NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. -- One trend remained while another had no chance of continuing in the Allegheny vs. Westminster football rivalry yesterday at Burry Stadium.

For the fourth consecutive year, the visiting team won this non-conference series as Allegheny routed Westminster, 35-10. The three previous meetings were each decided in overtime. This game was basically decided by halftime.

The host Titans committed six turnovers, including five in the first half. The Gators broke the game open with two first-quarter touchdowns that were scored two minutes and 23 seconds apart. Allegheny led, 21-3, at halftime, scoring after Westminster turnovers on drives that only covered 42, 35 and 38 yards.

"It was one thing after another," Westminster coach Jeff Hand said. "But you can't put too much stock into any victory or any loss and our guys need to understand that. It's a bad way to start the season, but the reality is, it's just one game."

Allegheny's Jimmy Savage threw scoring passes of 7 yards to Dallas Robinson and 29 yards to James Jones in the first quarter. Mario Tarquinio, a Charleroi graduate, scored on a 27-yard run with 1:59 left before halftime. Tarquinio finished with 97 yards rushing on 21 carries and scored two touchdowns, his second coming on a 1-yard run 97 seconds into the second half to cap a 71-yard, four-play drive.

Allegheny scored on its second possession of the second half when Jim Lieb caught a 24-yard pass from Savage for a 35-3 lead. Savage completed 16 of 32 attempts for 230 yards without throwing an interception or giving up a sack.

Westminster finally got in the end zone with 43 seconds to play in the game when Brett Ziegler caught a 6-yard pass from Kevin Franz. A recent Thomas Jefferson graduate, Franz was the first true freshman to start at quarterback for the Titans since 1967. Franz completed 18 of 24 passes for 163 yards and one interception.

Allegheny outgained Westminster in total yardage, 443-277. This was a much better start to the season than last year for the Gators, who were 0-6 before finishing 4-7 in 2005. Six losses were by six points or less.

"I think we're a better football team than we were a year ago," Allegheny coach Jim Matlak said. "We are finally starting to show it on Saturdays. We had a good scrimmage last Wednesday too, but we've got a long way to go."

Allegheny rushed for 195 yards and passed for 248.

"We want to be a balanced team and when we're hitting on all cylinders, it really keeps the defense off-balance," Matlak said.