WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. - The Westminster College football team surrendered 23 unanswered points in the second half and lost its first game of the season, 40-10, at Lycoming Saturday in nonconference action. Westminster falls to 1-1 on the season and the Warriors improve to 1-1.
Westminster trailed 14-0 before running an offensive play, but the Titans were able to whittle the deficit to 17-10 at halftime.
Lycoming quarterback Zach Klinger threw a 31-yard touchdown pass to Ryan Wagaman on the Warriors' first play from scrimmage after Parker Sowers returned the opening kickoff 58 yards. The Titans fumbled away the ensuing kickoff and Klinger capped off a seven-play, 37-yard drive with a 20-yard touchdown strike to Mark Ryan to put Lycoming up 14-0.
Klinger finished the game with 158 yards on 13-21 passing with two touchdowns. Wagaman snared five passes for 63 yards and a score.
Lycoming outgained Westminster, 466-254, in total yards as running back Josh Kleinfelter rushed 33 times for 209 yards and two touchdowns.
Westminster scored its lone touchdown with 1:20 remaining in the first half when freshman wide receiver Collin Wallace (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley) caught his first career touchdown pass, a 17-yarder from junior quarterback Shawn Lehocky (Conway, Pa./Freedom).
Wallace finished with four catches for 57 yards as one of three Titan receivers with four receptions. Sophomores Connor Kobis (Elma, N.Y./Bishop Timon-St. Jude) and sophomore Geno Pasquinelli (Salem, Ohio/Salem) were the others with 22 and 20 yards, respectively.
Lehocky completed 19 of 31 passes for 156 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Lehocky also rushed for 19 yards on seven attempts, two of which were sacks.
Sophomore running back Logan Belinda (Pennsylvania Furnace, Pa./State College) led the Titans on the ground with nine carries for 48 yards, both career highs.
Junior kicker Trevor Young (Ellwood City, Pa./Riverside) put the Titans on the scoreboard with a 20-yard field goal that cut the Lycoming lead to 14-3.
Sophomore defensive back Derrick Orloski (Butler, Pa./Slippery Rock) led the Titans with a career-high 10 tackles. Chuck Bellitto led the Warriors with 11 tackles (1.5 for loss).
Westminster hosts its first home game and Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) game next Saturday for a 1 p.m. kickoff.
About Westminster College...
Founded in 1852 and related to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Westminster College is a top tier liberal arts college, a national leader in graduation rate performance, and a "Great School, Great Price," according to U.S. News Best Colleges guide. Westminster ranked 38th among liberal arts colleges, according to the Washington Monthly College Guide, and is one of the most affordable national liberal arts colleges in Pennsylvania. Westminster is also honored as one of "The Best 373 Colleges" and "Best in the Northeast" by The Princeton Review, and is named to the President's Honor Roll for excellence in service learning.
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. Visit www.westminster.edu/advantage to view "Advantage: Westminster" A Strategic Plan 2010-2020.
