WASHINGTON, Pa. – The Westminster College football team won, 28-21, at Washington & Jefferson College in a Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) showdown on Saturday.
Westminster (6-2, 5-2 PAC) jumped out to 14-0 lead, courtesy of two rushing touchdowns by senior Keano Grice (Delray Beach, FL / West Boca Raton), highlighted by a career-long 71-yard run, breaking tackles on the way for the longest rush by any Titan this season. Grice's first touchdown was from 25 yards out. Westminster led 14-0 at the end of one. Senior Aaron Pierce (Fort Lauderdale, FL / Hollywood) put the Titans ahead 21-0 with a 100-yard interception return for a touchdown, juking the last W&J defender just within the 20-yard line, for his third pick-six of the season and fifth of his career. Pierce pocketed another interception late in the third quarter and now has eight career interceptions. The Titans were in front, 21-0, at halftime.
Can someone say Tecmo Bowl's Bo Jackson? #titanpride pic.twitter.com/AUp8ugzjo6— WC Titan Athletics (@WC_Titans) October 27, 2019
They don't call him AP Superstar for nothing! Westminster SR Aaron Pierce wasn't lying when he said he thinks touchdown no matter where he intercepts the ball and who is in front of him! This man has five career pick-sixes! #SCTop10 #Again #titanpride
(W&J video credit) pic.twitter.com/1EAO1E6uhz— WC Titan Athletics (@WC_Titans) October 26, 2019
GRICE, GRICE, BABY! Have yourself a day senior Keano Grice! Grice shows to never quit with this incredible 42-yard TD run! Grice has close to 200 yards on the ground! #SCTop10 #titanpride
(W&J video credit) pic.twitter.com/HY7v51Y46a— WC Titan Athletics (@WC_Titans) October 26, 2019
Washington & Jefferson (5-3, 4-3 PAC), who was receiving national votes earlier in the season, put its first points on the board in the third quarter, but missed the extra point and trailed the Titans, 21-6. The Presidents followed with two more touchdowns, wrapping up 21-straight points, to tie the game at 21 with 6:42 left in the game. All three President touchdowns were courtesy of passing touchdowns by Jacob Adams.
The Titans quickly answered on their ensuing possession. Sophomore Cole Konieczka (Coraopolis, PA / Moon Area) started the drive with a 31-yard pass to senior Chase Collison (Madisonburg, PA / Penns Valley) to set up the go-ahead score. On the very next play, Grice upped his highlight reel with a determined 42-yard touchdown run in which the Presidents thought they had Grice tackled in the backfield. Grice broke a tackle, shifted through other tackle attempts, and sprinted outside down the sideline for his team-high 11th touchdown of the year (the most by a Westminster running back in over 13 years).
Washington & Jefferson had a chance to tie the game inside Westminster's 15-yard line and 27 seconds to go. Titan senior Joey Lane (Frederick, MD / Oakdale) came up big with a nine-yard sack of Adams and with no timeouts and time winding down Adams threw a desperation pass in the end zone which was broken up by freshman Kevin Brown (Pittsburgh PA / Plum Senior).
Grice ran for a career-high 189 yards, for the most rushing yards by a pure Titan running back since Tyler Banks (195 - 2012). Brown and senior Paul Gonzalez (Miami, FL / Florida Christian) led the Titan defense with seven tackles. In addition to Lane, Gonzalez and junior Frank Antuono (New Castle, PA / Neshannock) each had a sack. Sophomore Ian Barr (State College, PA / State College Area) added six tackles and an interception – his second of the season. Senior Darius Doty (Greensburg, PA / Greensburg-Salem) had a team-high 1.5 tackles for a loss.
Huge sack by senior Joey Lane to help seal the victory over PAC foe W&J! #titanpride
(W&J video credit) pic.twitter.com/cywcfADQUx— WC Titan Athletics (@WC_Titans) October 26, 2019
Cox had a pair of receptions for 18 yards and surpassed Titan Sports Hall of Famer Dave Foley (1987-90) for fifth all-time in career receiving yards. Cox's 1,877 career receiving yards is now 42 yards away from passing Lamont Boykins (1980-83) for fourth all-time in program history. Titan freshman Tanner Dudek (Leechburg, PA / Leechburg Area) made his 42nd point-after touchdown, moving up to fourth all-time for most PATs in a single season.
Westminster has its bye week next Saturday, Nov. 2 and will be back in action at Carnegie Mellon University on Saturday, Nov. 9 at 1 p.m.