PENNSYLVANIA Wet and wild Westminster nets season's first win

Lowellville High graduate Joe Getsy quarterbacked the Titans to victory.
By BOB ROTH
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
MEADVILLE, Pa. -- Westminster and Allegheny renewed their rivalry on swampy Robertson Field, in a downpour, but the sun shined on the Titans in overtime.
Jason Montgomery kicked a 31-yard field goal in overtime, then Tom Froelich blocked an attempt at a tying kick by the Gators, as the Titans gained their first win of the season, 3-0.
Westminster had the first possession in overtime. Scott Froelich's 13-yard run gave the Titans a first down at the Allegheny 12, but two Froelich carries only garnered 2 yards and Lowellville product Joe Getsy, in his first start at quarterback, nearly lost the football on third down.
Montgomery, a freshman from Wilmington, Pa., kicked the ball through the uprights.
Final effort
Allegheny took possession, starting at the Titans' 25. Senior quarterback Bubba Smith completed a 10-yard pass to Brian O'Malley, then carried twice for 8 yards.
On third down, Allegheny running back Jamie Sye was hit for a 1-yard loss by Tony Ventresco, a junior defensive tackle for Westminster from Boardman.
That set up Aaron Polack, a senior, for a 25-yard field goal attempt.
But Froelich, a sophomore, seemingly came from nowhere to block the kick.
"We work on this all the time and my body was just tingling when they lined up to kick, but a difference today was that our defense was all together in getting after them," said Froelich.
Scott Froelich, a junior running back and Tom's older brother, rushed for 134 yards on 29 carries.
"It was tough out there to get going at times, but we wanted this win badly," said Scott Froelich.
Westminster coach Jerry Schmitt said the victory came at an opportune time.
"We were at the point of this season where we were losing our confidence," he said.
Smith completed 10 of 24 passes for 99 yards for Allegheny (0-3).
"I see some progress and giving a good effort is the standard we coaches expect from our teams," said Gators coach Mark Matlak, "and we did that today, but it is still hard to lose."
Area connection
Getsy completed 10 of 14 passes for 113 yards. Brian Ekis of Boardman had four catches for 55 yards.
"You have to be patient and look for the opportunities and Joe threw some good balls my way," said Ekis.
One of Westminster's offensive lineman, senior guard Aaron Detwiler, is from Poland.
"You just try to focus on the basics, keep your feet in the right place and do what you can to help your team win," he said.
Each team had its best chance to score in the first quarter. Allegheny had a first-and-goal at the Titans' 5, but botched a 21-yard field goal.
Westminster then drove to the Gators' 2, but was stopped on fourth-and-1.