NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. - The Westminster College football team lost, 21-14, in overtime to Bethany College in both team's Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) opener on Saturday at Harold Burry Stadium.

Titan freshman quarterback Paul Columbo (Boca Raton, FL / West Boca Raton Community) scored both of Westminster's touchdowns on the ground, while classmate linebacker CJ Armstrong (Lake Worth, FL / Park Vista) led the defense with a career-high 10 tackles, including 3.5 tackles for a loss.

A school-record 18 penalties proved costly for Westminster.

The Titans (0-3, 0-1 PAC) scored first on their first possession after they capitalized off a Bison turnover. Bethany muffed a 57-yard punt from Westminster junior Jake Schnelbach (Pittsburgh, PA / Bishop Canevin) and the Titans took over after Titan sophomore Bill Shrock (Mars, PA / Mars Area) recovered the ball at Bethany's 18-yard line. Columbo drove the Titans to the end zone following a 12-yard pass to classmate Xavier Eubanks (Pompano Beach, FL / Northeast) and a six-yard rush across the goal line for his first rushing touchdown of the season. The Titans led, 7-0, after an extra point from sophomore Justin Dahl (Cochranton, PA / Maplewood).  

Bethany (2-1, 1-0 PAC) responded with a 10-play, 76-yard drive which was capped off with a 22-yard pass from sophomore quarterback Brian Vales to junior Eric Blinn with 10:23 to play in the first quarter. The Bison tied it, 7-7, after an extra point from freshman Chris Ray.

The Bison's ensuing possession was halted when Armstrong stopped Vales from getting a first down on fourth-and-five on Westminster's 40 with 6:02 on the clock. The Titans once again took advantage of a Bison turnover as they drove down the field in six plays for a touchdown after Columbo ran from 28 yards out. The drive was also highlighted by an 18-yard rush by freshman Dominique McKinley (Greensburg, PA / Greensburg-Salem) and a 17-yard catch by Eubanks. Dahl's extra point put the Titans in front 14-7 with three minutes remaining in the quarter.

Midway through the third quarter, Bethany sacked Columbo for a 13-yard loss on fourth down at the Bison's 43-yard line with 6:15 on the clock. Bethany scored six plays later from a 1-yard rush by Vales on second-and-goal.  Ray's point after tied the game at 14-14 with 5:19 remaining.

In overtime, Bethany went on offense first and scored when sophomore Jalen Holmes ran it in from 14 yards out. The Bison sealed the win when the Titans' desperation pass on fourth-and-15 from Bethany's 19 yard-line came up short.

Bethany held a 364-332 total offense advantage.

Eubanks had team- and career-highs of six catches and 75 yards receiving. Columbo went 16-for-33 for 179 yards through the air with two interceptions, while adding 65 yards off 14 carries on the ground. Titan senior Jared Heck (Pittsburgh, PA / North Hills) had a career-high two interceptions, including one near the end zone that ended Bethany's last drive in the fourth quarter with 12 seconds remaining. Freshman Todd Jeter (Monroeville, PA / Gateway) came down with an interception in the end zone on the Bison's drive before when Bethany was threatening to take the lead on Westminster's 17-yard line with 1:32 on the clock. The Titans were unable to capitalize as they turned the ball over on seond-and-13 on Bethany's 41-yard line.

Westminster will travel to nationally ranked Thomas More next Saturday. Game time is set for 1:30 p.m.

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.