Westminster Knocks Down Bethany
BETHANY — The Westminster College football team won, 38-9, over Bethany College on the road in its Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC) opener Saturday.
Westminster improved to 3-0 — its best start since 1997. The Bison dropped to 1-3 overall and 0-2 in the conference.
Junior Paul Columbo scored on Westminster’s first drive of the game with a 6-yard run. The Titans successfully converted on the 2-point conversion with a pass to junior Dylan Goff and led 8-0 with 12:10 on the clock.
Westminster extended its lead in the second quarter after Columbo found sophomore Bryson Paulinellie for a one-handed, 12-yard touchdown catch. The Titans missed the extra point and led 14-0 with 10:03 on the clock.
Bethany got on the board following a field goal by Chris Ray with 7:09 remaining in the half, cutting Westminster’s lead to 14-3. Senior Justin Dahl answered on a 39-yard field goal, putting Westminster in front 17-3, with 4:30 to go in the frame.
In the third quarter, Bethany scored its only touchdown when Raekwon Wright ran it in from 22 yards, bringing Westminster’s lead to 17-9 with 11:30 remaining. On the Titans’ ensuing possession, sophomore Bill Madeja scored his team-best fourth touchdown of the season with a 1-yard rush, capping off a nine-play, 75-yard drive. The extra point by Dahl put Westminster ahead 24-9 with 7:15 remaining in the third.
In the fourth quarter, Paulinellie added his second touchdown with a 50-yard punt return with 4:46 remaining in the game. Dahl’s extra point brought the Titans’ lead to 31-9.
Junior Joseph Salmen scored the final Titan touchdown, the first of his collegiate career, after a 6-yard run with 1:03 on the clock.
Westminster out-gained Bethany 372 yards (205 rushing-167 passing) to 221 yards (127 rushing-94 passing).
Junior Dominique McKinley had a game-high 96 yards on 22 carries, and surpassed Joe DeGruttola (1985-88) for sixth all-time in career rushing yards with 1,906.
Columbo passed Dak Britt (2013-14) for sixth all-time with 3,884 passing yards, after going 13 of 22 with 167 yards and a score.
Westminster sophomore tight end Anthony Livoti set career-highs as he tied a game-high five catches for a game-high 71 yards.
Senior Bobby Noble led the Titans defense with eight tackles, including 1.5 sacks and 2.5 tackles for a loss.
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