WASHINGTON, Pa. -- Missed opportunities offensively plagued the 11th ranked Washington & Jefferson in a 23-18 loss to Presidents' Athletic Conference rival Westminster College Saturday afternoon in a matchup at Cameron Stadium.
The game was typical of so many in recent memory between the two programs. The game was decided by seven points or less for a seventh consecutive meeting. Those seven meetings have been decided by a total of 37 points combined.
W&J drops to 6-1 overall and 5-1 in PAC games. The win was the fourth straight in the head-to-head series for Westminster, who improves to 5-2 overall and 5-1 in league play.
The first half was dominated by W&J's defense, which turned the ball over two times, produced a safety on a blocked punt by sophomore Trey Everson (Knoxville, Tenn./West) and set up a touchdown with a strip sack by junior defensive lineman Alex Keith (Hartville, Ohio/Lake) to build a 12-3 lead at halftime.
After a scoreless first quarter, Westminster kicker Joshua Byers converted a 35-yard field goal just minutes into the second. Sophomore all-purpose player Justin Huss (Derry, Pa./Derry) gave W&J great field position on two kickoff returns, the first of which was returned 84 yards to the Westminster 10-yard line. The Presidents failed to produce a touchdown, as they just managed one yard on three plays and settled for a 25-yard field goal by sophomore kicker Sean Disbrow (Sykesville, Md./Liberty) that evened the score with 12:31 left in the second.
The W&J defense turned Westminster over on the ensuing possesion, as Keith forced a fumble, which was picked up by senior defensive lineman Elijah Goosby (Rochester, Pa./Rochester) at the W&J 45-yard line. The Presidents offense was stymied once again, as the unit was forced to punt after a three-and-out. Senior punter Jacob Sarver(Sarver, Pa./Freeport) pinned Westminster inside its own 20-yard line at the 15. The W&J defense quickly forced a three-and-out of its own to set up a punt. Everson blocked the punt, which went out of the back of the end zone for a safety to give W&J a 5-3 lead with 7:42 to play in the first half.
Later in the quarter, Keith forced his second fumble of the first half, as the strick sack of Cole Konieczka was recovered by Justin Johns (Murrysville, Pa./Franklin Regional) at the Titans 18-yard line. This time W&J was able to turn the turnover into a touchdown, as two plays later junior quarterback Justin Heacock (New Concord, Ohio/John Glenn) found senior wide receiver Andrew Wolf (Ashland, Ohio/Hillsdale) for a 14-yard touchdown pass. The PAT by Disbrow gave W&J a 12-3 lead.
Westminster threatened to answer, as the visitors matriculated the ball into W&J territory. However, a pair of sacks by sophomore linebacker Johns turned the Titans over on downs.
W&J manged just three first downs and 51 total yards in the first half. Westminster had just three first downs and 130 total yards. Neither team found its football on the ground, as W&J had 15 yards rushing on 19 attempts and Westminster gained zero yards on 13 attempts over the first 30 minutes.
The Titans flipped the script in the second half, as they were able to find the end zone three times to overcome the halftime deficit. W&J had entered the game with a 129-3 record under head coach Mike Sirianni when leading at halftime.
After holding W&J on its initial possession of the third, Westminster drove 80 yards on 10 plays for its first touchdown. Frank Antuono found defensive lineman Brayden Thimons uncovered for a two-yard touchdown pass after the Titans split out of their wildcat formation. The PAT by Myers cut the Titans deficit to 12-10.
Huss busted another kickoff, racing 68 yards up the middle on the ensuing kickoff to put W&J in business at the Westminster 22. Heacock found Wolf for an eight-yard completion on fourth and six to move the chains and setup first and goal. However, the Presidents managed just one yard on the next three plays. The Presidents opted against a 26-yard field goal attempt and went for it on fourth and goal. Heacock was stopped short on a scramble.
Konieczka found Tylon Eilam twice for touchdowns in the fourth quarter. The first of which was a 41-yard passing score on third and eight play that gave the Titans their first lead at 16-12 with 11:20 to play. After a defensive stop, the Titans found the end zone again, as Konieczka found Eilam for a 30-yard touchdown pass on the same play. The PAT was good by Byers to extend the Titans lead to 23-12 with 6:23 to play.
Sirianni called upon sophomore quarterback Colton Jones (Louisville, Ohio/Louisville) to provide the W&J offense with a spark and that's exactly what Jones did.
Jones marched the Presidents 56 yards on nine plays. Wolf hauled in his second touchdown reception of the game when Jones found him on a third and four play from the Westminster seven-yard line. The W&J two-point attempt play was stopped just short, which allowed Westminster to hold a 23-18 lead with 3:28 to play.
The W&J defense was able to force a three-and-out to give the Red and Black one more chance.
Jones needed 60 yards with 1:51 to play and no timeouts. The sophomore signal caller connected with senior wide receiver Cameron O'Brien (Irwin, Pa./Norwin) for an 13-yard connection and then hit senior wide receiver Payton Skalos (Cranberry Township, Pa./Seneca Valley) a play later for 17 more yards. The back-to-back completions moved the ball to the Westminster 30. A defensive holding penalty pushed W&J to the Westminster 20. On fourth down, a hail mary toss by Jones in the direction of Wolf in the end zone was batted away and the Titans held on for the victory.
Huss finished with 215 kickoff return yards on five attempts. Jones was 8-of-14 passing for 68 yards and a score in relief of Heacock. Skalos hauled in six receptions for 63 yards.
Defensively, junior linebacker Alex Bellinotti (Lower Burrell, Pa./Shady Side Academy) finished with a game-high 10 tackles. Keith forced two fumbles, eight tackles and a sack. Max Garda (Lower Burrell, Pa./Burrell) and Drew Ehrlich(Annapolis, Md./Gilman School) finished with eight tackles apiece. Johns came up with two sacks and a fumble recovery.
W&J travels to Grove City for a conference clash with the Wolverines on Saturday, Oct. 30. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.