NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. - The Westminster College football team nearly pulled out the upset against Waynesburg University in Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) action at home on Saturday. The Titans had a chance to win the game as they were only five points behind late in the fourth quarter. Westminster had the ball at the Yellow Jackets' three-yard line on an untimed down after a penalty on Waynesburg, however the desperation Titan pass sailed high into the back of the end zone. Waynesburg held on for a 26-21 win.
The loss marked the third time this season that Westminster's opponent secured the go-ahead score with less than one minute remaining in the game.
Titan freshman quarterback Paul Columbo (Boca Raton, FL / West Boca Raton Community) had a game-high 295 yards through the air as he went 23-for-41 with three touchdowns and an interception. Freshman Khurazze Williams (Lakeworth, FL / Santaluces Community) led Westminster with a game-high 128 receiving yards, his second-straight game that he has eclipsed the 100-yard receiving mark. Titan senior free safety Jared Heck (Pittsburgh, PA / North Hills) had a game-high two interceptions, both in Waynesburg's end zone. He was an interception shy of tying a school-record for most interceptions by an individual in a single game. Heck now has five interceptions on the season, which is two short of a fifth-place tie in school history for most interceptions in a single season.
Waynesburg scored first on its first possession after quarterback Carter Hill found Willie Leavell for a 14-yard touchdown. The scoring drive took 7 plays and covered 68 yards. The Yellow Jackets led 6-0 after a missed extra point.
The Titans went in front after their first score late in the first quarter. Columbo connected with senior tight end John Jones (New Wilmington, PA / Ligonier Valley) for an 11-yard touchdown. Jones caught the ball inside the five-yard line and managed to get the ball inside the pylon. Sophomore Justin Dahl (Cochranton, PA / Maplewood) put Westminster ahead after a successful extra point.
The Yellow Jackets threatened on their next drive with first-and-goal at the Titans' eight-yard line, however Heck halted the drive with an interception in the end zone. Waynesburg would get the ball back after forcing Westminster to a three-and-out and this time would find the paint. Hill found Zac Capan for a 15-yard score with 6:50 remaining in the half. The Yellow jackets led, 13-7, after a point-after-touchdown by Scott Lewis.
Westminster quickly regained the lead on its ensuing possession with only four plays. A Columbo-Williams connection for 39 yards set up a five-yard touchdown pass from Columbo to junior Benny Walter (Pittsburgh, PA / Brentwood). A Dahl extra point put the Titans in front, 14-13, with 5:23 remaining in the second quarter.
Waynesburg responded with a 9-play, 69-yard drive, capped off with a touchdown pass from Hill to Andrew English from six yards out. A successful extra point by Lewis put the Yellow Jackets back in front, 20-14, with 36 seconds remaining in the second quarter.
The Yellow Jackets looked to extend their lead on their first possession of the second half with fourth-and-four at Westminster's seven-yard line, however Heck once again picked off a pass in the end zone. The Titans were unable to capitalize as their next drive ended on an interception on second-and-15 from Waynesburg's 17-yard line.
The Titan defense stopped Waynesburg on downs after the Yellow Jackets had good field position at Westminster's 30-yard line which set up the Titans' final score of the day. Columbo tossed his third touchdown pass, this one to freshman Xavier Eubanks (Pompano Beach, FL / Northeast) from five yards out. Williams highlighted the drive with a 47-yard catch which put the Titans inside the Yellow Jacket's 10-yard line.
The Yellow Jackets followed with their go-ahead score with a 1-yard run by Hill with 45 seconds remaining in regulation.
Jake Forsythe led Waynesburg with a game-high 222 yards rushing. The Yellow Jackets out-rushed the Titans, 216-77. Hill went 19-for-33 with two interceptions and three touchdowns. Kyle Richey led Waynesburg with a game-high nine tackles. Eubanks registered a game-high six receptions for Westminster, while four Titans had a team-high six tackles.
Westminster is off this next week and will be back in action Saturday, Nov. 1, when it travels to Saint Vincent College for a 1 p.m. game time.
About Westminster College...
Founded in 1852 and related to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Westminster College is a top-tier liberal arts college and a national leader in graduation rate performance, according to U.S. News Best Colleges guide. Westminster is also honored as one of "The Best 379 Colleges" 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.
