SELINSGROVE, Pa. - The Washington & Jefferson College Presidents (8-3, 8-0) were defeated in the first round of the NCAA Playoffs by the Susquehanna University River Hawks (9-2, 6-0) Saturday afternoon by a final score of 38-32.
The 2025 campaign marks the Presidents' second straight NCAA Tournament appearance and the program's 28th appearance all time.
Four-time All-PAC selection
John Peduzzi (Hilton Head, S.C./Hilton Head Christian Academy) caught two touchdown passes, to tie Jesse Zubik '18 for first all-time in career receiving touchdowns in W&J football history. Along with his scores, Peduzzi amassed 148 yards on 10 catches, leading all receivers in the game.
2025 PAC Offensive Player of the Year
Kellan Stahl (Johnstown, Pa./Richland) completed 24 of his 42 passing attempts on the day, totaling 298 yards and two touchdowns through the air.
Andrew Sharp (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) and
Kobe Derosa (New Castle, Pa./Laurel) each had a rushing touchdown in Saturday's contest.
The Presidents opened with a three-and-out, but a roughing-the-kicker penalty on fourth down extended the drive. Just one play later, however, a tipped Stahl pass was intercepted by Susquehanna, and the River Hawks capitalized on the turnover with a scoring drive to take a 7-0 lead.
Later in the first quarter, Stahl connected with Peduzzi on a 41-yard pass down the sideline to set the Presidents up in Susquehanna territory. Four plays later Peduzzi reeled in another pass from his signal caller, this time for a touchdown, allowing W&J to tie the game, after the extra-point make from
Deven Wyandt (Altoona, Pa./Bishop Guilfoyle).
As the quarter wound down, W&J forced a punt and then mounted an impressive offensive drive of their own. The President's possession carried over into the second period of action and was capped by a 26-yard touchdown run from Sharp, giving W&J its first lead of the game, 14-7.
W&J had an opportunity to extend its lead after a
Rudy Morris (Bridgeville, Pa./Chartiers Valley) interception but came up empty on the ensuing drive. With 6:23 on the clock in the second quarter, the River Hawks tied the game at 14 on a 53-yard pass. The Presidents responded on their next possession via a Wyandt field goal to take the lead, 17-14.
The Presidents tried to extend their lead on with eight seconds left in the first half, but the Riverhawks blocked the field goal attempt and returned it for a touchdown to secure a 21-17 advantage at the break.
The teams traded touchdown scores to open the second half of play. The River Hawks offense marched 75 yards over six minutes and fifteen seconds to start the third quarter, capping the drive with a touchdown, to take a 28-17 lead after the PAT.
In response, the Presidents produced an impressive drive 75-yard of their own. On second-and-10 from the River Hawks' 17-yard line, Stahl hit Peduzzi over the middle for another touchdown. The score—Peduzzi's second of the day—was the 54th of his career, tying the College's all-time receiving touchdowns record.
Susquehanna went on to manufacture points on each of its next two possessions. Just seconds into the fourth quarter, the River Hawks notched their fourth touchdown of the afternoon, and a field goal less than eight minutes later pushed their advantage to a game-high, 38–24.
Derosa powered in a rushing touchdown and added a two-point conversion, trimming the Susquehanna lead to 38–32. W&J's defense then forced a three-and-out, but on the Presidents' first play of the ensuing drive, a turnover gave the ball back to the River Hawks, who were able to run out the clock to secure the first round victory.
Defensively, Morris posted a career-best 17 tackles to go along with his interception.
Brock Sherman (Copley, Ohio/Walsh Jesuit) added 14 stops while
Jalen Broxie (Coraopolis, Pa./Moon) added eight stops and a fumble recovery.
The Presidents' senior class compiled a 35–9 overall record and made two NCAA Playoff appearances over the past four years. During the 2024 season, the 2026 senior class helped secure W&J's first postseason berth since 2018.
