Highlands graduate Davis Burleigh drilled a 32-yard field goal as time expired Saturday, Oct. 3, to give Thomas More a 24-21 Homecoming win over No. 25 Walsh in Crestview Hills.

The victory marked Thomas More’s first victory over a ranked opponent in its Division II era, according to the university's athletics department.

Burleigh, a redshirt junior who works at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, told LINK nky it was "the best feeling I've ever had on a football field," adding that nothing in his career compared to the game coming down to his foot.

The Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) named Burleigh its Football Special Teams Player of the Week on Monday, Oct. 5. He went 3-for-3 on extra points and averaged 58.0 yards on four kickoffs in addition to the walk-off winner.

Thomas More jumped ahead early. Quarterback Ben Chesser found A'Mari Wash for a first-quarter touchdown, then hit Jaidan Combs with 5:23 left in the second quarter to push the lead to 14-3. Walsh answered with a touchdown before halftime, cutting the Saints' lead to 14-10.

Neither team scored in the third quarter. Thomas More blocked a Walsh field goal attempt at the 11:15 mark.

Chesser connected with Ben Fay at the 12:33 mark of the fourth quarter to stretch the lead to 21-10. Walsh stormed back with a field goal and a touchdown capped by a two-point conversion, tying the game at 21 with 1:39 remaining.

Starting at their own 46-yard line, the Saints needed just 90 seconds. Chesser threw two incompletions before finding Numehnne Gwilly for 18 yards and Jonathan Cooper for five on first down. Kayleb Wagner ran for two yards, Chesser scrambled for 15, and Wagner lost a yard to set up Burleigh's kick.

It was Burleigh's first career walk-off field goal, LINK nky reported.

Head coach Chris Norwell told LINK nky the game-winning drive relied on taking what the defense offered, describing short throws against coverage protecting the deep half of the field.

Thomas More improved to 1-4 overall and 1-2 in the G-MAC. Walsh dropped to 4-1 and 2-1 in conference play. The Saints travel to Ohio Dominican on Saturday, Oct. 10, for a noon kickoff in Columbus.