DANVILLE, Ky. – The No. 14 Washington & Jefferson football team saw its 2018 season come to a close with a 54-13 loss at No. 24 Centre (Ky.) in the opening round of the NCAA Division III Football Championship.
 
The Presidents end the season with a 9-2 overall record after making their 26th appearance in the NCAA playoffs and winning their 26th overall Presidents' Athletic Conference championship.
 
After falling behind by a 17-0 mark through the first 15 minutes, W&J got on the board early in the second quarter (17-7) when sophomore running back EJ Thompson (La Plata, Md./Thomas Stone) plunged in from one-yard out with 13:56 remaining in the first half to cap a 16-play, 65-yard scoring drive that took 4:58.
 
Centre responded with 10-straight points to push the lead out to 27-7, but an interception by junior linebacker Nick Getz (Tyrone, Pa./Tyrone) gave W&J the ball back at midfield with 1:24 to play. After a 10-yard defensive holding penalty and a pair of rushes by Thompson picked up another first down, junior quarterback Jacobs Adams (Louisville, Ohio/Louisville) connected with sophomore wide receiver Josh Burns (Coraopolis, Pa./Moon) on a short slant play that Burns then took the distance for a 30-yard touchdown. The point-after was blocked and W&J went into the locker room trailing by a 27-13 margin.
 
The second half saw the Colonels outscore W&J by a 27-0 margin to pull away with the 54-13 win.
 
Adams finished the game 13-of-34 for 130 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Thompson rushed 24 times for 93 yards and TD, while senior wide receiver Tim Swoope's (Venetia, Pa./Peters Township) five catches led Presidents, as did Burns' 48 yards.
 
Defensively, sophomore linebacker Max Garda (Lower Burrell, Pa./Burrell) and Getz led W&J with nine tackles apiece. Garda also had a sack. Senior safety Zac Quattrone (White Oak, Pa./Serra Catholic) added eight stops.