WASHINGTON, Pa. – The Washington & Jefferson football team (0-1) dropped its season opener against the Utica Pioneers (1-0), 49-31.
John Peduzzi (Hilton Head, S.C./Hilton Head Christian Academy) led the offense with 107 receiving yards and two touchdowns. Peduzzi now moves to sits second all-time in career receiving yards (3,207) and touchdowns (42) at W&J.
Machi Evans (Arnold, Md./Broadneck) and
Jacob Macosko (Venetia, Pa./Peters Township) also contributed in the receiving game. Evans caught seven passes for 91 yards while Macosko caught five passes for 86 yards.
Kellan Stahl (Johnstown, Pa./Richland) commanded the offense at the quarterback position, passing for 330 yards and two touchdowns. Stahl also rushed for 11 yards for one touchdown.
Defensively,
Brock Sherman (Copley, Ohio/Walsh Jesuit) led the tackling department with 14 total tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss.
Tyler Primrose (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Catholic) and
Nathaniel Kadosh-Harris (Irwin, Pa./Norwin) each tallied the first sacks of the season for the Presidents. Kadosh-Harris and
Joey Lacey (Bristow, Va./Avalon School) both forced a fumble while
Dante DeRubbo (Washington, Pa./Trinity) recovered a Pioneers fumble.
Joey DeSabato (Glenshaw, Pa./Shaler Area) kicked off the 2025 season with a 63-yard kick return to set up the Presidents up on their first drive of the season. Stahl capped the short yardage drive with a six-yard rushing touchdown, 7-0. Utica trotted down the field and responded with a touchdown of their own to even the score, 7-7. A three-and-out from W&J granted the Pioneers a drive shortly after, scoring another touchdown to go up one score.
In the middle of the second quarter, the Presidents marched down the field to score their second rushing touchdown of the game. Sharp hurdled and bullied his way into the endzone on two back-to-back rushing attempts, 14-14. Utica broke the tie quickly, dialing up a 77-yard touchdown pass. With 1:36 remaining, the Presidents managed to get within field goal range for
Deven Wyandt (Altoona, Pa./Bishop Guilfoyle) to enter halftime, down 21-17.
Utica created a 25-point deficit for W&J in the third quarter, tacking on three touchdowns while holding the Presidents scoreless, 42-17.
In a comeback attempt, Stahl got the offense moving as he found Peduzzi for an eight-yard passing touchdown. Holding the Pioneers at bay, the W&J offense trotted down the field again in similar fashion. Stahl found Peduzzi in the endzone again, this time for a 13-yard connection. The Pioneers stunned their momentum with a five-minute touchdown dive to go up 49-31.
W&J looks to bounce back this coming Saturday (Sept. 13) when they take on Hampden-Sydney on the road. Kickoff is scheduled for a 1:00 p.m. start.
