NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. - The Westminster College football team scored three unanswered touchdowns in the third quarter to propel it to a 31-24 win over visiting Saint Vincent Saturday at Harold Burry Stadium. Saint Vincent led 10-0 through one quarter after Westminster came back to tie the game at 10-10 at halftime.
Junior quarterback Kevin Franz (Finleyville, Pa./Thomas Jefferson) orchestrated two 12-play touchdown drives, the first cutting Saint Vincent's lead to 10-7 as Franz pushed his was in for a touchdown from 2 yards out in the second quarter. After the Titans tied the game on a 28-yard field goal by junior Fred Romeo (Lowellville, Ohio/Poland Seminary) as time expired in the first half to tie the game, Franz marched the Titans 63 yards including a 6-yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Jordan Belosh (Edinboro, Pa./General McLane) with 9:03 remaining in the third quarter.
On Saint Vincent's ensuing drive, senior defensive end Andrew Robison (Hermitage, Pa./Wilmington) sacked Saint Vincent quarterback Kevin Corona and forced a fumble recovered by sophomore nose tackle Jeff Bever (Beaver Falls, Pa./Blackhawk) at the Titan 41-yard line.
Junior tailback Nick McKolosky (Johnstown, Pa./Westmont Hilltop) scampered 59 yards for a touchdown on the next play for the first of McKolosky's two third-quarter touchdowns. His second touchdown culminated Westminster's next drive (nine-plays, 62 yards) when McKolosky scored from 1 yard out. McKolosky finished with a season-high 30 carries for 146 yards and two scores. His 146 rushing yards is the second-most of his career (156 vs. Frostburg State in 2007).
With a firm 31-10 lead going into the third quarter, Saint Vincent added two late scores on a Mike Speal 76-yard interception return and Rob James catching a 14-yard touchdown pass from Jake Smith.
Saint Vincent scored on its first two drives of the game, both lasting six plays. Corona hit Jake Gabelt in stride for a 29-yard touchdown reception while Aaron Jones split the uprights with a 32-yard field goal at 7:35 of the first quarter.
The Titans outgained the Bearcats, 375-293, including rushing yard advantages of 132-87 and passing totals of 243-206.
Franz threw for over 200 yards for a third straight game as he completed 22 of 38 passes for 243 yards and a touchdown. Westminster junior wide receiver Jon Gubish (Pittsburgh, Pa./Northgate) tied a career and season with six catches and set a new career high with 91 receiving yards.
Saint Vincent's leaders included Corona completing 6 of 14 passes for 108 yards and a score and Smith making 9 of 22 for 63 yards and a TD. Each Bearcat signal-caller threw interceptions. Junior cornerback Mario Camerota (Cheswick, Pa./Springdale) and sophomore safety Daniel Joyce (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin), both of whom posted interceptions in last year's 48-7 win at Saint Vincent, recorded their third and second career interceptions, respectively.
Senior linebacker Jordan Blinn (Industry, Pa./Western Beaver) led the Titans with nine tackles, while Josh Diamond paced the Bearcats with 13 stops.
Westminster will play the first-ever game at Bank of Kentucky Field next Saturday when it travels to Thomas More for a 1:30 p.m. kickoff.
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.
