The Westminster College football squad was well represented on the 2008 All-St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Football Team which was released Monday by the conference office. The Blue Jays finished the season 4-5 overall and placed fourth in the league standings at 4-3.

Sophomore Jake Hilton and Assistant Coach Troy Tomlin led the list of honor winners. Hilton, a sophomore place kicker from Kirkwood, Missouri (Kirkwood High School), was named Special Teams Newcomer of the Year and earned second team all-league honors. Hilton led the team in scoring with 48 points, making 27-of-31 extra point attempts and 7-of-9 field goals. He tied the individual single-game school record by making two field goals in a game twice; he set an individual single-season school record with his seven field goals, which is also an individual career record. Troy Tomlin, Westminster’s Offensive Coordinator, was selected Assistant Coach of the Year.

Daniel Eidson and Tyson Kankolenski were named to the all-conference first team. Eidson earned first team accolades at quarterback and as the punter. Eidson, a junior from Camdenton, Missouri (Camdenton High School), led the conference in pass efficiency (136.56 rating), was second in total offense (244.56 yards a game) and led the league in punting (38.5 yards a punt). He completed 130-of-229 yards with 17 touchdowns and 12 interceptions, while rushing 87 times for 408 yards and six scores. Eidson averaged 38.5 yards on 35 punts with 10 being downed inside the 20 yard line. Kankolenski earned first team recognition as a receiver. Kankolenski, a sophomore from O’Fallon, Missouri (Fort Zumwalt West High School), was fourth in the league in receiving yards a game (61.2), sixth in receptions a game (3.4), and fifth in kick off returns (19.7 yards a return). He caught 31 passes for 551 yards and four scores, and he returned 12 kicks for 236 yards.

Six players joined Hilton on the all-conference second team, including Wil Lamkin, OL, So., Hermann, Mo./Hermann; Nate Lawson, OL, Fr., Jefferson City, Mo./Helias; Chris Baker, RB, Sr., St. Louis, Mo./Kirkwood; Carl Givens, WR, So., Chesterfield, Mo./Chaminade; Lester Jones, DL, Sr., Kirkwood, Mo./Kirkwood; and Dustin Haynes, LB, Jr., Hannibal, Mo./Hannibal. The two players earning honorable mention honors are Alex Ploesser, DB, Jr., Ballwin, Mo./Parkway South, and Kyle Wagner, DB, Jr., St. Louis, Mo./Kirkwood.

Jones Rewarded For His Role In Westminster's 37-6 Victory

Westminster College senior defensive lineman Lester Jones has been named the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Week for the week of November 3-9 for his play in Westminster’s 37-6 season-ending win over Blackburn College.

Jones, a 5-11, 245 pound defensive lineman from Kirkwood, Missouri (Kirkwood High), recorded six solo tackles and three assisted tackles for a Blue Jay defense that limited Blackburn to 112 yards of offense. Jones tied a school record with five tackles for losses of 35 yards and added two sacks for losses of 14 yards.

Westminster Blue Jays End 2008 Season With 37-6 Road Win

Westminster College closed out the 2008 football season with a 37-6 St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference victory over Blackburn College Saturday in Carlinville, Illinois. The Blue Jays, who finish the season 4-5 overall and fourth in the league standings at 4-3, led 17-0 at halftime in winning their 12th consecutive game in the series with Blackburn (2-8, 1-6 SLIAC) and now lead the all-time series 12-1.

Senior Chris Baker gave Westminster an early lead it would never relinquish with a 38-yard touchdown run. Sophomore Jake Hilton added the extra point and followed with a 40-yard field goal. Near the end of the first half, junior Daniel Eidson hit senior Chad Shank with a 14-yard scoring pass. Hilton converted the point after attempt and the Blue Jays went to the locker room with a 17-0 lead.

Blackburn tallied its lone score in the third quarter, but Westminster put the game away in the fourth quarter with one-yard touchdown runs by Eidson, senior Josh Wiltfong, Baker, and three extra points by Hilton. Offensively, the Blue Jays compiled 436 yards. Baker led all rushers with 157 yards and two scores. Eidson added 39 yards rushing and a score, and Eidson completed 14 passes for 215 yards and a touchdown. Shank caught three passes for 52 yards and a score while Baker recorded 43 receiving yards on two passes.

The Westminster defense held Blackburn to 112 yards, led by senior Lester Jones who recorded nine tackles, five tackles for 35 yards in losses and two sacks for 14 yards in losses. Junior Dustin Haynes recorded eight tackles and junior Alex Ploesser recorded his second interception of the season.

Record Watch: Hilton finishes the season with an individual single-season record seven field goals, which is also a Westminster individual career record…The victory over Blackburn was John Welty's 50th win as head coach of the Blue Jays. Welty is 50-45 in ten seasons.

Westminster Interceptions Prove Costly In 29-27 Loss

Greenville College used two interceptions to set up a pair of fourth-quarter scores and slipped past Westminster College 29-27 in St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football Saturday in Fulton.

The Blue Jays (3-5, 3-3 SLIAC) battled back from an early 15-3 deficit to enter the fourth quarter with a 20-15 lead, but Greenville (5-4, 4-2 SLIAC) took advantage of two interceptions and scored twice in the final six minutes of the game to grab a 29-20 lead. Westminster scored in the final minute, but was unable to get the onside kick and Greenville ran out the clock for the win.

Daniel Eidson rushed for 63 yards and one score and Chris Baker rushed for 55 yards to pace the Blue Jay ground attack. Eidson added 290 yards passing with touchdown passes to Tyson Kankolenski and Chad Shank, but he threw three interceptions. Kankolenski caught eight passes for 127 yards while Shank added 54 receiving yards on five receptions. Kicker Jake Hilton tied his own individual single-game school record by making two field goals and in the process he extended his individual single-season and career records. Hilton has made six field goals this season in his first season as a Blue Jay.

Saturday’s contest was the final home game of the 2008 season and final home appearance for seniors Baker, Ryan Evers, Shank, Josh Wiltfong, Sam Lawson, Broc Silvers, Neil McCutcheon and Lester Jones. Westminster closes out the season this week at Blackburn College in Carlinville, Illinois.

Huntingdon Spoils Westminster College's Homecoming, 44-19

Huntingdon College spoiled Westminster College’s Homecoming, handing the Blue Jays a 44-19 St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference defeat Saturday in Fulton.

After playing to a 0-0 stalemate in the first quarter, Westminster (3-4, 3-2 SLIAC) took a 3-0 lead on a 28-yard Jake Hilton field goal. In the final two minutes of the second quarter Huntingdon (7-0, 5-0 SLIAC) tied the score and then took the lead for good on a touchdown with 23 seconds left in the half. Huntingdon scored two touchdowns early in the third period and Westminster never got closer than 14 points.

Chris Baker led Westminster with 39 yards on 17 carries and Daniel Eidson rushed 20 times for 36 yards and a score. Eidson also threw for 237 yards and a score, while Tyson Kankolenski caught six passes for 120 yards. Carl Givens made four catches for 44 yards and a TD. Defensively, Dustin Haynes led all players with eight tackles for the Blue Jays. Alex Ploesser and Neil McCutcheon each recorded seven tackles.

Blue Jays Drop First-Ever Football Game with LaGrange

The Westminster College football squad trailed LaGrange College 20-14 entering the fourth quarter, but gave up 17 unanswered points in a 37-20 St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference loss Saturday in LaGrange, Georgia.

The Blue Jays (3-3, 3-1 SLIAC) compiled 255 yards of offense, with just 98 yards coming on the ground. Meanwhile, LaGrange (6-1, 4-0 SLIAC) rolled up 317 yards rushing and 518 yards of offense to win the first-ever meeting between the two schools.

Daniel Eidson led the Westminster offense, completing 17-of-38 passes for 157 yards, with three touchdowns and one interception. Eidson also rushed for a team-high 49 yards, while Chris Baker carried the ball 11 times for 40 yards. Carl givens recorded four receptions for 53 yards, and Josh Wiltfong, Chad Shank and Zach Flanders caught touchdown passes. Flanders scoring catch came on the last play of the game.

The Blue Jay defense could not contain Mario Wallace and LaGrange. Wallace rushed for 185 yards on 31 carries and one score, and the LaGrange offense averaged 7.2 yards a play. Robreese Williams recorded seven tackles and an interception to lead Westminster. Lester Jones added six tackles with two tackles for eight yards in losses.

Click here for Westminster/LaGrange stats...

Baker Scores Four Touchdowns In 45-24 Win Over MacMurray

Chris Baker, a senior running back from St. Louis, Missouri (Kirkwood High School), rushed for 128 yards and tied his own single-game school record with four touchdown runs in Westminster College's 45-24 St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football win over MacMurray College Saturday in Jacksonville, Illinois.
 
The Blue Jays (3-2, 3-0 SLIAC), who have won three games in a row, finished the day with a season-high 511 yards of offense. In addition to Baker, Daniel Eidson rushed for 45 yards and two scores and Eidson completed 23-of-35 pass attempts for 328 yards. Carl Givens caught six passes for 94 yards and Chad Shank finished with 83 yards receiving on four passes.
 
While Baker and Eidson accounted for Westminster's six touchdowns, kicker Jake Hilton, also from Kirkwood High School in St. Louis, converted six extra-point attempts and made a 34-yard field goal. Hilton, who tied the single-game record with two field goals last week, is now the single-season school record holder with three field goals and is tied for the career lead with three field goals.
 
Although MacMurray (1-5, 0-3 SLIAC) compiled 431 yards of offense, turnovers proved costly. Westminster recovered a MacMurray fumble and recorded three interceptions by defensive backs Kyle Wagner, Alex Ploesser and Darian Garey.

Schembre Living The Dream At Westminster College

Fulton, Mo. - By just looking at the 2008 Westminster College football roster, nothing unique sticks out about #51 Bob Schembre, a 5-8, 200-pound linebacker from Crystal City, Missouri. But, Bob Schembre is unique in the world of college football. Bob is a husband, the father of two other Westminster College students, and Bob is 51-years old.

Schembre arrived at Westminster through a circuitous route. After graduating from Crystal City High School, Schembre joined the United States Navy and served six years. He got married after his discharge from the service and started a family. But, it was not until his second son, Michael, left home to join his brother Bob at Westminster, that the elder Schembre began embracing the idea of living out his dreams of continuing his education and possibly playing college football.

Schembre is not new to higher education. After receiving a three-year diploma in Theology from Tennessee Temple University, Schembre began a 25-year stint in ministry, which he is involved with today. A year or so ago, while he was speaking with his pastor, the idea of pursuing a graduate degree was discussed. And since his sons were attending Westminster, completing an undergraduate degree and spending more time with his sons became a reality.

Not surprisingly, the idea of participating it football came from conversations with family and friends. After all, Schembre loves the game of football. And then, Schembre met Westminster Head Coach John Welty. Schembre was admittedly nervous about the first meeting to discuss playing football, but when Coach Welty remarked, “Who am I to tell you that you can’t try it,” Schembre knew he was in the presence of a special person and he knew he would have a special opportunity to live out another dream.

It has not been easy. Schembre began running and lifting weights to get in shape. And, then there was the challenge of football camp with young men the age of his sons. And, there were the evening ice baths to ease the aching bones. Driving back to Crystal City to take care of family business has been stressful, and there was a minor injury. But through it all, Schembre’s wife, Faith, has been by his side, along with one roommate, son Michael.

Schembre credits his family, the Westminster coaching staff and players, and his faith with making it to this point in his current educational and football career. And, it goes without saying that after he made a tackle in last weekend’s 48-6 win over Principia College, it was a proud moment when his teammates chanted, “Bob, Bob, Bob…”

Hilton Earns Player Of The Week Recognition By SLIAC

Westminster College’s Jake Hilton has earned St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Player of the Week honors for the week of September 29-October 5.

Hilton, a sophomore kicker from Kirkwood, Missouri (Kirkwood High School), has been named the SLIAC Football Special Teams Player of the Week. Hilton went 2-for-2 in field goal attempts with a long attempt of 35 yards as the Blue Jays defeated Principia College 48-6. The two field goals were his first attempts of the season. He also was 6-of-6 in extra point attempts, bringing his season total to 13-of-15.

Blue Jays Score Early And Often In 48-6 Home Victory

Westminster College rolled up 463 yards of offense and scored 48 unanswered points in downing Principia College 48-6 in St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football Saturday in Fulton.

The Blue Jays (2-2, 2-0 SLIAC) jumped out to a 35-0 lead by intermission and added two Jake Hilton field goals in the third quarter, and a Joe Nixon touchdown run in the final frame to wrap up the victory. Principia (0-5, 0-2 SLIAC) avoided the shut out with 40 seconds remaining in the game when Martin Buchanan hit Paul Cooper with a five-yard pass.

Daniel Eidson guided Westminster on five scoring drives in the first half. Eidson scored one touchdown on the ground and threw three touchdown passes, two to Chad Shank and one to Tyson Kankolenski. Eidson finished the game 6-of-10 for 96 yards passing and added 68 yards rushing. Shank caught two passes for 51 yards and two scores while Kankolenski caught one pass for 18 yards and a touchdown. Chris Baker carried the ball 10 times for 80 yards and Josh Wiltfong rushed for 38 yards and a score. Hilton connected on his six extra point attempts and two field goal attempts.

Defensively, Westminster limited Principia to 207 yards. Clinton McKenna and Ivan Malpica each recorded five tackles, Clark Roberts and Justin King each recovered fumbles, and Robreese Williams recorded an interception (click for game stats).

Westminster's Eidson Earns Two Weekly Conference Awards

Westminster College's Daniel Eidson, a junior from Camdenton, Missouri (Camdenton High School), has been named the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Offensive Football Player of the Week and Special Teams Football Player of the Week for the week of September 22-28.

Eidson, a 6-3 quarterback, was making his first start of the season behind center and threw for 298 yards and five touchdowns in Westminster's 42-25 victory over Eureka College in the conference opener for both teams on Saturday, September 27, in Fulton. It was Westminster’s first win of the season. Eidson was 19-of-23 in passing with a long pass of 78 yards and two interceptions. Eidson also rushed 10 times for 95 yards.

Additionally, Eidson punted three times for 107 yards. He averaged 35.7 yards per punt, recorded a long punt of 39 yards and had one punt downed inside the 20-yard line. He also kicked off seven times and recorded one touchback for the Blue Jays (1-2, 1-0 SLIAC).

Eidson Leads Westminster To Victory In SLIAC Opener

Daniel Eidson threw for 298 yards and five touchdowns, and added 95 yards rushing in Westminster College's 42-25 victory over Eureka College in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference opener for both teams Saturday in Fulton, Missouri.
 
The Blue Jays (1-2, 1-0 SLIAC) compiled a season-high 496 yards of offense in winning the first-ever meeting with Eureka (1-2, 0-1 SLIAC). Eidson, who was making his first start at quarterback, completed 19 of 23 passes. Tyson Kankolenski caught six passes for 96 yards and one score, Carl Givens caught three passes for 90 yards and two scores, while Chad Shank caught four passes for 38 yards and two touchdowns. Chris Baker rushed for 89 yards and one touchdown to round out the Westminster scoring in the third quarter.
 
Defensively, the Blue Jays gave up 418 yards, but turned Eureka away on three drives with interceptions by Robreese Williams and Kyle Wagner, and a fumble recovery by Blaine Whitworth. Clark Roberts led the defense with 12 tackles (click for game stats).

Athletic Events Highlight Of Westminster Family Weekend

The Westminster College campus will be abuzz at the end of the week because of Family Weekend. And many of the activities are Blue Jay intercollegiate athletic events.

The weekend activities begin at 3:30 p.m. Friday with the intrasquad tennis scrimmage. At 7:00 p.m. Friday, the Family Weekend Pep Rally, sponsored by the Westminster Cheerleaders, will be held at Latshaw Plaza.

Four Westminster athletic teams compete in St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference action Saturday, including the volleyball, football, women’s soccer and men’s soccer squads (see schedule below).

2008 Westminster College Family
Weekend Athletic Schedule

Fri., Sept. 26
Tennis Intrasquad Scrimmage, Home, 3:30
Family Weekend Pep Rally, Latshaw Plaza, 7:00
Sat., Sept. 27
* Volleyball vs. Maryville, Home, 10:30
* Football vs. Eureka, Home, 1:00
* Volleyball vs. MacMurray, Home, 2:30
* Women’s Soccer vs. Blackburn, Home, 5:00
* Men’s Soccer vs. Blackburn, Home, 7:00
* SLIAC Contests

Westminster Has Extra Week To Prepare For SLIAC Opener

After starting the season 0-2, the Westminster College football squad has a week off, giving the Blue Jays the opportunity to rest and prepare for their St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference opener against Eureka College at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, September 27, in Fulton. Additionally, the Westminster-Eureka contest will be played in front of a Family Weekend crowd.

Ironically, Eureka (1-1) has the week off as well, but that is where the similarities end. Westminster and Eureka have never met on the football field, and Eureka is coming off a win. There are even some major statistical differences. Westminster is averaging just 265 offensive yards a game and gains 211 yards a game through the air. Eureka is averaging 294.5 yards a game with 221.5 yards a game coming on the ground. On defense, Westminster is giving up 433 yards and 35.5 points a game, while Eureka is giving up 313.5 yards and 17 points a game.

Click For SLIAC Football:
http://www.sliac.org/mens3/football/

Blue Jays Let Early Lead Slip Away In Season-Opening Loss

Westminster College let a 14-7 first quarter lead slip away in a 26-14 season-opening loss to Sewanee-The University of the South Saturday on Priest Field in Fulton, Missouri.

Sewanee (1-0) took an early 7-0 lead on an 11-yard run by Trey Reliford and an Andrew Gould extra point. The Blue Jays (0-1) scored on a six-yard pass from Ryan Evers to Carl Givens. The extra point kick was blocked, but Evers and Givens connected on a seven-yard pass later in the quarter. Daniel Eidson ran in the two-point conversion and Westminster led 14-7.

Sewanee tied the score 14-14 early in the second quarter on a Patrick Shelton four-yard run and a Gould extra point, and as time ran out in the half, Gould hit a 26-yard field goal to put his team on top to stay, 17-14. Sewanee closed out the scoring in the second half with Gould’s second field goal of the game and a 20-yard blocked punt return by Braxton Redeagle.

Josh Wiltfong led Westminster with 63 yards rushing on 13 carries and Chris Baker added 56 yards on 13 carries. Evers completed 18-of-30 passed for 214 yards and two touchdown passes, but was picked off twice. Givens led all receivers with six catches for 39 yards and two touchdowns, while Baker caught four passes for 71 yards. However, Reliford helped Sewanee control the clock, rushing 36 times for 158 yards and two scores.

Westminster Picked Third In SLIAC Preseason Football Poll

Westminster College is picked third in the preseason football poll of St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference coaches. The 2008 season marks the first time since 1999 that the SLIAC will sponsor football as a championship sport. Huntingdon College and LaGrange College both joined the SLIAC as affiliate members in football only, and they join a core group of institutions that will have the opportunity to receive an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III playoffs beginning with the 2010 season.

Huntingdon received six first-place votes and is the preseason pick to capture the conference title. Greenville College received two first-place votes and is second in the poll followed by 3. Westminster, 4. LaGrange, 5. Blackburn College, 6. Eureka College, 7. MacMurray College and 8. Principia College.

For the past six seasons (2002-2007), Westminster played football in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC), winning UMAC titles in 2003 and 2004. But, before that the SLIAC sponsored football for four season from 1996-1999. Westminster compiled an 11-4 conference record during those four years and earned a share of SLIAC titles in 1996 and 1998.

Preseason Practice Begins This Week At Westminster College

The 2008-09 Westminster College athletic season gets underway this week when student-athletes from four intercollegiate teams report for preseason practice.

Football players are the first to report, arriving on campus Thursday, August 14. Following orthopedic physicals and dinner, the team will meet for its first practice at 6:30 p.m. Thursday evening. The Blue Jays host The University of the South in their home and season opener at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, September 6.

The members of the Westminster volleyball squad arrive for preseason practice on Sunday, August 17. The Blue Jays open the season at the Illinois College Tournament on August 30 and 31 in Jacksonville, Illinois.

Soccer players on both the men's and women's squads arrive on Sunday, August 17. The Westminster men open the season against Birmingham Southern on August 29 in Birmingham, Alabama. The Blue Jay women open on the road at Wisconsin Lutheran on September 2 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Westminster Football Begins New Era With Return To SLIAC

Westminster College begins a new era of intercollegiate football during the 2008 season when the Blue Jays begin competing for a St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) title.

For the past six seasons (2002-2007), Westminster played football in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC), winning UMAC titles in 2003 and 2004. But, the SLIAC has reintroduced football as a championship sport with eight schools competing for this year’s title. The SLIAC previously sponsored football from 1996-1999. Westminster compiled an 11-4 conference record during those four years and earned a share of SLIAC titles in 1996 and 1998.

2008 Westminster College (Mo.) Football Schedule
Sat., Sept. 6, U. of the South, Home, 1:00
Sat., Sept. 13, at Washington U., St. Louis, Mo., 7:00
Sat., Sept. 27, * % Eureka, Home, 1:00
Sat., Oct. 4, * Principia, Home, 1:00
Sat., Oct. 11, * at MacMurray, Jacksonville, Ill., 1:00
Sat., Oct. 18, * at LaGrange, LaGrange, Ga., 1:00 EDT
Sat., Oct. 25, * # Huntingdon, Home, 12:00 noon
Sat., Nov. 1, * Greenville, Home, 1:00
Sat., Nov. 8, * at Blackburn, Carlinville, Ill., 12:00 noon
* SLIAC Contests
% Family Weekend
# Homecoming

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