BETHANY, W. Va. – The Westminster College football team won, 38-9, over Bethany College on the road in its Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) opener on Saturday.
 
Westminster improved to 3-0 on the season, its best start since 1997. The Bison dropped to 1-3 overall and 0-2 in the conference.
 
Junior Paul Columbo (Boca Raton, FL / West Boca Raton Community) scored on Westminster's first drive of the game with a six-yard run. The Titans successfully converted on the two-point conversion with a pass to junior Dylan Goff (Beaver, PA / Beaver) and led 8-0 with 12:10 on the clock.
 
Westminster extended its lead in the second quarter after Columbo found sophomore Bryson Paulinellie (DuBois, PA / Dubois Area) for a one-handed 12-yard touchdown catch. The Titans missed the extra point and led 14-0 with 10:03 on the clock. Bethany got on the board following a field goal by Chris Ray with 7:09 remaining in the half, cutting Westminster's lead to 14-3.  Senior Justin Dahl (Cochranton, PA / Maplewood) connected on a 39-yard field goal, putting Westminster in front 17-3, with 4:30 to go in the frame.
 
In the third quarter, Bethany scored its only touchdown of the game when Raekwon Wright ran it in from 22 yards, bringing Westminster's lead to 17-9 with 11:30 remaining.  On the Titans' ensuing possession, sophomore Bill Madeja (Pittsburgh, PA / Brentwood) scored his team-best fourth touchdown of the season with a 1-yard rush, capping off a 9-play, 75-yard drive. The extra point by Dahl, put Westminster ahead 24-9 with 7:15 remaining in the third.
 
In the fourth quarter, Paulinellie added his second touchdown on the night with a 50-yard punt return with 4:46 remaining in the game. Dahl's extra point brought the Titans' lead to 31-9.
 
Junior Joseph Salmen (New Castle, PA / Union Area) scored the final Titan touchdown, the first of his collegiate career, after a six-yard run with 1:03 on the clock.
 
Westminster out-gained Bethany 372 yards (205 rushing/167 passing) to 221 yards (127 rushing/94 passing).
 
Junior Dominique McKinley (Greensburg, PA / Greensburg-Salem) had a game-high 96 yards on 22 carries, and surpassed Joe DeGruttola (1985-88) for seventh all-time in career rushing yards with 1,906.

Columbo passed Dak Britt (2013-14) for seventh all-time with 3,884 passing yards, after going 13 of 22 with 167 yards and a score.
 
Westminster sophomore tight end Anthony Livoti (Altoona, PA / Bishop Guilfoyle) set career-highs as he tied a game-high five catches for a game-high 71 yards.
 
Senior Bobby Noble (Greensburgh, PA / Greensburg Central Catholic) led the Titan defense with eight tackles, including 1.5 sacks and 2.5 tackles for a loss. Senior Mac Quinn (Pittsburgh, PA / Northgate) added seven tackles with 1.5 for a loss. Junior Tyler Beatrice (Monaca, PA / Central Valley) and freshman Joey Lane (Frederick, MD / Oakdale) each had a sack, while David Jamieson (Brookfield, OH / Brookfield) earned a half sack. Junior Todd Jeter (Monroeville, PA / Gateway) blocked an extra point attempt.
 
Westminster will next host nationally-ranked Thomas More College on Saturday, October 1 at 1 p.m.