The season to forget continued for Crown College on Saturday, as they headed to Fulton, Missouri to take on the Westminster College Blue Jays. Crown had entered the contest 0-6, and were looking to get that first win under their belts. However, Blue Jays quarterback Trent White had other ideas, rushing for 137 and 3 touchdowns and throwing for another in the 56-15 victory. That moved Westminster to 3-4.

Each team would reach the end zone in the first quarter. Crown’s first possession ended in disaster when Luke Lithander’s pass to Damien Jeffries was caught and then fumbled. Ben Holt recovered at the Crown 28. Four plays later, the Blue Jays reached the end zone. Chase Abbington scored from four yards out and it was 7-0.

The Storm responded with an impressive 10-play, 84-yard drive that made this a one-point game. Quarterback Luke Lithander completed a 19-yard pass to Anthony Laureno that really got the drive going. On second and 7 at the Westminster College 25, it looked like disaster would strike again for Crown when Lithander fumbled, but he was able to recover the ball to set up third and 7. On the next play he found Nick McCormick for a  first down, and Derek Chilcoate would score from two-yards out two plays later to make it 7-6.

Into the second quarter the game would go, where Crown took the lead. The Storm mounted an impressive 19-play drive that started at their own two yard line and moved 96-yards before they were faced with fourth and goal at the WC two. Coach John Auer opted for the field goal, and Corey Huard drilled it to make it 9-7.

The euphoria did not last long, however. The Blue Jays started their next drive at their own 35 and needed just three plays to reach the end zone and retake the lead. After Abbington gained 12 yards on two carries, White kept the ball and broke containment, racing 53-yards for the touchdown to make it 14-9.

Westminster College would reach the end zone on their next possession as well. This time it was White with his arm that led the way, completing a 17-yard pass to Lucas Robinson on the second play of the drive, and finishing it off with a 27-yard strike to Robinson for the score. That made it 21-9 which would be the score heading into the half.

The Blue Jays received the opening kickoff of the second half and Abbington brought the crowd to its feet, racing 85-yards for the touchdown to make it 28-9. That was the senior running back’s fourth TD of the season.

With 5:31 left in the third quarter, it would be White that would add his second touchdown of the game. After Crown turned the ball over on downs at the Blue Jays 13, the Westminster quarterback gained 18-yards on the first play from scrimmage, then Abbington raced for 16-yards to move the ball to the 47. White then kept the ball once again, racing for the end zone and his second 53-yard touchdown of the game to make it 35-9.

In the fourth quarter, the Westminster College Blue Jays blew this game open. White scored his third touchdown of the game from eight yards out to make it 43-9.

On the next possession for Westminster, Crown College defensive lineman Tyler Byrd forced a fumble at the Blue Jays 48. Jeremiah Jones recovered and raced 48 yards for the touchdown to make it 43-15.

Westminster would add two more scores. Jordan Shockley intercepted a Lithander pass at the Crown 34. One play later, Matt Williams burst outside and raced for the end zone to make it 49-15. Ketrick Large added a 31-yard touchdown run, and the Blue Jays were the 56-15 victors.

Trent White led the Westminster offense, going 4-8 passing for 73-yards and a touchdown, and rushing 9 times for 137-yards and 3-touchdowns. Chase Abbington had 13-carries for 77-yards and had a rushing and a return TD. Crown got 55-yards rushing from Damien Jeffries.

The Crown College Storm are at home next week where they will take on St. Scholastica. Kickoff is set for 1 PM.

Boxscore

By Robert Pannier