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The Westminster Titans opened a 24-0 lead and defeated Saint Vincent by a score of 31-14 in the 2018 home opener at Chuck Noll Field.

The Bearcat defense came up with a fumble recovery by Izaak Gray on the game's opening drive, after Westminster had driven the ball to the Bearcat 30 in 8 plays. Later in the quarter, the Bearcats took over possession at their own 37 following a Titan punt, but a fumble on the first play of the drive was picked up by Westminster's Paul Gonzalez, who ran 35 yards for the first score of the game.

The next six possessions of the game - three by each team - resulted in punts, before a Zavion Thompson pass was intercepted by Travis Lauster at the Westminster 21.  The visitors then embarked on a 12-play, 79-yard scoring drive, capped by a touchdown pass from Augustus Necastro to Joey Joy.  The extra point put Westminster in front 14-0 with 4:52 left in the second quarter.

On the next drive, the Bearcats were forced to punt, but Christian Witchey's attempt was blocked, and the Titans took over at the Bearcat 18 yard line.  Tyler Greene then scored on a 6-yard run four plays later, and it was 21-0, which is where the half ended.

Late in the third quarter, John Cybak hit a 24-yard field goal to give Westminster a 24-0 lead.  

Early in the fourth, the Bearcats got on the board. After an SVC drive stalled at the Westminster 11, the Bearcat defense held Westminster to a 3-and-out, and Sam Nowicki fielded a punt at the Westminster 44, returning it 16 yards to the 28-yard-line.  Two plays later, Thompson connected with Keith Kalp on a 24-yard scoring strike.  Sam Elliott's point after made the score 24-7.

With 2:44 left in the fourth, Westminster added another touchdown, a 3-yard run by Shamon Walker.

The Bearcats scored  with 44 seconds remaining, when Thompson found Ariel Martinez in the end zone for a 6-yard touchdown pass, to make it 31-14.

For the day, Westminster (2-1) outgained the Bearcats 341-177 in yardage, with 20 first downs to the Bearcats' 10.  Necastro was 14-of-20 through the air for 166 yards, with Connor Cox catching 5 passes for 94 yards.  Bryce Hill carried the ball 20 times for 67 yards.

Leading Saint Vincent's rushing game was Mike Stasko, with 18 yards on 10 carries.  Thompson, who came into the game in the second quarter, was 11-25 passing for 153 yards.  Kalp caught 4 passes for 44 yards, while Martinez had 4 catches for 38.  Shaquille Edmond caught 2 passes for 47 yards.  

Defensively, SVC was led by Hauns White, who had 12 tackles on the day.  Cody Henry and Mike Turner Jr each had 8.  Izaak Gray had three tackles behind the line of scrimmage, including one sack.   For Westminter, Gonzalez had six tackles.

Saint Vincent is now 0-3 on the year, 0-2 in the Presidents' Athletic Conference.  The Bearcats will travel to Pittsburgh to face Carnegie Mellon on Saturday, September 22.