Football Tops MacMurray, 27-21
The Westminster football team defeated MacMurray College, 27-21, Saturday afternoon to stay undefeated in Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) play. The Westminster Blue Jays are now 2-0 in conference and 2-1 overall.
The MacMurray Highlanders grabbed a touchdown on the first drive of the game to take a 7-0 lead. The Blue Jays’ sophomore Jack Williams returned the ball 23 yards to start the Blue Jays on their own 43-yard line. They pushed their way to the MacMurray 25-yard line with 1st and 10, but two incomplete passes left the Blue Jays with 4th and 5. Junior Kevin Ludwig attempted a field goal from the 42-yard line, but the ball came up short.
The Blue Jays gave the Highlanders only three chances to convert on their drive, but MacMurray fell short, giving the Blue Jays the ball on the MacMurray 49-yard line. The Blue Jays brought the ball up to the 8-yard line, but were unable to complete the pass into the endzone, handing the ball to MacMurray on their 8-yard line with 14 seconds left in the first.
The Blue Jays stopped the Highlanders from converting, putting the ball on the MacMurray 44-yard line. With three rushes for 26 yards by freshman Latif Adams, the Blue Jays were 1st and 10 on the MacMurray 30-yard line. A MacMurray pass interference put the Blue Jays just 15 yards out. A 10-yard pass to senior Kyle Watts gave the Blue Jays 1st and goal on the 3-yard line. Senior quarterback Joe Plassmeyer rushed the ball one yard to score the Blue Jays’ first touchdown of the game. Ludwig’s PAT was good, tying the game up at 7-7.
Seven complete passes from Plassmeyer, including an 18-yard pass to junior CJ Vaughan and a 15-yard pass to sophomore Mike Washington, put the Blue Jays at 1st and goal on the 9-yard line. A 5-yard rush by Adams gave the Blue Jays their second touchdown, and the PAT by Ludwig was good, giving the Blue Jays a 14-7 lead.
MacMurray answered back with a 54-yard pass followed by a 9-yard touchdown rush to tie the game up at 14-14.
On the opening drive of the second half, the Blue Jays received, and a touchback put them on their own 25-yard line. The Blue Jays received new life after MacMurray committed pass interference with 4th and 10, giving the Blue Jays 1st and goal on the 2-yard line. Adams rushed the ball in, taking back the lead. Ludwig’s PAT was good, giving the Blue Jays the 21-14 advantage.
The Blue Jays shut down the Highlanders on the following drive, forcing them to punt. A 22-yard pass from Plassmeyer to junior Austin Kempker gave the Blue Jays a first down on the MacMurray 3-yard line, and a 3-yard rush by freshman Brendan Dallas gave the Blue Jays their fourth touchdown of the day. Ludwig’s kick was no good, putting the Blue Jays up 27-14 heading into the fourth quarter.
An interception by MacMurray led to a touchdown, closing the lead gap to just 6 points, 27-21, with 6:55 left in the game.
An interception by sophomore Brett Simon stopped MacMurray, but the Blue Jays missed their 44-yard field goal attempt.
An incomplete pass by MacMurray on 4th and 17 put the ball on the MacMurray 46-yard line for the Blue Jays with just 41 seconds left in the game. The Blue Jays ran out the time, ending the game with a 27-21 win.
Plassmeyer threw 248 yards with 26 completions. Adams led the offense with 2 touchdowns and 120 rushing yards. Vaughan finished with 72 receiving yards on 8 receptions.
Senior Steven Scott led the Blue Jay defense with 4.5 tackles, including two sacks for a loss of 14 yards.
The Blue Jays host the College of Saint Scholastica on Saturday, September 27 at 1:00 p.m.
