WASHINGTON, Pa. – The Washington & Jefferson College football team (8-1) shutout the visiting Saint Francis Red Wolves (0-7) by a 63-0 verdict. The Presidents celebrated their seniors prior to the Saturday afternoon clash.
Andrew Sharp (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) led the way offensively for the Presidents in the teams first meeting since 1981. Sharp led the team in rushing yards with 109 and three touchdowns.
Robert Preston (Frederick, Md./Urbana) rushed eight times for 77 yards and one touchdown to complement the backfield. Freshman Quarterback
Braylon Wagner (New Bethlehem, Pa./Redbank Valley) completed 7-of-11 of his passes for 89 yards and two touchdowns.
Joey DeSabato (Glenshaw, Pa./Shaler Area) hauled in two touchdowns for 51 yards.
Deven Wyandt (Altoona, Pa./Bishop Guilfoyle) broke the career successful extra points record to become W&J's all-time leader with 204 so far. Wyandt surpassed Mike Evan's previous top program mark of 200 made extra points, suiting up for the Presidents from 1993-96.
Nico Mauro (Washington, Pa./Trinity) and Rudy Moris led the Presidents in tackles with five on the afternoon. Morris,
Matt Boyce (McDonald, Pa./South Fayette) and
Will Domico (Clearfield, Pa./Clearfield Area) all intercepted passes.
Alex Boyce (McDonald, Pa./South Fayette) and
Antoine Smith (Pittsburgh, Pa./Serra Catholic) led the team in sacks with one each. A.Boyce had a team high 2.0 tackles for loss.
The Presidents opened the first quarter with ease, scoring 35 points in the period. Wagner connected with DeSabato for a 15-yard reception for the first score of the game. Sharp scored the following three touchdowns with rushes of 6, 36 and 1 yards to elevate the lead to 28-0. A M. Boyce interception set up the drive that featured Sharp's final score of the contest.
Ethan Wertman (Canonsburg, Pa./Peters Township) hauled in a 39-yard pass from Wagner to pause the scoring heading into the second quarter, 35-0.
Senior
Luke Edwards (New Wilmington, Pa./Wilmington) got the W&J offense on the board in the second quarter with a 1-yard rushing touchdown following a bruising 26-yard rush by Sharp, 42-0. DeSabato reigned in his final touchdown of the afternoon as
Kole Olszewski (Houston, Pa./Bishop Canevin) connected with the junior for a nine-yard touchdown, 49-0 heading into the half.
The Red & Black went on to score two additional touchdowns in the third quarter to grow the lead to its final score of 63-0. Olszewski connected with senior
Haden Sierocky (Ligonier, Pa./Ligonier Valley) for a 12-yard touchdown. Freshman running back Preston rumbled to a 47-yard rushing touchdown minutes later.
W&J held Saint Francis to 47 yards of total offense and only three first downs.
Following the game, the Presidents received the Presidents' Athletic Conference banner to celebrate sole possession of the conference's automatic bid into the NCAA Playoffs.
The Presidents return to action on the road at Westminster for their final game of the regular season before the NCAA Playoffs. The regular season finale is set to kickoff on Saturday (Nov. 14) at 1:00 p.m.
