NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. – Although his Westminster College football team posted a pair of 42-point performances, Titans' taskmaster Scott Benzel continues to seek improvement.
" … We're building now … we're getting there," Benzel observed following Westminster's 42-14 win against Allegheny College in the Presidents' Athletic Conference opener.
Westminster (1-0 PAC, 2-1 overall) went for 550 total yards against the Gators, keyed by senior signal-caller Cole Konieczka's 327-yard, 3-touchdown passing performance. Konieczka (Coraopolis, Pa./Moon Area High) orchestrated the offense to 26 first downs in 34-plus minutes of possession time.
A week earlier Westminster beat Bethany College (42-3) led by Konieczka and his classmate, running back Ryan Gomes (Tampa, Fla./Walter L. Sickles High), who rushed for 183 yards and 2 TDs.
"It was good to see (uniform number) 'two' take over a game," Benzel said in praise of Konieczka. "He's experienced, and that's what we expect from him.
"Allegheny loaded the box, and at that point we've gotta be able to show teams that if you do that we can make you pay, and we're gonna do that," added Benzel from the Harold Burry Stadium/Memorial Field turf.
The Titans are tallying 30.7 points-per-game, while pacing the PAC, yielding only 13 ppg. That defense has been led by senior end Brayden Thimons (Natrona Heights, Pa./Highlands High), senior linebackers Ian Barr (State College, Pa./State College High) and Nick Treloar (New Castle, Pa./New Castle High), and sophomore secondary-men Brice Butler (Farrell, Pa./Farrell High) and Kevin Wright (West Palm Beach, Fla./Seminole Ridge High).
Gomes is second in the circuit in rushing (103.7 yards/game), while Konieczka has connected on 54.5% of his pass attempts for 581 yards and 6 scores and a QB efficiency rating pf 117.8. His top target, junior Tylon Eilam (Sharon, Pa./Sharon HIgh) is averaging 16.1 yards/catch on a dozen receptions, including a trio of TDs.
"It's important, I think in 2022, you have to be multiple," said Benzel (9th season, 58-25, 70%). "I don't think you can beat these teams being a one-dimensional group. Let's face it, we're a little more skill(-position) heavy, and so we have to take advantage of that. There's guys there that, in certain positions, can make plays.
"I really believe in it, and I think it's important," emphasized Benzel. "Because if a (opposing) defense is gonna take something away, you've got to have answers."
Benzel is a big believer in the benefit of a bye week. The Titans take on PAC powerhouse Carnegie Mellon University (1-0, 3-0) at Gesling Stadium in Pittsburgh on Oct. 1.
"Details. You can really take an opportunity to fix what you're leaving out on tape," Benzel began. "We're not perfect. We've got a lot of things to work on, so we're got to address that as a staff. Our team's got to be mature enough to understand that it's not a free week off; it's a week to get better. We've done well with our (past) bye weeks, we've handled them well, and I think we're gonna do the same this week."
Regarding the Titans' tussle with the Tartans – a game won by Carnegie Mellon, 34-10, last Oct. 9 – Benzel said,
"We're improving, and that's all I can ask for. Our guys … we're challenging them to meet specific (goals) week in and week out, and they're responding, at this point.
"I think some adversity's coming, and adversity's gonna come in two weeks in Pittsburgh. So that's gonna be another really big step for this football team. I like our guys, I like our 'compete' level. It's not going to be easy, but it's a good lesson to learn as we turn the page and prepare for the next game."
