GREENVILLE — Steve Minton stood on the sideline, holding his helmet in his left hand, and waited.

The sophomore running back paced between the 30s as he watched his Thiel College teammates take care of Johns Hopkins easily, 28-3, in the first round of the NCAA Division III football playoffs.

It was a long afternoon for the Seneca Valley High School graduate, who in just two years has seared his name into the Tomcats' record book.

But he was out of action on Saturday with a sprained ankle as Thiel made its first playoff appearance and got its first playoff win in its 101-year history.

"It was a little rough," Minton said. "I did it just so I could get healthier and get back on the field. It was smart to just sit out and rest it."

Minton sprained his ankle in a 21-3 win over Buffalo State Nov. 5. He didn't play last week in Thiel's 50-48 triple overtime win against Carnegie Mellon, which sent the Tomcats into the playoffs with a 10-0 record.

The last two weeks have been an ordeal for Minton, who became the first Thiel running back in school history to surpass 1,000 yards rushing in a season.

Minton gained 1,065 yards before the injury and scored a school-record 18 touchdowns.

"My goal was to get 1,200," Minton said. "I owe it all to the O-line."

Mars graduate Ricky Gable, a junior right tackle for Thiel, has been part of a unit that has been opening gaping holes for Minton and his primary backup, Dan Hess.

Last week, Hess rushed for 169 yards and a touchdown and Saturday against Johns Hopkins, the freshman gained 147 yards.

"We are all on the same page and we all know where we are supposed to be," Gable said. "It doesn't matter who's running the ball. We'll do our job and they'll do theirs."

But it's no secret Thiel would rather have Minton back and running well again.

Minton rushed for 935 yards and seven touchdowns after taking over the starting tailback job in the third game of last season.

It was a surprising breakout season for Minton.

Did he think he would achieve so much success so early?

"No. Not at all," he said. "I thought it would come slowly. As soon as I got a chance, I ran with it last year."

And he ran with it this season.

He came in stronger and faster and bolted out of the gate. Minton rushed for 144 yards and four touchdowns in the season-opening 39-36 win over Ohio Wesleyan and racked up 110 yards and three more scores in a 42-0 blanking of Bluffton in Week 2.

"I hit the gym harder and wanted it more," Minton said. "I pushed myself harder this season."

Minton is already fifth on the all-time rushing list at Thiel. If he keeps up his rate of production, he will become the all-time leader early next season.

He is also second all-time with 25 rushing touchdowns.

"He's great to block for," Gable said. "He runs hard and he respects all his lineman, and we respect him. He does a great job."

The linemen are also thrilled with Thiel's rushing success.

Gable said he had no idea the Tomcats had never produced a 1,000-yard rusher until Minton eclipsed the mark against Buffalo State.

"It's great for the school, great for him and great for us," Gable said. "It hasn't happened in 100 years, so we must be doing something right. You'd figure over 101 football seasons, there would be somebody to do it. But there hasn't until now."