The Westminster football team lost their first conference game on Saturday, October 3, snapping a three-game winning streak. The Crown College Storm defeated the Westminster Blue Jays 29-21, bringing the Blue Jays to 3-2 on the season and 3-1 in conference play.
The Storm received to start the game and they scored on their second play with a 47-yard pass. Their PAT was good, giving them the early 7-0 lead. The Blue Jays' kicker, senior Kevin Ludwig, attempted a 26-yard field goal in their second drive of the game, but the kick was wide. The Storm led 7-0 at the end of the first quarter.
Crown started the second quarter at 1st and 10 on their own 47-yard line. The drive resulted in another touchdown for the Storm, and their PAT was good, giving them the 14-0 advantage. The Blue Jays were barely able to break into Storm territory, but they held the Storm from scoring. On the Storm's second drive of the second quarter, they went for it on 4th and 9. Junior Ayo Oyesanya sacked the quarterback on the Westminster 26-yard line, giving the Blue Jays the ball. The game headed into halftime with the Storm leading 14-0.
The Blue Jays received in the second half and kick returner junior Jack Williams returned the ball 27 yards to the Westminster 35-yard line. The Blue Jays had multiple small carries and passes to bring them into Storm territory. An 11-yard pass from freshman quarterback Eain Roberts to sophomore Evan Lemaster and a 9-yard rush by Roberts brought the Blue Jays to 2nd and goal on the Storm 4-yard line. Sophomore Latif Adams rushed the ball in four yards to put the Blue Jays on the board with 6:39 to go in the third quarter. Ludwig's PAT was good, putting the game at 14-7, but the Storm turned around and scored another touchdown on the following drive. Their snap was fumbled, but the holder was able to throw the ball to the endzone for a two-point conversion, giving the Storm a 15 point lead, 22-7.
The Blue Jays started their second drive of the quarter on their own 41-yard line with 4:21 on the clock. The Blue Jays made their way down to Storm territory, and an 11-yard rush by Roberts put the Blue Jays at the Storm 14-yard line with 1st and 10. A 9-yard rush by Adams brought the Blue Jays to the 5-yard line. Williams was handed the ball just as the clock ran out, and he ran it in five yards for another Blue Jay touchdown. Ludwig's PAT was good, bringing the score to 22-14 heading into the fourth quarter.
Neither team was able to find the redzone in the fourth quarter until the Storm intercepted a Blue Jay pass with 3:37 left in the game. After a 7-yard and a 10-yard rush, the Storm closed out their drive with a 36-yard touchdown rush. The PAT was good, giving them the 29-14 advantage. Williams scored his second touchdown of the day on the next drive with a 4-yard touchdown rush. Ludwig hit his third PAT, bringing the score to 29-21 with 1:01 left in the game. Ludwig tried for the onside kick and the Storm fumbled the ball, but the Storm recovered it. They ran out the time, ending the game with the final score of 29-21.
Adams recorded 106 rushing yards on 23 carries. Junior Mike Washington had five receptions for 54 yards, and Roberts threw 13 completions for 99 yards.
Ludwig averaged 36.2 yards per punt with two touchbacks. He also kicked 129 kicoff yards. Freshman Matt Quarles finished the game with 96 kick return yards on three returns.
Senior safety Bret Robertson led the defense with 11 tackles. Junior strong safety Brett Simon and Oyesanya each recorded a sack. Oyesanya also recorded two tackles for a loss of nine yards, and Simon recorded one tackle for a loss, a forced fumble and a pass breakup. The team recorded 7 tackles for a loss of 26 yards.
The Blue Jays travel to Eureka, Illinois on Saturday, October 10, for a 1:00 p.m. kickoff versus Eureka College.
