Saint Bonifacius, MN — The Westminster College football team turned in a dominant performance on the ground and delivered a strong defensive effort Saturday afternoon, earning a 30-14 Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) victory over Crown College at Old National Bank Stadium. The Blue Jays improved to 4-1 overall and 2-0 in UMAC play, controlling the line of scrimmage and outgaining the Polars 381-139 in total offense. Westminster rushed for 227 yards, averaged 4.9 yards per carry, and held Crown to just 18 rushing yards on 27 attempts. Westminster established its physical presence early, opening the scoring with a 5-yard touchdown run by Martez Stephenson late in the first quarter. The Blue Jays put together an eight-play, 66-yard drive to take a 7-0 lead. Crown answered with a 39-yard interception return for a touchdown in the second quarter to tie the game at 7-7. Westminster responded with a determined drive before halftime, covering 75 yards in nine plays and taking the lead back on Cameron Smith’s 1-yard touchdown run as time expired. Sher Htoo added the extra point to give the Blue Jays a 14-7 advantage at the break. Westminster wasted little time extending its lead in the third quarter. On the opening possession of the second half, Stephenson broke free for a 59-yard touchdown run, pushing the Blue Jays ahead 21-7. The defense continued to make its presence felt, adding a safety to extend the advantage to 23-7. Westminster then capitalized on another opportunity, as Trey Thomas connected with Jeremiah Thomas for a 3-yard touchdown pass to cap a five-play, 30-yard drive. The Blue Jays’ three third-quarter scores pushed the lead to 30-7. Crown added a touchdown late in the quarter, but Westminster’s defense shut out the Polars in the fourth to secure the 30-14 road victory. Stephenson finished the day with 230 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 27 carries. His 59-yard scoring run highlighted a day in which he consistently created explosive plays and powered the Westminster offense. Smith added a rushing touchdown, while Trey Thomas completed 12 of 19 passes for 154 yards and a touchdown. Cole Harrell led the Blue Jays with four receptions for 73 yards, and James Jones added two catches for 42 yards. The Westminster defense was equally impressive, limiting Crown to eight first downs and just 139 total yards. The Blue Jays held the Polars to 1-of-11 on third-down conversions and recorded eight sacks, consistently disrupting Crown’s offensive rhythm. The defensive effort, combined with Westminster’s ability to sustain drives and control possession, helped the Blue Jays dictate the pace throughout the afternoon. Westminster held the ball for 34:37 compared to Crown’s 25:23. With the victory, the Blue Jays continued their strong start to conference play and secured another important road win as they pursue their goals for the 2026 season. Westminster returns to action Saturday, Oct. 17, when the Blue Jays host the University of Northwestern at Blue Jay Field. Kickoff is scheduled for 11 a.m.