Football: Titans Open Season with Convincing Win Over Bethany

NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. – The Westminster College football team opened their 2020-21 season with a dominant 42-21 win at home against Bethany College in a non-conference contest.
 
Westminster (1-0) impressively scored a touchdown on its first six drives. Sophomore Ryan Gomes (Tampa, FL / Walter L. Sickles) got the scoring started for the Titans with a two-yard touchdown run, capping off a 6-play, 33-yard drive in which the Titans took advantage of Bethany fumbling on the first play of the game. Junior quarterback Cole Konieczka (Coraopolis, PA / Moon Area) found first-year Tylon Eilam (Sharon, PA / Sharon Area) for a 40-yard touchdown pass on Westminster's second possession, followed by back-to-back short runs by senior Frank Antuono (New Castle, PA / Neshannock) and Westminster led 28-0 after one quarter of play.
 
Konieczka extended Westminster's lead in the second with another touchdown throw, this time to sophomore Chevy Dawson (Port St. Lucie, FL / Centennial), a linebacker-converted-tight end, from 22 yards out. A two-yard touchdown run by junior Isiah Canton (Pittsburgh, PA / Carlynton) made it six-straight Westminster possessions with a touchdown and the Titans led 42-0 with still eight minutes left in the first half.
 
Bethany (0-1) got on the scoreboard with four minutes to go in the first half with a 9-yard run by Colton Stoneman. The Titans led 42-7 at halftime. The Bison would score twice more in the second half.
 
Konieczka finished 8-of-9 with 136 yards and a pair of touchdown throws. Titan first-year Joshua Butcher (Beaver Falls, PA / Blackhawk) made an impression in his first collegiate action with 82 yards on the ground (6.3 avg.) in the second half. Gomes, who started the game, went 65 yards including his touchdown.
 
Titan first-year Tylon Eilam (Sharon, PA / Sharon Area) also shined in his collegiate debut with team-highs four catches and 79 yards – including his touchdown grab. Westminster's defense had seven sacks, led by sophomore Jarred Kohl (York, Pa / York Catholic) with 2.5. Also earning a sack were senior Dylan Magill (Apollo, PA / Kiski Area), junior Branden Millward (Cranberry Twp, PA / Seneca Valley), sophomore Nicholas Treloar (New Castle, PA / New Castle), and first-year Anthony Kamenski (Chicora, PA / Karns City Area).
 
For the game, Westminster outgained Bethany, 455-201, including 280-38 on the ground. The Titans averaged 6.0 yards per play compared to Bethany's 2.7.
 
The Titans are back in action Friday, March 26 at Geneva for their first Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) "North Division" contest with a 7 p.m. kickoff.

For more Westminster Athletics news, go to westminster.edu/athletics. 

*Written by Nathan LaRiccia, Sports Information Director

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