GROVE CITY, Pa. — The Grove City College football team dropped a 52-23 verdict to visiting Westminster in Presidents’ Athletic Conference action Saturday afternoon at Robert E. Thorn Field.
(Photo of Ethan Conto from his senior year at Karns City. Photo by Mike Schnelle. Check out more of Schnelle’s work here)
The Wolverines broke through with three touchdowns in the second half as senior quarterback Caleb Jakiel (Moon Township, Pa./Moon) threw one touchdown pass and also ran for a score. Jakiel fired a career-long 87-yard touchdown pass to freshman wide receiver Nick Ponikvar (Bridgeville, Pa./South Fayette) with 6:09 left in the third quarter to give Grove City its first touchdown of the afternoon.
With 12 minutes left, Jakiel scored on a one-yard sneak to cap a 14-play, 95-yard drive.
The Wolverines closed the scoring with 1:50 left when senior quarterback Antonio Carroscia (Stow, Ohio/Cuyahoga Valley Christian) fired a 19-yard touchdown pass to junior wide receiver Matt Pennypacker (Lititz, Pa./Warwick).
Jakiel finished the game 17 of 35 for 231 yards. Carroscia went 3 of 3 for 73 yards in relief. Ponikvar led Grove City with eight catches for 109 yards. Senior wide receiver Brett Pinson (Canton, Ohio/Jackson) recorded four receptions for 90 yards.
Freshman running back Wesley Schools (Sparrowbush, N.Y./Port Jervis) ran for 117 yards on 25 carries. Grove City finished the game with 423 offensive yards.
Sophomore cornerback Ethan Conto (Bruin, Pa./Karns City) led the defense with eight total tackles. Senior defensive end Dan Dorman (Canton, Ohio/GlenOak) recorded two tackles for loss. Freshman defensive tackle Colton Young (Orangeville, Pa./Central Columbia) blocked an extra point, his third blocked kick of the season.
Westminster (5-1, 3-1 PAC) jumped out to a 10-0 lead but Grove City cut the lead to seven at the 1:56 mark of the first quarter when freshman kicker Mitch Causer (Johnstown, Pa./Westmont-Hilltop) booted a 29-yard field goal. However, Westminster rattled off 42 straight points before Ponikvar’s touchdown catch.
Westminster quarterback Paul Columbo completed 10 of 17 passes for 204 yards and four touchdowns. Domonique McKinley ran for 64 yards on 13 carries. Westminster outgained Grove City, 429-423. Each team had 18 first downs.
Grove City returns to action October 29 at conference archrival Geneva. Kickoff in Beaver Falls, Pa., is 7 p.m.
