NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. – The Washington & Jefferson College Football Team picked up their fourth win of the season over the Westminster Titans, 21-14.
 
W&J has now won three-straight matchups against the Titans, putting the Red & Black back in the win column. The team moves to 4-1 overall and in Presidents' Athletic Conference play.
 
The Presidents stout defense highlighted the win for W&J. Justin Johns (Murrysville, Pa./Franklin Regional) led the defensive efforts with a game-high 16 total tackles, 0.5 sacks and 0.5 tackles for loss. Dawson Dietz (Allison Park, Pa./Hampton) remained dominant on the defensive line, logging five total tackles, 1.5 sacks and 1.5 tackles for loss. The Presidents secondary posted a strong performance, as Carson Laconi (Butler, Pa./North Catholic) and Brandon Brown (Monessen, Pa./Greensburg Central Catholic) each logged two pass breakups. Zachai Simmons (Hawthorne, N.J./Linsly (W. Va.)) also made an impact in the backfield with a team-high two tackles for loss.
 
The Presidents offense was a balanced effort from all units in the low-scoring affair. Owen Petrisek (Ellsworth, Pa./Bentworth) led the running unit with 102 yards on 16 carries. Jacob Pugh (Jefferson Hills, Pa./Thomas Jefferson) tossed two touchdowns on 26 completions for 248 yards. Jacob Macosko (Venetia, Pa./Peters Township) led the receiving core with eight grabs for 119 yards.
 
W&J drove directly down the field in the first drive of the bout, taking a methodical approach with a 6:38 minute drive. Zach Cernuto (Scottdale, Pa./Southmoreland) scored his annual touchdown against the Titans on a six-yard pass from Pugh. Cernuto has scored a touchdown against Westminster in each of the past four years. On the following drive, Dietz disrupted the Titans 3^rd and 19 passing attempt from the W&J 46 to force the first punt of the matchup. On the Presidents second drive, Pugh dialed up a classic showing from the senior quarterback. Pugh drove the offense down the field for a two-minute, six-play, 79-yard drive for their second score of the game. Pugh found an open John Peduzzi (Hilton Head, S.C./Hilton Head Christian Academy) for a 33-yard catch for six, taking a 14-0 lead into the second quarter.
 
After a turnover on downs forced by the Presidents defense, the Presidents couldn't muster any offensive production on the following drive. The struggling special team's unit recorded another costly mistake on their first punt attempt, as the Titans blocked the boot and returned it for the first touchdown of the matchup for Westminster. With both teams being held at bay for the remainder of the second quarter, the Presidents took a one-score lead into the half, 14-7.
 
Out of the break, both units traded defensive led drives resulting in no offensive production. It wasn't until the three-minute mark where the Titans picked off a pass from Pugh to gain scoring position late in the third quarter. The Titans took full advantage by dialing up a 33-yard rush for six to tie the game at 14-14 heading into the fourth.
 
W&J wasted no time responding to the evening score by stomping down the field for their game-inning touchdown. Splash plays by Petrisek and Cernuto set up the Presidents on the one-yard line. Kobe Derosa (New Castle, Pa./Laurel) slammed between the tackles for the W&J score on a one-yard rush. Clutch defensive stops by Avery Keith (Hartville, Ohio/Lake), Brock Sherman (Copley, Ohio/Walsh Jesuit) and Brown guided the team to their fourth victory on the season, 21-14.
 
W&J returns home with some momentum as they will square off with Geneva on Saturday (Oct. 12). Opening kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.