St. Paul, MN 11/4/2023- The Westminster College football team traveled to St. Paul, Minnesota for the season finale against the University of Northwestern Eagles. The Blue Jays would score 12 points in the fourth quarter as they tried to come back late but would go down to the Eagles 36-18. Westminster ended their season with a 1-8 record overall and went 1-4 in the UMAC. The Eagles improved to 6-3 overall and are undefeated in the UMAC at 5-0 with one game remaining on their schedule.
The Eagles would score on their opening drive on a two-yard touchdown run to cap off a six play, fifty-seven-yard drive. The Blue Jays would answer by also scoring on their opening drive. Quarterback, Payton Byerley, would connect with wide receiver Brandon Perry for a thirty-three-yard touchdown throw and catch. The Eagles would block the extra point and keep their lead at 7-6.
Northwestern would get the ball down to the Blue Jay 33-yard line on the ensuing drive. The Blue Jays would make a stand on 3rd and 5 to force a field goal attempt from the Eagles. The Northwestern kicker would make a 21-yard field goal attempt to put them up 10-6 late in the first quarter.
The Eagles would attempt an onside kick and it would be unsuccessful, giving the Blue Jay offense great field position with 2:44 left in the first quarter. Byerley would find Aden Campbell for an 8-yard reception to make it 3rd and 2. Jordan Kern would pound the ball for a four-yard gain to give the Blue Jays a new set of downs in the shadow of the red zone. Disaster would strike on 1st and 10 as Byerley would throw an interception that would be returned for a touchdown. The Eagles would make the extra point to take 17-6 lead at the end of the 1st quarter.
Northwestern would score again late in the second quarter to make it 24-6 at halftime. The Blue Jays received the ball to start the second half and were forced to punt. Dawson Brandt would punt the ball and place it at the Northwestern one-yard line, pinning the Eagles offense back in their own endzone.
The Eagles would go three and out and punt as well. Neither team would find much success offensively in the third quarter with both teams failing to get the ball past midfield.
That would change to start the fourth quarter as the Eagles would make another field goal to make it 27-6. Westminster would score on their next possession with running back Dante Billups scoring on a six-yard touchdown run after an 8 play, 75-yard drive. The Blue Jays would go for two. Westminster would fumble the snap and a Northwestern defender would scoop it up and return all the way for two points of their own, extending their lead to 29-12.
Northwestern would get the ball back on the ensuing kickoff and start their drive from their 25-yard line. This time it would be the Eagles that fumbled the football and Michael Pillar would pick up the loose ball and return it 23 yards for the Blue Jay touchdown. The Blue Jays would fail the extra point attempt and still trailed 29-18 with time running out in the fourth quarter.
The Eagles would ice the game on their next possession, scoring on a 50-yard touchdown pass to make it 36-18. The Blue Jays would turn the ball over on downs their next possession. Northwestern would run the time off the clock and preserve their undefeated conference record.
Byerley would lead the Blue Jays offense, going 13-25 for 134 passing yards and touchdown. He would also rush for 13 yards on the ground. Billups led the ground attack, rushing for 52 yards on 12 attempts and a touchdown. Brandon Perry had 4 receptions for 54 yards and a touchdown. Aden Campbell had 5 receptions for 52 yards.
Deacon Steadman led the defense with six tackles, two of them for a loss of yards. Dawson Brandt ended his decorated college career with six tackles and two of them were for a loss of yards. Devin Miller and Garrett Burger would both have a sack in the game. Michael Pillar had three tackles and a fumble recovery for a touchdown.
The Blue Jays had 242 yards of total offense and went 8 for 16 on third down conversions. They would score 12 points in the fourth quarter, but it would not be quite enough as their season comes to a close.
