance to play, but the thing I'm proudest of is that I'm only two semesters away from getting my degree."

Thomas More's defense, which hadn't allowed a touchdown in its previous 10 quarters, set the game's tone in the first quarter.

After Mount St.Joseph drove to the Saints' 13-yard line on its first possession, Thomas More held the Lions on a fourth-and-inches play.

"That was a big confidence-builder for us," Paul said. "We gave up some yards today, but overall the defense played well and came up with some big plays."

One of those big plays was turned in by lineman Nick Rice, who blocked a Mount St.Joseph punt at the 5. Rice quickly got up and recovered the ball in the end zone for the Saints' first score.

Garver, who completed seven of 21 passes for 100 yards, gave Thomas More a 14-0 lead with a perfect TD strike to Rich Honaker with 13:51 remaining before halftime.

Mount St.Joseph struck back with Mike Dane's 21-yard scoring pass to Andy Wellendorf, but Jeff Runion made it 17-7 for Thomas More on his 23-yard field goal with 11 seconds remaining in the half.

The Saints scored a touchdowns in the third and fourth quarters to close out the scoring.

Although Thomas More allowed 216 yards rushing and 199 passing, it let the Lions score only once in four red-zone chances.

Dane completed 10 of 32 passes for 178 yards.

"We'll play again next year," Paul said. "(MSJ coach) Rod (Huber) and I talked before the game, and as long as we're coaching, the game will be played. They've come a long way and have an outstanding program."

Mount St. Joseph	0	7	0	0	-7
Thomas More	7	10	6	7	-30
T-Rice fumble recovery in end zone (Runion kick) T-Honaker 7 pass from Garver (Runion kick) M-Wellendorf 21 pass from Dane (Marakchi kick) T-Runion 23 FG T-Ritter 18 pass from Garver (kick failed) T-Honaker 8 pass from Garver (Runion kick) Records: TM 7-3, MSJ 5-5