GROVE CITY, Pa. -- Junior running back Nico Flati (Aliquippa, Pa./West Allegheny) ran for a game-high 114 yards while the Grove City defense held visiting Westminster to 11 first downs and 67 rushing yards Saturday afternoon as the Wolverines earned a 17-7 Presidents' Athletic Conference win at Robert E. Thorn Field in the 2023 season opener.

After allowing a touchdown on the first possession of the game, Grove City blanked Westminster on its final seven drives and limited Westminster to 118 total yards on those seven possessions. Overall, Grove City held Westminster to 183 offensive yards.

Sophomore linebacker Ben Bladel (Coraopolis, Pa./Moon) helped lead the defensive effort with two sacks and a forced fumble. Sophomore linebacker Jack Jollie (Jeannette, Pa./Penn Trafford) recorded seven stops in his first start while junior defensive end Bryce Spolnik (McDonald, Pa./South Fayette) added six stops, including two for loss.

Grove City forged a 7-7 tie with 3:16 left in the first quarter as senior running back Joey Guida (Allentown, Pa./Parkland) scored on a seven-yard run. That capped a 12-play, 65-yard drive that used 6:41. Grove City did not attempt a pass on the drive.

Westminster turned over the ball on downs at its own 45 late in the first quarter as Spolnik and senior free safety Trevor Beck (Port Matilda, Pa./State College) threw Westminster running back Jordan Lowe for a five-yard loss on fourth-and-2. 

Six plays later, junior quarterback Logan Pfeuffer (Venetia, Pa./Peters Township) fired a 28-yard touchdown strike to senior wide receiver Scott Fraser (Butler, Pa./Knoch), who out-jumped two defenders in the end zone for the catch.

The Wolverines then pushed the lead to 17-7 on the final play of the first half when sophomore kicker Caleb Kuechly (West Chester, Ohio/Mars Hill) kicked a 30-yard field goal. He also went 2 for 2 on extra points.

Pfeuffer finished 6 of 11 for 69 yards. All six completions went to Fraser. 

Grove City finished with 188 rushing yards. Flati carried the ball 24 times for his 114 yards. The Wolverines held a 35:03-24:57 edge in time of possession, along with a 257-183 advantage in total yardage. Grove City closed the game with a 13-play, 70-yard drive that used the final 9:18 of the game.

Graduate student linebacker Ryan Fleming (Bridgeville, Pa./South Fayette) and sophomore defensive end Jordan Karczewski (Monaca, Pa./Central Valley) both had five stops for the Wolverines.

Ryan Gomes led Westminster with 68 rushing yards. His one-yard plunge gave Westminster a 7-0 lead five minutes into the game. Quarterback Ty McGowan went 8 of 16 for 116 yards. 

Saturday's game marked the first time that Grove City and Westminster met in a season opener since 1897. Next season, the teams will play in Week 11 in New Wilmington.

Grove City begins a two-game road swing next Saturday at conference rival Waynesburg. Kickoff is 1 p.m.