Saint Vincent football set to take on reigning PAC champ Westminster
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NCAA Division III
Presidents’ Athletic Conference
Saint Vincent (4-4, 3-4 PAC) at Westminster (6-2, 6-1 PAC)
1 p.m. Saturday, Harold Burry Stadium, New Wilmington
Series: Westminster leads 16-3
Last meeting: Westminster 42, Saint Vincent 14 on Sept. 21, 2019
About Saint Vincent: In last week’s 34-7 loss to Carnegie Mellon, sophomore receiver Molayo Irefin made 10 catches for 112 yards and a touchdown, marking the third straight game in which he recorded 10 receptions and eclipsed 100 yards.
Through eight games, Irefin ranks second in the PAC — and 13th in Division III — with 60 receptions, the third most in a single season in Saint Vincent program history. Irefin has 797 receiving yards on the year, also second in the league and third most in a season in team history, four outside of second place (Damon Black Jr., 801 yards, 2016) and 90 away from the top spot (D.J. Oceant-Kelly, 881 yards, 2016).
Additionally, Irefin leads the PAC in all-purpose yards (1,491), which ranks fifth in D-III, while his kickoff return average of 23.6 yards is second in the conference.
With his 18-yard touchdown pass to Irefin in the CMU game, junior quarterback Brady Walker became Saint Vincent’s all-time leader in touchdown passes with 32, surpassing coach Aaron Smetanka, who threw for 31 in his two-year Bearcats career.
Walker has thrown at least one touchdown in all 18 games of his career. Through eight games this season, Walker has thrown for 2,150 yards, the third-most in a single season in team history, while his 3,566 career passing yards rank second all-time at Saint Vincent, behind only Smetanka’s 4,117.
Coach: Aaron Smetanka (9-13, third season).
About Westminster: The Titans are riding a three-game winning streak, most recently routing Bethany, 42-6, last week. They also defeated No. 11 Washington & Jefferson, 23-18.
The Titans scored three first-quarter touchdowns and led 35-6 at halftime. Westminster quarterback Cole Konieczka threw for 199 yards and four touchdowns.
Through the first eight games of the season, the Titans defense has 23 sacks, second most in the PAC, while their 12 interceptions are third in the PAC.
Konieczka’s 19 touchdown passes are second in the league.
The Titans are the defending PAC champs after going 5-0 during the abbreviated spring 2021 season and topping W&J in the PAC title game.
Coach: Scott Benzel (54-23, eighth season)