Borgia Head Coach Dale Gildehaus predicted turnovers would play a key role in Friday’s home finale against Westminster.
He was right.
Borgia coughed up the ball five times in the first half and another in the second half in a 49-24 loss to the Wildcats.
While turnovers killed the Knights, penalties kept them in the game. However, that wasn’t close to enough to help Borgia keep up with Westminster.
Westminster improved to 5-2 while the Knights fell to 4-3.
Borgia didn’t need long to jump on the board. The Knights got a run by quarterback John Baumstark from the Borgia 20 to the Westminster three on the second play from scrimmage. Baumstark scored on the next play from three yards out with 11:21 to play in the quarter. Luke Schriewer’s kick made it 7-0 for the Knights.
The Wildcats didn’t need long to respond. Helped by a pass interference call, Brett Bond hit Jacob Hicks for a 29-yard touchdown with 9:25 left in the quarter. David Williams tied the game with the extra-point kick.
After Bond intercepted a Baumstark pass and returned the ball to the Borgia 15, lineman Justin Creighton scored on a one-yard run with 6:27 left in the first quarter. Williams kicked the extra point to make it 14-7.
Borgia came back, but was limited to a Schriewer 21-yard field goal with 4:06 left in the first quarter.
The Knights had another chance when Nick Monzyk intercepted a tipped pass. The Knights followed with a fourth down conversion, but turned the ball back over on a fumble at the Westminster 19.
The Wildcats drove and scored on a 28-yard pass from Bond to Tyler Catlett with 8:11 left in the half. Williams kicked the extra point to make it 21-10.
After another Borgia fumble in Westminster territory, the Wildcats scored on a gimmick play. Receiver Kyle Kinner hit Coby Nye for a 28-yard touchdown with 4:46 left in the half. Williams kicked the extra point to make it 28-10.
After yet another Borgia fumble, the Wildcats sputtered and had to punt. Robbie Vossbrink returned the punt 60 yards for a touchdown to give Borgia a lifeline with 2:20 to play in the half. Schriewer’s kick made it 28-17.
Justin Baylard replaced Baumstark on Borgia’s final drive of the half.
Borgia fumbled the ball two more times before the break, but recovered both of them.
The Knights came back in the third quarter. Controlling the ball on their first possession, Borgia drove down before Jacob Haskins scored on a one-yard pitch from Baumstark with 3:58 to go in the quarter. Schriewer’s extra-point kick cut the deficit to 28-24.
The Wildcats responded with an assertive drive. Bond scored on an eight-yard keeper with 59.2 seconds left in the third quarter to extend the Westminster lead. Williams kicked the extra point to make it 35-24.
Borgia drove to the Westminster 1, but another fumble cost 14 yards and the Knights couldn’t recover. On fourth down, Helfrich tried to come up with a reception, but couldn’t haul in the high pass and the Wildcats took over with 7:11 to play.
The Wildcats struck back after the stop. After a pass play which went over 70 yards, Hicks scored on an eight-yard run with 5:55 left in the game. Williams kicked the extra point to make it 42-24.
Borgia’s next drive ended when Baumstark hit Chris Cacciarelli with a pass. The Westminster defender took the ball back to the Westminster 33 with 4:26 to play.
Alex Rideout added another touchdown for the Wildcats on a 47-yard sweep play to the left side with 1:21 left in the contest. Williams kicked the extra point to make it 49-24.
Box Score
WES 14-14-7-14=49
BOR 10-7-7-0=24
First Quarter
BOR - John Baumstark 3 run (Luke Schriewer kick), 11:21
WES - Jacob Hicks 29 pass from Brett Bond (David Williams kick), 9:25
WES - Justin Creighton 1 run (Williams kick), 6:27
BOR - Schriewer 21 Field Goal, 4:06
Second Quarter
WES - Tyler Catlett 28 pass from Bond (Williams kick), 8:11
WES - Coby Nye 28 pass from Kyle Kinner (Williams kick), 4:46
BOR - Robbie Vossbrink 60 punt return (Schriewer kick)
Third Quarter
BOR - Jacob Haskins 1 run (Schriewer kick), 3:58
WES - Bond 8 run (Williams kick), 59.2
Fourth Quarter
WES - Hicks 18 run (Williams kick), 5:55
WES - Alex Rideout 47 run (Williams kick), 1:21
