MIDLOTHIAN, Texas - The Westminster College Blue Jays football team racked up 261 yards of total offense but produced just one score in opening the 2015 season with a 30-17 loss to Southwestern Assemblies of God University on Saturday.
Westminster College made the final outcome more respectable when sophomore quarterback Trent White connected with freshman wide receiver Matt Quarles on a 15-yard touchdown pass with 3 minutes, 16 seconds left in the game.
White finished 14-of-26 passing for 123 yards, but was intercepted twice and sacked three times. Junior wide receiver Jack Williams led Westminster with five catches for 68 yards.
Sophomore running back Latif Adams was a bright spot for the Blue Jays, rushing for a game-high 123 yards on 22 carries. Westminster, though, gained only 138 yards on the ground as a team.
The Blue Jays defense tallied a score of its own, but was also slashed for 475 yards of total offense by Southwestern Assemblies. Senior cornerback Carlos Weeden Jr. returned an interception 36 yards for a touchdown with 3:55 to play in the first half, helping Westminster tie the game at 10-all.
The Lions, though, went in front to stay when Chadd Dearen booted the second of his three field goals, this one a 42-yarder, with just :07 remaining in the half to make it 13-10. Dearen also converted from 40 and 41 yards.
The Blue Jays' other score came on senior kicker Kevin Ludwig's 33-yard field goal late in the first quarter.
CJ Collins opened Southwestern Assemblies' scoring with a 23-yard touchdown pass to Caleb Shelly with 10:39 to play in the first quarter. Collins also added a 1-yard touchdown run at the 2:40 mark of the third quarter.
Ricky Bickham's 12-yard touchdown run with 8:45 remaining in the game extended the Lions' lead to 30-10.
Collins was 20-of-31 passing for 256 yards, with the one score and interception. Michael Seaton topped Southwestern Assemblies with 73 yards rushing on 10 carries, while Toras Hill had five catches for a game-high 85 yards receiving for the Lions.
Westminster plays its home and Upper Midwest Athletic Conference opener against Iowa Wesleyan this Saturday. Kickoff is 1 p.m. at Priest Field.