LATROBE, Pa. - The Westminster College football team won, 28-14, at Saint Vincent College on Saturday. Titan freshman quarterback Paul Columbo (Boca Raton, FL / West Boca Raton Community) threw three touchdown passes, helping Westminster win its second game of the last three contests.
Westminster (2-6, 2-4 PAC) scored first after Columbo found junior Cody Alward (Pittsburgh, PA / Keystone Oaks) for a 26-yard touchdown pass with 9:43 remaining in the first quarter. The play was set up by a 36-yard scamper by Columbo on third-and-four. The Titans led, 7-0, after an extra point by sophomore Justin Dahl (Cochranton, PA / Maplewood ). ÂÂ
The Titans extended their lead with 3:22 remaining in the first quarter after freshman quarterback Kimu Kim (Canfield, OH / Canfield) dove over the pile from one yard out on fourth-and-goal. Westminster led, 14-0, after a successful point-after-touchdown (PAT) by Dahl. Westminster had started the scoring drive at Saint Vincent's 44-yard line after senior Richard Ellebie (Farrell, PA / Kennedy Christian) forced a fumble which was recovered by classmate Chuck Sayre (Warren, OH / Howland).  ÂÂ
The Bearcats threatened to score on their ensuing drive, however an interception by freshman Todd Jeter (Monroeville, PA / Gateway) at the Titans' three-yard line halted the drive. Jeter blocked a field goal on Saint Vincent's following drive and had another interception on the Bearcats' first drive of the second half.
Saint Vincent (3-5, 3-3 PAC) got on the scoreboard with 5:14 remaining after Dustin Lowman connected with Andy Borgen from 26 yards out. An extra point by Morgan Porter cut the Titans' lead to 14-7. Westminster would take that lead into the locker room at halftime.
Columbo added to Westminster's lead with his second touchdown toss of the afternoon with 5:49 remaining in the third quarter. This time he found junior Taran Sifontes-Lavine (Pittsburgh, PA / Chartiers Valley) from 25 yards out. After another successful PAT by Dahl, the Titans led 21-7.
The Titans blocked Saint Vincent's punt on its next drive courtesy of Kim, setting up Westminster at the Bearcat's five-yard line. Columbo completed the trifecta two plays later with a five-yard touchdown pass to senior John Jones (New Wilmington, PA / Ligonier Valley) with 3:37 remaining in the quarter. The Titans led, 28-7, after a Dahl extra point.
The Bearcats scored the last touchdown of the day on their next drive with a two-yard run by Shavonta Craft with 21 seconds remaining in the third, cutting Westminster's lead to 28-14 after a Porter extra point.
Columbo finished the day 14-for-29 with 172 yards, three touchdowns, and zero interceptions. He also led the Titans rushing with 70 yards off 12 carries. Freshman Xavier Eubanks (Pompano Beach, FL / Northeast) led Westminster receiving with five receptions for 44 yards.
Titan sophomore Bill Shrock tied a game-high with a team-high nine tackles. Junior Justin Shaw (Monaca, PA / Central Valley) added eight tackles. Westminster junior punter Jacob Schnelbach (Pittsburgh, PA / Bishop Canevin) punted seven times for 264 yards (37.7 avg.), including a long of 51 and two kicks inside the twenty-yard line.
Westminster will host Grove City College on Senior Day next Saturday, Nov. 8, at 1 p.m.
***Updated Nov. 4
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.
