NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. - The Westminster College football team opened the 2006 season at home on Saturday, Sept. 2, with a 35-10 loss against Allegheny in non-conference action at Burry Stadium.
Westminster (0-1) turned the ball over six times, two inducing Allegheny touchdown drives, while the Gators protected the ball with no turnovers and outgaining the Titans 443-277 in total yardage.
Allegheny (1-0) held the ball for 10:33 of the 15 first-quarter minutes all while scoring two touchdowns, the first on a Dallas Robinson pass reception from Jimmy Savage from seven yards out, and the second on a Savage-to-James Jones connection from 29 yards out.
Savage threw for 230 yards on 16-of-32 passing and three touchdowns, while running back Mario Tarquinio rushed for 97 yards on 21 carries and two touchdowns. Tarquinio's first score was a 27-yarder in the second quarter, coming just four plays after Westminster freshman quarterback Chad Rosatelli (Clinton, Pa./Hopewell) threw an interception to Mateo Villa at the Titan 38-yard line.
Rossatelli spelled fellow classmate Kevin Franz (Finleyville, Pa./Thomas Jefferson) at quarterback. Franz was the first true freshman to start an opener for Westminster since 1967 (Dave Bierbach). Franz was 18-of-23 passing for 163 yards with one touchdown. Rossatelli was 4-of-8 for 29 yards and two interceptions.
Down 21-0 with 1:27 remaining in the half, Franz re-entered the game on Westminster's ensuing drive and engineered a nine-play, 86-yard scoring drive culminating with a 22-yard field goal by freshman Fred Romeo (Lowellville, Ohio/Poland Seminary).
Franz was 5-for-7 on the drive for 35 yards. Senior receiver Jake Buzard (West Middlesex, Pa./West Middlesex) snared two passes during drive from 12 and 5 yards out. He led the team with seven catches for 86 yards.
The Titans failed to trim the 21-3 halftime deficit as the Gators scored a pair of third-quarter touchdown, the first on a one-yard Tarquinio plunge and the second on a Jim Lieb reception for 24 yards from Savage.
Westminster was able to punch in a score before time expired in the fourth quarter, as Franz connected with junior Brett Ziegler (Somerset, Pa./Somerset) for a six-yard scoring connection. Ziegler caught seven balls in the game for 40 yards.
The Titan offense gathered 85 yards on the ground and 192 through the air. The leading rusher was another true freshman making his debut, as Nick McKolosky (Johnstown, Pa./Westmont Hilltop) toted the ball 14 times for 61 yards, despite a first-quarter fumble that led the Allegheny's second touchdown. McKolosky was the first Westminster freshman to start the opener at tailback since 1995 (Denny Flora).
Westminster sophomore defensive lineman Neil Falco (Pleasantville, Pa./Titusville) led the Titans with 12 tackles (seven solo and three for a loss of four yards). Sophomore linebacker Jordan Blinn (Industry, Pa./Western Beaver) also posted seven solo stops, finishing with 10 tackles for the game.
The Titans are off next week before traveling to Carnegie Mellon on Saturday, Sept. 16, for a noon kickoff against the Tartans.
Founded in 1852 and related to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Westminster College is ranked among national leaders in graduation rate performance, according to U.S. News Guide to America's Best Colleges, and is one of the most affordable national liberal arts colleges in Pennsylvania. Westminster is also honored as one of "The Best 361 Colleges" and "Best in the Northeast" by The Princeton Review, and was recognized by the Templeton Guide as a "Character Building College."
Nearly 1,600 students benefit from individualized attention from dedicated faculty, while choosing from 41 majors and nearly 100 organizations on the New Wilmington, Pa. campus.
