WAYNESBURG, Pa. – The Washington & Jefferson College Football Team took their third-straight victory against the Waynesburg Yellow Jackets, 55-16.
 
W&J has now won 10-straight games against the Yellow Jackets, dating back to the 2015 season. The team now moves to 3-0 overall and in conference.
 
Jacob Pugh (Jefferson Hills, Pa./Thomas Jefferson) logged his second six touchdown performance against the Yellow Jackets, launching all six within three quarters of play. John Peduzzi (Hilton Head, S.C./Hilton Head Christian Academy) highlighted the receiving room with a three-touchdown outing, snagging seven passes for a total 207 yards. Owen Petrisek (Ellsworth, Pa./Bentworth) headed all rushing efforts with 89 yards on the ground and one touchdown.
 
All-American interior defensive lineman Dawson Dietz (Allison Park, Pa./Hampton) registered his best showing of the 2024 season to lead the smothering W&J defense. Dietz racked up 4.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and led the team in total tackles with eight. Avery Keith (Hartville, Ohio/Lake) tallied 1.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and seven total tackles. Zachai Simmons (Hawthorne, N.J./Linsly (W. Va.)) and Nathaniel Kadosh-Harris (Irwin, Pa./Norwin) both tacked on a forced fumble as well.
 
The Presidents stomped directly down the field for a first drive score. Pugh connected with Peduzzi for the 54-yard touchdown to kickoff the bout with a four-play drive. After a quick three-and-out courtesy of the W&J defense, Peduzzi came through on special teams managing to block the Yellow Jackets fourth down punt which landed the Presidents in at the Waynesburg nine yard line. W&J took full advantage as Pugh found Jacob Macosko (Venetia, Pa./Peters Township) for the seven-yard catch and score. The Presidents remained stout on defense through the first quarter after Keaton Hall (Dover, Ohio/Dover) recorded a sack on fourth down to hand the ball back to the offense prior to the close of the opening quarter.
 
Following a costly interception thrown by Pugh, the Yellow Jackets found their first score of the game in good field position which dropped the Red & Black lead, 14-6. W&J trotted down the field twice in response to the Waynesburg score to grow the score to 28-6. The first score came after Pugh connected with Peduzzi for the second time on a 23-yard reception. The second and last Presidents' score before the half was scored by Kobe Derosa (New Castle, Pa./Laurel) where Pugh found the running back for the catch and run score. The Yellow Jackets added a late field goal in the second quarter to enter the half, 28-9.
 
W&J piled on the scoring out of the half, logging three trips to the endzone by three varying offensive weapons. Pugh kicked off the second-half scoring with a 14-yard passing touchdown to Macosko. This was followed by the longest reception of the day as Pugh found Peduzzi for his third touchdown of the night. Peduzzi hauled in the 69-yard reception in the middle of the field and used his yards after the catch ability to hit paydirt for six. Petrisek closed the scoring out for W&J in the third with a 14-yard rush for his first touchdown of the season.
 
The first drive of the fourth quarter resulted in more points on the board for W&J as Cam Mulvaney (Hopkinton, Mass./Bridgton Academy (Maine)) recorded the Presidents final score of the bout on a three-yard run. With minutes remaining, Waynesburg tacked on a late touchdown to end the rivalry meeting, 55-16.
 
W&J returns home to face No. 22 ranked Carnegie Mellon during homecoming weekend Saturday (Sept. 28). Opening kickoff is scheduled for 2:05 p.m.