BETHANY, W.Va.--Senior Brice Butler (Farrell, Pa., Farrell) and freshman Brite Cannon (Parkland, Fla., Monarch) had back-to-back punt returns for touchdowns in the fourth quarter of Saturday evening's 49-7 Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) victory over Bethany College at Don Ault Field at Bison Stadium.
Westminster ran its record to 4-1 overall and 4-1 in the PAC while Bethany fell to 0-5 overall and 0-5 in the conference. Saturday was Westminster's 10th straight in the series. The Titans have earned wins in their first three road games for the first time since the 2011 season.
Westminster now owns four punt returns for touchdowns this season. Up 28-7, Butler returned a Caden Langley punt 60 yards for a score with just under seven minutes left in the fourth to extend Westminster's lead to 35-7. It was Butler's second punt return touchdown this season. Cannon, a two-way standout, scored a special teams touchdown for the third-straight week after following up Butler's score with a 57-yard return of Ethan Rosenau's punt on the ensuing Bethany possession.
The pair also returned punts for touchdowns in Westminster's 58-6 win at Thiel on Sept. 28.
Cannon scored on a 61-yard pass from junior quarterback Ty McGowan (Moon Township, Pa., Moon) less than two minutes into the game. He finished with four catches for 105 yards and the score and also had a seven-yard first quarter rush. Cannon added two solo tackles, a tackle for loss and forced a fumble on a dropped snap by punter Landon Bailey early in the third that led to a recovery in the endzone for a touchdown by junior running back Gavin Greaves (Miami, Fla., Felix Varela). It is Greaves' second score this year.
McGowan finished 10-of-15 passing for 190 yards and three touchdowns. He threw four touchdowns in last year's 42-7 win over Bethany. Junior wide receiver Taite Beachy (Moon Township, Pa., Moon) caught a pair of touchdowns. His 15-yard grab at the end of the first quarter capped an 11-play, 70-yard drive and extended the lead to 14-7. His second score, also a 15-yard snag, capped an eight-play, 80-yard drive and gave Westminster a 28-7 lead early in the fourth. Freshman quarterback Sean O'Shea (Cranberry Township, Pa., Seneca Valley) scored on a two-yard rush with just over two minutes left in the game to close out the scoring. It was the first touchdown of his career.
Graduate student running back Ryan Gomes (Tampa, Fla., Walter L. Sickles) ran eight times for 38 yards while sophomore running back Clayton Cannon Jr. (Parkland, Fla., Marjory Stoneman Douglas) added 29 yards on five carries.
Junior linebacker Dylan Sleva (Moon Township, Pa., Moon) led Westminster with nine tackles (8 solo) and a sack. Freshman linebacker Ricky Cooper (Port St. Lucie, Fla., Port St. Lucie) posted a career-high seven tackles (6 solo) and a tackle for loss while freshman defensive back Cayetano West (Cranberry Township, Pa., Seneca Valley) totaled a career-high seven tackles (5 solo) and a tackle for loss. Senior defensive tackle Jean Garry Joseph (North Miami, Fla., Ebenezer Christian) finished with five tackles (2 solo), 2.5 tackles for loss and a sack. Westminster combined for 11.0 tackles for loss Saturday. Senior defensive back Corte Williams (Sharon, Pa., Sharon) added six tackles (6 solo) and a tackle for loss.
Freshman defensive back Lamont Austin (Sharon, Pa., Sharon) intercepted Brett Phillips in the first quarter. He has recorded interceptions in back-to-back weeks. Sophomore defensive lineman Matthew Petruzzi (Allison Park, Pa., Central Catholic) intercepted Phillips in the fourth. It was the first interception of his career.
Freshman Andrew Caranna (Copley, Ohio, Revere) hit all seven of his point-after attempts. Through five games he has connected on 24 of his 26 tries this season.
Up Next
The College will celebrate Homecoming and Reunion Weekend next week. On Saturday, the Titans will welcome Saint Vincent College to Memorial Field inside Harold Burry Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.
Back-to-back punt return touchdowns highlight lopsided win at Bethany
/seasons/2024/boxscores/20241012_5ulr.xml
2024
Westminster (Pa.)
49
Bethany
7
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Westminster (Pa.) (4-1) | 14 | 0 | 7 | 28 | 49 |
| Bethany (0-5) | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
Oct 12, 2024