NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. - The Westminster College football team won its fourth-straight game after a 39-14 win over the visiting Saint Vincent Bearcats in a physical Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) contest Saturday afternoon.
Westminster's win guarantees its first winning season in 13 years since the Titans went 6-4 in 2002.
For the game, Westminster out-gained Saint Vincent 401 yards (254 rushing/147 passing) to 115 yards (8 rushing/107 passing). The Titans held a 24-9 first down-advantage.
Sophomores
Paul Columbo (Boca Raton, FL / West Boca Raton Community) and
Dominique McKinley (Greensburg, PA / Greensburg-Salem) rushed for 148 and 105 yards, respectively. Columbo accounted for three total touchdowns.
The Titans improved to 6-2 overall and 5-1 in the PAC, while the Bearcats dropped to 3-5 overall and 2-4 in the conference.
Saint Vincent had favorable field position for their second drive after getting the ball at Westminster's 31-yard line after a Titan fumble. The Titans held the Bearcats scoreless after freshman
Miguel Luis (Hollywood, FL / Mater Academy) blocked a 37-yard field goal attempt.
Westminster scored the lone touchdown of the first half in the beginning of the second quarter when Columbo found freshman
Ryan Kohler (Poland, OH / Springfield Local) for a five-yard touchdown pass, concluding a 16-play, 87-yard, 7:10 minute drive. This was Kohler's first collegiate career touchdown. Â Columbo connected with sophomore
Jordan Edwards (Florida City, FL / Coral Reef) for the two-point conversion, putting the Titans in front 8-0 with 13:09 on the clock.
On the third play of the second half, Columbo extended Westminster's lead to 14-0 after a 66-yard touchdown run. Westminster led 15-0 after an extra point by junior
Justin Dahl (Cochranton, PA / Maplewood) with 13:44 on the clock.
Westminster took a 29-0 lead in the third quarter after McKinley scored on an 18-yard run and Columbo found
Taran Sifontes-Lavine (Pittsburgh, PA / Chartiers Valley) for a seven-yard touchdown pass. Dahl connected on both extra points and put the Titans in front 32-0 with a 38-yard field goal in the beginning of the fourth quarter.
Westminster led 39-0 after Saint Vincent mishandled a punt in their own end zone and sophomore
Max Ungerman (Pittsburgh, PA / North Hills) recovered the ball in the end zone. Junior
Darious Walker (Aliquippa, PA / Aliquippa) forced the fumble. Dahl made the point-after-touchdown.
Saint Vincent spoiled the shutout with a touchdown five minutes left in the game. The Bearcats added another score on their next possession.
Junior
Mac Quinn (Pittsburgh, PA / Northgate) led the Titan defense with nine tackles, including two for a loss. Sophomore CJ Armstrong (Lake Worth, FL / Park Vista) added seven tackles and a game-high three for a loss. Senior
Darrin Donikowski (Erie, PA / Mercyhurst Prep) registered a game-high 1.5 sacks.
Westminster will next travel to Grove City College next Saturday with a 1:30 p.m. start time.