BEAVER FALLS, Pa. - The Westminster College football team absorbed a season-ending loss at Geneva, 29-26, Saturday at Reeves Field. The Titans finish the season with a 5-5 record while Geneva wins its fourth straight game to also finish at 5-5.
Westminster's 5-5 record, including a 5-0 mark at home, gives the program its 52nd non-losing season in the last 58 years. The Titans also finish in a third-place tie with Grove City in the Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC). Geneva is a provisional PAC member and its games do not count in the league standings.
The Titans fell behind early as the Golden Tornadoes took a 10-0 lead before Westminster ran an offensive play. The Titans fumbled the kickoff and turned the ball over after Geneva running back Matt Barge scored on a 36-yard touchdown run. Westminster could only hold Geneva to a 40-yard Nick DiPietro field goal.
Barge led all rushers with 19 carries for 128 yards and a touchdown.
Westminster waged within three points on two occasions (13-10 and 16-13) and two points (22-20) with 6:46 left in the third quarter, but an 88-yard touchdown run by Geneva running back Gerard Muschette on the first play of a drive gave the Golden Tornadoes a 29-20 lead. Westminster could not cut into the Geneva lead until the last play of the game when junior quarterback Kevin Franz (Finleyville, Pa./Thomas Jefferson) threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to classmate receiver Jon Gubish (Pittsburgh, Pa./Northgate) as time expired.
Gubish's first career touchdown came on the 83th reception of his career. With 10 catches for 91 yards in the game, Gubish set the school record for receptions in a season with 64, surpassing Tim McNeil's mark of 61catches in 14 games of the 1994 season.
Franz also set a single-season record in the game after completing 22 of 40 passes for 203 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. Franz's 230 completions this year eclipsed James Graham's previous record of 218 in 1999.
After Geneva held a 10-0 lead, Westminster and Geneva traded field goals, first Westminster freshman Trevor Young (Ellwood City, Pa./Riverside) with a 25-yarder and then DiPietro with a 22-yarder to give the Golden Tornadoes a 13-3 lead.
Westminster back-up quarterback Shawn Lehocky (Conway, Pa./Freedom) then scored on a 1-yard touchdown run to make it 13-10 before the Titans and GT's again traded field goals, DiPietro from 24 and Young from 25, resulting in Geneva leading 16-13 at halftime.
Geneva took a 22-13 lead when Brian Dvorsak caught a 31-yard touchdown pass from quarterback David Girardi. The extra point failed and Westminster scored on the ensuing possession when Franz threw a 9-yard touchdown pass to freshman receiver Justin Morgano (Pittsburgh, Pa./Brentwood).
Girardi threw for 162 yards on 8-of-18 passing and one touchdown while Dvorsak led the GT's with four catches for 114 yards.
Both teams exchanged punts before Muschette popped the long touchdown run with 13:26 left in the game. Still with time, Westminster punted on its next possession and on its second possession after Geneva took a 29-20 lead Marcus Costanza intercepted Franz at the Geneva 26-yard line. Westminster later returned to the GT's 26-yard line but Geneva's Rich Kolesar broke up two passes to Gubish on third and fourth down with 2:01 left in the game to seal the win.
Geneva held a 393-324 advantage in total yards including a 231-81 rushing margin.
Westminster sophomore linebacker Jake Brown (Medina, Ohio/Medina) led the Titans with seven tackles (1 for loss) while senior defensive tackle Matt Jaworski (Bethel Park, Pa./Bethel Park) made six stops including two sacks. Derek McElhaney led the GT's with 12 tackles.
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 368 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.
