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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