FULTON, Mo. - Westminster football fell to St. Scholastica 48-18 in a game that featured 10 touchdowns.
The Blue Jays fall to 1-2 with the loss and 1-1 in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference. The Saint are now 2-0 in the conference.
"We shot ourselves in the foot too many times today," said Westminster Head Coach John Welty. "We had a chance to stay in the game but couldn't convert even though we moved the ball well in the first half."
The Saints tallied the first three scores of the game, all in the first quarter.
The Blue Jays were able to move the ball to the Saints red zone twice in the first quarter but were unable to convert to a score because of the strong Saints defense.
Westminster opened the second quarter with a drive that went 50 yards, scoring on a Matt Quarles catch from Trent White.
The Blue Jays held the Saints scoreless in the second until the final minutes of the half when a 90-yard pass completion resulted in a touchdown. The Blue Jays went into the half down 27-6.
Westminster opened the second half with a touchdown in their opening drive. The Blue Jays marched down the field for 68 yards in four minutes when Chase Abbington caught a 31-yard pass from White to score his first touchdown of the game and put Westminster back within two scores of the Saints.
"Abbington had a great game and really came to play today," said Welty. "Trent had his most complete game of the year and made good decisions."
The Saints answered with two more touchdowns in the high-scoring third quarter, but there was enough time for the Blue Jays to strike one more time before moving to the fourth. Another long drive from Westminster resulted in Abbington's second touchdown of the game on a one-yard rush.
"Our offense came to play today and they showed glimpses of what we are really capable of."
The Saints scored once in the fourth quarter to complete the game 48-18.
"Our young offensive line exceeded our expectations," said Welty. "They were phenomenal and I am very proud of them."
White went 13-26 with 168 yards, adding another 52 yards rushing.
Abbington had 19 carries for 66 yards and added five catches for 93 yards. Quarles made four catches for 36 yards.
Zach Roseman led the team defensively with eight tackles and the lone sack of the game for Westminster.
The Blue Jays stay on the road next Saturday, traveling to Northwestern to continue UMAC play.
