Washington & Jefferson Rolls Past Westminster
WASHINGTON, Pa. -- After both teams scored early first-quarter
touchdowns, the Westminster College football team gave up 42
unanswered points in a 49-7 loss at Washington & Jefferson
Saturday night in Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) action. The
Titans lose their 10th straight game vs. W&J including two
straight years by identical scores of 49-7. The Titans fall to 1-3
on the season and 0-2 in the PAC. The Presidents, with both of
their losses coming against nationally-ranked teams, improve to 2-2
on the year and 2-1 in the PAC.
W&J outgained Westminster in total yards, 465-195, including
Presidents sophomore running back Brian Baldrige rushing 11 times
for 126 yards and two touchdowns.
The Presidents scored just three plays into the game when Tim
McNerney plunged in from 1 yard after W&J's Ben Hoffer returned
the opening kickoff 67 yards. McNerney finished with 82 yards on 17
carries with two touchdowns.
Westminster gave up a big return on the opening kickoff that led to
a touchdown for a second time this season, after the Titans gave up
a 58-yard return and subsequent first touchdown in a 40-10 loss at
Lycoming in week two.
The Titans scored on their second possession of the game as junior
quarterback Shawn Lehocky connected with sophomore
receiver Geno Pasquinelli for a 5-yard touchdown
pass, capping off a 6-play, 41-yard drive.
Lehocky finished the game 14-of-25 passing for 134 yards with a
touchdown and two interceptions. He was also sacked five times,
equaling a career high from last year vs. W&J. Pasquinelli set
a new career high with six catches for 61 yards to go with his
second career touchdown.
Westminster sophomore running back John Proano
returned from an injury in his first start since week two at
Lycoming. Proano carried the ball 19 times for 56 yards.
Washington & Jefferson took the lead for good later in the
first quarter when quarterback Gino Rometo found Bryant Cappelletti
for a 10-yard touchdown pass, culminating a 7-play, 65-yard
touchdown march.
Rometo finished the game 10-for-14 passing for 125 yards and two
touchdowns. After Baldrige scored from 21 yards and McNerney from 5
yards in the second quarter, Rometo gave the Presidents a 35-7 lead
before halftime when he threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to
Hoffer.
Senior linebacker Tom Geraghty, the PAC's leading
tackler entering the game, led the Titan defense with 10 tackles.
Freshman defensive end Sean Christofferson led the
Titans with two sacks.
Ian Hennessy led W&J with 10 stops (1.5 for loss), while Criag
Sedunov logged nine tackles (1 for loss) and an interception.
Westminster hosts Bethany Saturday, Oct. 9, at 1 p.m. for its
Homecoming game.
