SEWANEE, Tenn. - The University of the South football team opens at home for Family Weekend on Saturday against Westminster College (Mo.).
THE BASICS
Sewanee (0-1) vs. Westminster (0-0) | Sept. 18, 1 p.m.
Sewanee, Tenn. | Historic Hardee-McGee Field at Harris Stadium
All-Time Series: Sewanee leads, 2-0
A LOOK AT THE BLUE JAYS: Similar to Sewanee, Westminster had its Week 1 contest contest canceled due to COVID-19 protocols. The Blue Jays were scheduled to host the Praire Fire of Knox College on Sept. 4. After their scheduled bye week last week, the Blue Jays will make the official start to the 2021 season on Saturday on the Domain.
Westminster was able to play three games in the spring edition of the 2020-21 season, winning two against Greenville and Iowa Wesleyan. In 2019, the Blue Jays finished 4-6 and 4-4 in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC). WC finished fourth in the UMAC preseason poll prior to the start of the 2021 season.
Westminster brings back its two offensive weapons under center and in the backfield. Wyatt Ellis posted 15 total touchdowns in 2019 as the QB1 with 1,495 passing yards and a 57% completion rating, while Taylor Dobbins had 270 rushing yards in 2019.
The challenge may come up front, as The Jays will have a veteran crew on the offensive line. On defense, however, only four seniors are scheduled to start on the defensive line.
LAST TIME OUT VS. WC: Satrurday's matchup on the gridiron will be the first meeting between the two schools in 13 seasons and the third overall. Sewanee and Westminster agreed to a home and home in 2007 and 2008 and they will do the same in 2021 and 2022.
In 2008 from Fulton, Mo., Sewanee, trailing 14-7 after the first quarter, outscored WC 19-0 the rest of the way to defeat the Blue Jays, 26-14. Despite the hosts having the slight edge on offensive yardage, 299-296, the Tigers had two interceptions in the second half and a blocked punt return by Alfonza Knight C'12 in the fourth quarter.
ABOUT LAST WEEK: In the season premiere of the Tigers' 127th year of football, the Purple and White were outgunned by a Washington and Lee Team that saw all their offensive production done on the ground.
Despite the setback, the defense saw some key players step up. Sophomore Thomas Latimer posted a game-high 11 tackles, including 1.5 for a loss, while second-year player Jacob Jackson registered a sack while added seven tackles. Keegan Glaze, in his first career collegiate contest, posted seven tackles.
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