Westminster well-represented with area players

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NEW WILMINGTON — The Westminster College football team has 15 players from the Youngstown area on the roster this season.

Those include freshman placekicker Fred Romeo from Struthers High and Lowellville who led the Presidents' Athletic Conference in three categories through four games.

Romeo was No. 1 in field goals, scoring and point-after-touchdown kicking, and No. 2 in field goal percentage, although Westminster struggled to a 1-3 record, including 0-1 in the PAC, under second-year coach Jeff Hand.

Romeo made four of five field goal attempts for 0.75 field goals per game.

He also hit on six of seven extra-point attempts which, coupled with his three FGs, gave him 15 points or 3.8 per game. And his 6-for-7 point-after attempts equaled 85.7 percent.

Romeo enjoyed an outstanding performance in Westminster's 27-24 double-overtime win over Adrian on Sept. 23.

He converted all five of his kicks, including two field goals in overtime from 26 and 21 yards, the latter giving the Titans the win in the second overtime. He also made all three of his extra-point kicks.

For his showing, he was named PAC Offensive Player of the Week and to the d3football.com. national "Team of the Week." The latter honor goes to the nation's top Division III football players at each position from the previous week's games.

However, the following week, Romeo, who was riding a perfect 6-for-6 streak of extra-points, missed the extra-point kick that resulted in the Titans' 21-20 loss to Grove City College.

Rhodes, Buzard sparkle

Another kicking standout for Westminster is Dusty Rhodes, a junior punter from Niles High, who punted 20 times in four games for a 36.9 yard-average that ranked No. 4 in the PAC.

Also, Jake Buzard, senior wide receiver from West Middlesex High, ranked No. 3 in the PAC in pass receptions per game with 5.00 on 20 catches for 183 yards; and No. 5 in receiving yards per game with 45.8.

Other area players with Westminster are seniors Chris Dulovich (Poland), defensive lineman; Kyle Trimble, (Western Reserve), defensive back and punter; and Rich Schrader (Lowellville), a quarterback; juniors Eric Brown (Rayen), a defensive back; sophomores Josh Weese (Beaver Local), a defensive back; Andrew Robison (Wilmington Area), defensive lineman; Brandon Phillian (Wilmington Area), linebacker; Robert Kerr (New Castle), offensive lineman; and freshmen Tyler Kelley (Poland), defensive back; Jim Petrolla (Poland), defensive back; Bill Altenhof (West Branch and Homeworth), offensive lineman; and Mike Snyderwine (Sharon), wide receiver.

Brown has registered 12.5 tackles, including 12 solo stops, and one interception; while Dulovich had 12 tackles, including six solos, for 9 tackles per game. Buzard leads the team in punt returns with four for 5 yards.

Two of the top Westminster players are freshman quarterback Kevin Franz (Finleyville, Pa., Thomas Jefferson High) and sophomore linebacker Jordan Blinn (Industry, Pa., Western Beaver). Franz led the PAC in passing average per game with 197.2 yards on 81 completions in 108 attempts for 789 yards with six TDs. Franz also was No. 1 in total offense with 217.5 yards per game on 870 total yards.

Blinn was the PAC'S No. 2 tackler with 10.2 stops per game on 45 overall (23 solo hits and 18 assists).

Sunday, October 8, 2006