The Westminster football team bounced back from last week's loss to defeat the No. 2 team in the conference, the University of Northwestern, 24-13. The Homecoming win brings the Westminster Blue Jays to 5-3 on the season and 5-2 in conference.
Northwestern won the coin toss and chose to defer. Westminster received on the opening drive, but were unable to convert to a first down. Northwestern scored on their opening drive off a 13-yard rush. The PAT was good, giving them the 7-0 lead to start the game. The Blue Jays pushed the ball down the field with multiple 10+ yard passes and a 16-yard rush. With 1st and goal on Northwestern's 4-yard line, the Blue Jays were unable to score and were forced to try for the field goal. A 20-yard attempt by junior Kevin Ludwig was good, bringing the game to 7-3. Northwestern's drive was three-and-out, and the Blue Jays started on their own 40-yard line with 57 seconds remaining in the first quarter. Two plays later, the time ran out with the Blue Jays on the Northwestern 47-yard line.
A 47-yard touchdown run by freshman Latif Adams started the second half, putting the Blue Jays up 9-7. Ludwig's PAT was good, bringing the game to 10-7. The next three drives were scoreless, and the Blue Jays started their third drive of the quarter at their own 9-yard line. With the ball on the Northwestern 5-yard line, senior quarterback Joe Plassmeyer threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to sophomore receiver Mike Washington. Ludwig's PAT was good, giving the Blue Jays a 17-7 lead with just 37 seconds remaining in the half. Northwestern had a team rush to end the half with the Blue Jays leading 17-7.
Northwestern scored on their second drive on the third quarter with a 26-yard field goal. The Blue Jays were unable to convert on their next drive, giving the Northwestern Eagles the ball on their own 35-yard line with 25 seconds left in the quarter.
Northwestern started the fourth quarter on their own 46-yard line. On 1st and 25, Northwestern threw a 47-yard pass to move to the Westminster 8-yard line. The Blue Jay defense held them from getting into the endzone, but their 21-yard field goal was good. With 10:21 left in the game and a score of 17-13, Westminster started their drive. A three-and-out drive gave Northwestern the ball, but they also went three-and-out. An interception by senior Levi Powers ended the Northwestern drive, followed by Plassmeyer's 37-yard pass to junior Austin Kempker gave the Blue Jays their third touchdown of the day. The PAT by Ludwig was good, bringing the game to 24-13. Northwestern fumbled on their following two drives, and Westminster's juniors Carlos Weeden Jr. and Bret Robertson recovered them, respectively. The Blue Jays attempted for a 35-yard field goal, but the ball was wide. A 10-yard sack by freshman Josh Brown and a 7-yard sack by freshman Brandon Mahoney stopped Northwestern from crossing the 50-yard line. Westminster ran 2:04 off the clock before the possession switched to the Eagles. Northwestern closed out the game with a team rush, and the Blue Jays grabbed the 24-13 Homecoming win.
Plassmeyer threw 206 yards on 22 completions with 2 touchdowns. Kempker led in the air with 53 reception yards. Adams led the running game with 106 yards, and he finished the game with 140 all-purpose yards.
Powers led the Blue Jay defense with 9 tackles and an interception for 10 yards, and Robertson finished with 8 tackles and an interception.
The Blue Jays host Greenville College next Saturday, November 1, at 1:00 p.m. for their final home game of the season.