LINCOLN, Neb. - Westminster sophomore quarterback Wyatt Ellis passed for 259 yards and four touchdowns in the Blue Jays' 49-35 shootout loss to the Nebraska Wesleyan Prairie Wolves in Saturday's season opener.
Trailing 35-14, Westminster made the outcome closer by putting up 21 points in the fourth quarter.
"We look at these opening games as a way to identify our strengths and weaknesses," Blue Jays head coach John Welty said. "We saw a lot of good things today from both our returners and newcomers, and we have a lot to be excited about."
Ellis - who completed 17-of-28 passes and was intercepted once - connected with freshman wide receiver Travion Mosby on a 27-yard touchdown throw for Westminster's first score with 1:21 left in the first half.
Ellis then found junior wide receiver Alec Fleetwood - a Fulton graduate - on a 53-yard scoring strike with 1:08 to play in the third quarter. Ellis delivered a 15-yard touchdown pass to sophomore wide receiver Jamal Martin with 9:22 remaining in the game.
Ellis then hooked up with Mosby again on a 14-yard touchdown pass with 4:50 to go. Mosby finished with six catches for 125 yards.
The Blue Jays' final score came on a 20-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Bryce Moorman to freshman wide receiver Charles King with 1:36 left.
Junior running back Kalyn Davis rushed for a game-high 142 yards on 20 carries as Westminster piled up 473 yards of total offense.
Jonathan Curti threw for 329 yards and six touchdowns as Nebraska Wesleyan accumulated 365 yards of total offense. Derrick Curtis had six catches for 144 yards and five scores.
The Blue Jays play their home opener against Millsaps at noon Saturday.