NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. – The Westminster Titans jumped out to a 31-0 lead Saturday and held on for a 40-28 victory over the Thiel Tomcats at Harold Burry Stadium in New Wilmington, Pa.
 
After falling behind early, the Tomcats rebounded late in the first half when Ryan Radke (Lancaster, N.Y./Lancaster Central) threw a 10-yard touchdown lob to freshman wide receiver Marcus Johnson (Pittsburgh, Pa./University Prep) in the far corner of the end zone. Jon Fennick (New Castle, Pa./Neshannock ) added the extra point, and the Tomcats trailed 31-7 at the half.
 
The Titans scored touchdowns on each of their first three possessions Saturday. Khurazze Williams scored the first two TDs on passes of 31- and 10-yards from quarterback Paul Columbo. Jametrius Bentley scored the third touchdown on an 8-yard run with 5:12 left in the first quarter.
 
Columbo threw a 48-yard touchdown pass to Cody Alward early in the second quarter, and Justin Dahl added a 29-yard field goal with 2:02 remaining in the first half to give the Titans a commanding lead.
 
The Titans added to their lead midway through the third quarter when Dahl made his second field goal of the contest, this one from 28 yards.
 
Radke and the Tomcats responded with two straight touchdown passes on consecutive drives early in the fourth quarter to cut the Titan lead down to 13 points.
 
Radke's first touchdown pass in the fourth quarter was a 14-yard strike to Alex Horvatits (Lancaster, N.Y./Saint Mary's ). His second was a 77-yard highlight reel bomb to Johnson.
 
With the result of the game still in doubt, Columbo threw his fourth touchdown pass of the game with 10:01 remaining in regulation to Taran Sifontes-Lavine to give the Titans a comfortable 19-point lead.
 
Radke closed out scoring with 44 seconds remaining in the contest when he scored on a 2-yard run.
 
Radke led the Tomcats with 62 rushing yards on 19 attempts. He completed 24-of-53 passes for 323 yards. Radke's 53 passing attempts were the third most by a Thiel quarterback in a single game. He threw three touchdown passes Saturday and one interception.
 
Johnson had seven receptions for 168 yards. Two of his catches went for touchdowns. Horvatits and Ron Howard (Sharon, Pa./Sharon) made five catches apiece for 59 and 56 yards, respectively.
 
Columbo completed 20-of-30 passes for 317 yards. He threw four touchdown passes and no interceptions.
 
Wes Schmidt (Kittanning, Pa./Kittanning) tallied 14 tackles, the most by a Thiel defender in a single game this season, and one forced fumble. Also for Thiel, Tom Thorpe (Charleroi, Pa./Charleroi) and Steve Kozuch (Templeton, Pa./West Shamokin) each recorded 1.5 sacks.
 
The Tomcats will be back in action Saturday, Oct. 25 when they host the Waynesburg Yellow Jackets at Alumni Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.