CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Washington & Jefferson College football team logged their eighth win of the season over Case Western Reserve, 34-21.
 
W&J lifts themselves to 8-1 overall on the season and in Presidents' Athletic Conference play. The Presidents have now won the last two meetings against the Spartans.
 
Headlining the Presidents' offense was Zach Cernuto (Scottdale, Pa./Southmoreland) who compiled a career day. Cernuto logged career-highs with 14 receptions and 123 yards. The senior tight end also tacked on a touchdown. This marks the most catches by a W&J receiver since Payton Skalos (16 receptions vs. Westminster Oct. 26, 2019).
 
Jacob Pugh (Jefferson Hills, Pa./Thomas Jefferson) dished out three touchdowns in the outing and passed for 340 yards on the day. Pugh now has exactly 100 touchdowns in his career including 87 passing and 13 rushing. With his three passing touchdowns today, Pugh now sits tied for 4^th at W&J with alumni Jason Baer '96 and Chris Edwards '05 for career passing touchdowns.
 
Kobe Derosa (New Castle, Pa./Laurel) led the rushing room for W&J, gashing the Spartan defense for 89 yards on the ground and two touchdowns. Derosa also picked up three receptions for 14 yards.
 
Brandon Brown (Monessen, Pa./Greensburg Central Catholic) highlighted the Presidents' efforts with a career-high two interception game. Dawson Dietz (Allison Park, Pa./Hampton) dominated the line of scrimmage with 3.5 sacks and 3.5 tackles for loss. With his new career-high in sacks, Dietz currently sits 1.0 sack away from fifth place at W&J in career sacks. Justin Johns (Murrysville, Pa./Franklin Regional) posted a productive day as well with seven total tackles to creep closer to the all-time total tackle leader at W&J.
 
W&J kicked off the scoring with a first drive touchdown following the 11-play drive. Derosa punched in the first score of the day with a one-yard rushing touchdown. The following drive, Case Western Reserve responded with a touchdown of their own after trotting down the field to leave the first quarter tied, 7-7.
 
Trading two failed drives from each team, the Presidents posted the first score of the second quarter with an 11-yard catch and run to Cernuto. The following Spartan drive, Brown logged his first pick of the day around the W&J goal line to stop CWRU from tacking on a score. Pugh and the Presidents' offense took the extra drive and tacked on another touchdown prior to the close of the half. Slot specialist Anthony Rosati (Chardon, Ohio/Perry) hauled in a 12-yard reception for his third touchdown of the season, entering the half ahead 21-7.
 
Following a quick score by the Spartan offense out of the half, W&J responded with their fourth touchdown of the day with a four-yard receiving touchdown caught by Raymond Holmes (Verona, Pa./Serra Catholic). Before the close of the half, Angelo Volomino (Jefferson Hills, Pa./Thomas Jefferson) intercepted another pass off the CWRU quarterback to return to ball to the Presidents offense.
 
W&J logged their final score of the bout in the fourth quarter with another goal line rushing touchdown for Derosa. Following a Spartan touchdown and successful onside kick to bring the score to 34-21, W&J's Brandon Brown closed out the matchup with an interception in the endzone.
 
W&J enters their bye week this coming Saturday but returns to the gridiron Saturday (Nov. 16) for their final bout of the season against Allegheny. The away matchup is scheduled for an opening kickoff of 1:00 p.m.