GREENVILLE, Pa. – The Washington & Jefferson College football team (6-1, 5-0) secured its 43
rd consecutive winning season following a 65-7 victory over the Thiel Tomcats (0-7, 0-5).
Andrew Sharp (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) powered the W&J offense with four rushing touchdowns and 132 yards rushing. Freshman quarterback
Braylon Wagner (New Bethlehem, Pa./Redbank Valley) had a dominant performance, passing for 178 yards, two passing touchdowns and a 12-for-12 mark through the air. The first year standout also rushed for a touchdown.
Joey DeSabato (Glenshaw, Pa./Shaler Area) led the receiving room with five catches for 94 yards.
Sam Coleman (Steubenville, Ohio/Indian Creek) led the W&J secondary, shutting down two drives with two interceptions.
Caden Vogel (Washington, Pa./Trinity) also intercepted a pass.
Connor Reeves (Ellicott City, Md./Glenelg),
Rudy Morris (Bridgeville, Pa./Chartiers Valley) and
Kaden Wyandt (Altoona, Pa./Bishop Guilfoyle) all forced fumbles on the afternoon. Reeves additionally had the sole sack on the day for the Presidents.
Following a 98-yard kick return touchdown from the Tomcats to open the Presidents' Athletic Conference contest, the Presidents went on to score 35 first quarter points. Sharp scored three rushing touchdowns of 7-, 8- and 4-yards in the opening quarter.
Luke Edwards (New Wilmington, Pa./Wilmington) scored on a 12-yard scamper to the endzone. Wagner connected with Syzair Dungee for the third time this season, hauling in a 19-yard receiving touchdown.
W&J kept their foot on the gas in the second quarter, scoring 24 additional points to increase their advantage to 59-7 prior to the end of the first half. The 59 points scored in the opening half was the most scored by a W&J football team since 2004 when the Presidents scored 69 on Emory & Henry in the first half. Wagner continued the scoring with a 15-yard rushing touchdown, 42-7. Sharp found his way to the endzone for the final time on a 10-yard rush to extend the lead to 49-7. Wagner connected with
Haden Sierocky (Ligonier, Pa./Ligonier Valley) for a 11-yard passing touchdown, set up by a Coleman interception. W&J forced a fumble on the kickoff and recovered it to regain possession with 4:06 remaining.
Connor Bugni (Fredericksburg, Va./Mountain View) capped the drive with a 33-yard field goal to send the Presidents up 59-7 at the half.
The Presidents went on to get a field goal in each of the remaining quarters en route to the 65-7 win.
Deven Wyandt (Altoona, Pa./Bishop Guilfoyle) drilled a 20-yard field goal in the third quarter while Bugni was successful on a 30-yard attempt in the fourth quarter.
The Red & Black return to Cameron Stadium on Saturday (Oct. 31) to square off with the visiting Grove City Wolverines on Halloween night. Opening kickoff is scheduled for a 6:00 p.m. start.
