NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. -- Despite a strong defensive performance, the Washington & Jefferson College football team fell 27-20 to Westminster College in the Presidents' Athletic Conference Championship game Friday evening at Memorial Field at Harold Burry Stadium.
A pair of fourth quarter touchdowns helped Westminster erase a 17-14 deficit and claim its first-ever PAC title. The Titans defense sacked W&J seven times and forced four turnovers. Westminster won despite just 158 yards of total offense in the game. W&J finished with 292 yards of total offense.
After the teams exchanged punts to start the game, the host Titans got on the scoreboard first with a defensive touchdown. Ian Barr, one of the top defensive players in the PAC, forced a fumble and returned it 43 yards for a Titans touchdown. The point after by Dylan Kidder made the score 7-0 Westminster at the 10:45 mark of the first.
Late in the first quarter, the Titans defense played a role in producing another touchdown. A sack on third and long forced W&J to punt from its own end zone. A short punt and a 28-yard return by Ian Valente put the ball at the W&J five-yard line. Back-to-back runs by Frank Antuono, the second of which was a one-yard plunge into the end zone. Kidder added the extra point to extend the Westminster lead to 14-0 with 4:14 to play in the first quarter.
In need of a touchdown of its own, W&J responded with a 10-play, 89-yard scoring drive to cut its deficit in half. Justin Heacock (New Concord, Ohio / John Glenn) connected with Payton Skalos (Cranberry Township, Pa. / Seneca Valley) for a 16-yard pass play to get the drive moving. On the very next play, an unnecessary roughness call against Westminster put the ball at the Titans 33-yard line. Six plays later, Heacock found Skalos again for a 21-yard touchdown strike. Sean Disbrow (Sykesville, Md./Liberty) added the extra point to cut the deficit to 14-7 with just 18 seconds left in the first quarter.
A blocked punt by Drew Ehrlich (Annapolis, Md./Gilman School) which was recovered by Justin Johns (Murrysville, Pa./Franklin Regional) set W&J deep into Westminster territory at the 29-yard line early in the second quarter. The Presidents settled for a 22-yard field goal by Disbrow that cut the deficit to 14-10 at the 9:59 mark of the second quarter. Neither team offense was able to put together a scoring threat for the remainder of the half as both defenses continued to dominate the play. The Titans carried a 14-10 lead into halftime.
The Titans maintained a four-point edge until late in the third quarter. A fantastic punt by Jacob Sarver (Sarver, Pa./Freeport) was downed at the Westminster one-yard line. The Presidents forced a quick three-and-out defensively, which forced a punt. Ehrlich came through with his second blocked punt of the game. This one was recovered in the end zone for a touchdown by Trey Everson (Knoxville, Tenn./West). The touchdown and PAT by Disbrow gave W&J its first lead of the game at 17-14.
Another three-and-out gave W&J possession back early in the fourth quarter. However, an interception and return by Westminster's Luca Botti on a third-and-nine play set the Titans up at the W&J 25. Three plays later a 13-yard pass by Cole Konieczka to Bryce Sallack helped Westminster regain the lead at 20-17 with 12:12 to play.
In search of a field goal to tie the game or a touchdown to regain the lead, the Presidents matriculated the ball into Westminster territory. However, W&J was stopped short on a fourth and eight play.
Titans took a 27-17 lead after a three-play, 70-yard drive that culminated in a seven-yard touchdown pass from Konieczka to Valente with 6:35 to play. Trailing by two scores, W&J moved the ball 55 yards on 11 plays before Disbrow nailed a 21-yard field goal to bring the Red and Black within seven at 27-20.
W&J was forced to kick an onside kick with just 2:36 to play and only one timeout remaining. The Titans recovered and picked up a first down to ice the game.
Freshman running back Justin Huss (Derry, Pa./Derry) impressed in place of Joey Koroly (Washington, Pa./Trinity). Huss rushed 20 times for 107 yards in his first collegiate start. Skalos led all players with highs in catches (8) and receiving yards (98).
Heacock finished 24-of-44 for 198 yards through the air. The junior QB tossed one touchdown and threw three interceptions.
Alex Bellinotti (Lower Burrell, Pa./Shady Side Academy) and Sean Doran (New Castle, Pa./Neshannock) led the defense with nine and eight tackles, respectively. Elijah Goosby (Rochester, Pa./Rochester Area) recorded a pair of sacks and tallied seven tackles.
W&J finishes its spring season with a 3-1 record. The Presidents are tentatively slated to open the 2021 season with a non-conference game on Sept. 4 at John Carroll University.
Westminster outlasts W&J 27-20 in PAC Championship game
/seasons/2020/boxscores/20210423_q4gf.xml
2020
Washington and Jefferson
20
Westminster (Pa.)
27
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington and Jefferson (3-1) | 7 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 20 |
| Westminster (Pa.) (5-0) | 14 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 27 |
Apr 23, 2021