WASHINGTON, Pa. – The Washington & Jefferson College football team (8-2, 8-0) concluded its undefeated march through the Presidents' Athletic Conference to ensure sole possession of the program's 28
th conference championship with a 67-0 victory over the Thiel Tomcats (1-9, 1-7) on its senior recognition day.
The Presidents reached a plethora of milestones in their final game of the regular season. Senior
John Peduzzi (Hilton Head, S.C./Hilton Head Christian Academy) became the second player in W&J football program history to surpass 4,000 career receiving yards. The senior currently has the most receiving yards in all of the NCAA (Divisions I, II and III) with 4,020 in his career. Peduzzi is also second in all of the NCAA in career receiving touchdowns with 52. Peduzzi finished today's victory with 122 yards on five receptions with two touchdowns.
Fellow wide receiver
Jacob Macosko (Venetia, Pa./Peters Township) also reached a career milestone, surpassing the 1,000 receiving yard mark for the second consecutive season. Macosko currently has 3, 171 career receiving yards. Macosko finished with five receptions for 109 yards and one touchdown on the afternoon.
With his seventh interception of the season, sophomore
Dante DeRubbo (Washington, Pa./Trinity) moved into the top five list for single-season interceptions. DeRubbo is three interceptions away from tying the single-season record, held by Ricky Williams '92 and Mark Persichette '75 with 10 picks.
Kellan Stahl (Johnstown, Pa./Richland) led all passers, going 13-for-14 for 211 yards and three touchdowns.
Andrew Sharp (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) led the ground game with 15 rushes for 69 yards and two touchdowns. Defensively, the Presidents held the Tomcats to one first down and four yards of total offense.
W&J piled on 36 first quarter points against the Tomcats. The scoring included a 25-yard pick six from DeRubbo and a safety off of a botched snap to put the Presidents ahead 29-0 in the first 12 minutes of regulation. A 13-yard receiving touchdown from Peduzzi brought the lead to 36-0.
The Presidents added on in the second quarter through receiving touchdowns to
Kobe Derosa (New Castle, Pa./Laurel) from five yards out and Peduzzi on a 51-yard strike.
Deven Wyandt (Altoona, Pa./Bishop Guilfoyle) also made a 21-yard field goal as the Presidents coasted to the halftime break, up 53-0.
W&J added a score in each of the remaining quarters to close out the contest, 67-0.
Haden Sierocky (Ligonier, Pa./Ligonier Valley) hauled in a 23-yard receiving touchdown from
Colin Payne (Reading, Pa./Exeter) in the third.
Dom Barca (North Huntingdon, Pa./Norwin) burst up the sideline in the fourth quarter for a 32-yard rushing touchdown.
W&J awaits its opponent in the NCAA Playoffs which will be officially announced during the NCAA Division III Football Selection Show on Sunday (Nov. 16) at 5:00 p.m.