CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Westminster College football team lost a close Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) game to No. 25-nationally ranked Case Western Reserve University, 21-13, on the road Saturday night for the Titans' first loss of the season.
 
It was a defensive battle in the first half and Case Western Reserve (4-0, 3-0 PAC) led 7-0 at halftime. Westminster took a 13-7 lead after a pair of touchdown throws by Titan sophomore Cole Konieczka (Coraopolis, PA / Moon Area) both to senior Connor Cox (Ridge, MD / Leonardtown). A missed extra point on Westminster's second touchdown proved costly as the Spartans took a 14-13 lead with an early fourth quarter touchdown and held a one-point lead until another touchdown with less than two minutes left. Westminster fell to 4-1 overall and 3-1 in the conference.
 
Case Western took the opening possession down the field for the first points of the night with a three-yard touchdown rush by Donald Day III on 2^nd-and-goal, eating up over six minutes for the 13-play, 67-yard drive.
 
The Titan defense highlighted Case Western's first drive of the second quarter with two sacks, courtesy of senior Joey Lane (Frederick, MD / Oakdale) and junior Frank Antuono (New Castle, PA / Neshannock). Antuono's sack was on 3^rd-and-11. Antuono made another big defensive play on the Spartans' ensuing drive, stopping Day III a yard short on 4^th-and-three. The halt set up Westminster's best scoring opportunity of the half. From their own 31-yard line, the Titans marched down the field to Case Western's 15-yard line. The Titans, however, were unable to put points on the board following a missed 32-yard field goal attempt by freshman Tanner Dudek (Leechburg, PA / Leechburg Area), who was perfect in field goals coming into tonight's game. Westminster's defense again showed up big before halftime as Case Western took over at the Titans' 41-yard line following a fumble. The Spartans got to Westminster's 14-yard line, but a key tackle by senior Paul Gonzalez (Miami, FL / Florida Christian) kept Case Western's player in bounds to run out the clock.

All tied up in Cleveland! Titan sophomore Cole Konieczka finds senior Connor Cox for a 42-yard touchdown, tying the game at 7 at #25 Case Western Reserve! #titanpride

(video courtesy of Case Western Reserve) pic.twitter.com/fmZ7xPPO8G

— WC Titan Athletics (@WC_Titans) October 6, 2019

Gonzalez made his presence felt again on Case Western's first drive of the second half with a fumble recovery at Westminster's 27-yard line; Titan senior Garrett Bishop (Fombell, PA / Riverside) jarred the ball loose. The Titans took advantage of the turnover as Konieczka found Cox for a 42-yard touchdown pass on 3^rd-and-11 to tie the game at 7-7 with 7:13 left in the third. On Case Western's ensuing possession, the Titan defense caused a turnover on downs at their own 19-yard line. Five plays later, Konieczka connected again with Cox, this time from 70 yards for the score, setting a career-long for both. Following a missed extra point, Westminster led 13-7 with 1:28 on the clock.

Just like that, another Konieczka-Cox connection for a Westminster lead over #25 Case Western Reserve! This time from 70 yards, marking a career-high for both!

Westminster 13, #25 Case Western Reserve 7 | 4th Q. #titanpride

(video courtesy of Case Western Reserve) pic.twitter.com/i67TYK6bUl

— WC Titan Athletics (@WC_Titans) October 6, 2019

Case Western took a 14-13 lead with a touchdown early in the fourth quarter, after Drew Saxton found Colt Morgan for a 31-yard score with 11:39 on the clock. The Spartans got the ball back with an interception and drove the ball to Westminster's one-yard line. Once again, the Titan defense stepped up, stopping the Spartans from crossing the goal line on 4^th-and-goal as sophomore Bryce Thomas (Saint Marys, GA / Camden County) and Antuono tackled Day III for no gain. Westminster, down by one, was forced to go for it on 4^th-and-7 on its own four-yard line and Konieczka was unable to connect with sophomore Antwon Jones (Ocala, FL / Belleview). On the very next play, the Spartans extended their lead to 21-13 off a four-yard touchdown run by Day III. Westminster had one last chance to tie the game with just under two minutes to play, but turned the ball over on downs.
 
Cox set a career-mark with 172 receiving yards, the most by a Titan in a single game in 10 years (213 - Jon Gubish, 2009). Konieczka went 18-of-36 for 267 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. Konieczka was also sacked six times, including the first of the season. Case Western held Westminster to 19 yards rushing, its lowest since 2012 (15 vs. Thiel). Sophomore Ian Barr (State College, PA / State College Area) registered a game-high 12 tackles, one shy of a career-high. Senior Darius Doty (Greensburg, PA / Greensburg-Salem) added a career-best nine tackles, while Thomas and Lane each had eight tackles. Lane and Bishop both had two tackles for a loss (Bishop also had a forced fumble). Lane and Antuono both had a sack.
 
Westminster will next host Grove City College on Saturday, October 12 at 1 p.m. for its Homecoming game.