Slow start dooms Westminster, 27-14

MEADVILLE, Pa. — An early three-touchdown deficit was too much for the Westminster College football team to overcome in Saturday night’s 27-14 loss at Allegheny in non-conference action.

Westminster led in nearly all major statistica, including total yards (336-239), rushing yards (92-86), passing yards (244-153), first downs (22-13), fewer penalties (4 for 30 to 6 for 46), time of possession (30:56-29:04) and third-down conversions (7-14 to 5-15).

The Titans threw four interceptions in the game and could not induce any Allegheny turnovers.

Westminster quarterback Shawn Lehocky completed 12 of 27 passes for a career-high 161 yards and a touchdown. His one interception came on a Hail Mary pass in the waning seconds.

Lehocky also rushed eight times for 35 yards and a touchdown. Starting quarterback Kevin Franz was 7-of-14 passing for 83 yards including three interceptions.

Tailback Nick McKolosky rushed 17 times for 70 yards.

Westminster receiver Jon Gubish caught 10 passes for 110 yards. John Baummer snared two balls for 42 yards and a touchdown.

Allegheny quarterback T.J. Salopek was 15-26 passing for 153 yards, including five balls to Jake Vite for 69 yards. Eric Mastrogiacomo rushed 19 times for 88 yards and a touchdown.

Allegheny (2-0) scored touchdowns on its first two possessions and returned an interception on Westminster’s third futile drive to take a 21-0 lead.

Mastrogiacomo scored from 3 yards out to cap off a seven-play, 65-yard drive, followed by Salopek’s 4-yard touchdown run to culminate a 5-play, 44-yard march.

Kyle Wilson snatched an errant Franz pass and returned it 57 yards to put the Gators up 21-0 with 12:57 left in the first half.

Westminster returns to action at 0-2 Saint Vincent on Saturday for a 1 p.m. kickoff.