BETHANY, W.Va. - The Westminster College football team suffered its third straight loss as the Titans fell at Bethany, 41-21, Saturday in Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) action at Bethany Field. The Bison snapped a five-game losing streak against Westminster.
Both teams are now 3-4 on the season and 1-3 in the PAC.
The two teams were tied 21-21 through three quarters and, after quarterback Milton Joyner scored his second rushing touchdown of the game on an 3-yard run with 9:43 remaining in the fourth quarter, the Titans committed two turnovers, a fumble and an interception on successive possessions, which proved decisive in the outcome.
Joyner, who also rushed for an 11-yard touchdown in the first quarter, led the Bison offense which racked up 504 yards of offense, including his 321 yards on 26-of-35 passing with two touchdowns and no interceptions.
Bethany receivers Matt Cruse (12-133) and Taylor McNeil (8-140) combined for 20 receptions and 273 yards.
The Bison scored first in each of the three quarters before the Titans answered with touchdowns, including scores in the first and second quarters by sophomore wide receiver/tailback Chad Rosatelli (Clinton, Pa./Hopewell) on pass receptions of 20 and 28 yards from sophomore quarterback Kevin Franz (Finleyville, Pa./Thomas Jefferson).
Franz scored on a 1-yard run in the third quarter, culminating Westminster's longest drive of the game, 11-plays, 67 yards over 5:38. The Titans amassed 403 yards of offense for the game.
Franz completed 20 of 32 passes for 270 yards, including four to Rosatelli for 55 yards and seven to senior Brett Ziegler (Somerset, Pa./Somerset) for 105 yards. Ziegler now has 121 career catches, moving him to fourth place on Westminster's all-time receptions list as he surpassed Lamont Boykins' mark of 115 grabs from 1980-83 during the game.
Sophomore tailback Nick McKolosky (Johnstown, Pa./Westmont Hilltop) compiled the second-most rushing yards of his career with 26 carries for 126 yards, as he eclipsed the 100-yard plateau for the third time this season.
Senior punter Dusty Rhodes (Niles, Ohio/Niles McKinley) punted four times for 169 yards (42.2), including two inside the Bethany 20-yard line and long of 56 yards to maintain his conference-leading and 15th-nationally-ranked average of 41.2.
Junior linebacker Jordan Blinn (Industry, Pa./Western Beaver) tied a team season high with 11 tackles to pace the Titan defense.
Westminster steps out of conference to play Frostburg State Saturday, Oct. 27, for a 1:30 p.m. kickoff at home.
About Westminster College...
Founded in 1852 and related to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Westminster College is ranked 15th among liberal arts colleges, according to the Washington Monthly 2007 Annual College Guide. Westminster is a national leader 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 366 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 undergraduate and graduate students benefit from individualized attention from dedicated faculty while choosing from 41 majors and nearly 100 organizations on the New Wilmington, Pa., campus.
