DANVILLE, Ky. -- Junior running back Marc Watson (Marietta, Ga./Walton) ran for 236 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns to lead Washington and Lee to its first 3-0 start since 1963 with a 45-7 rout of Centre.
The 45 points marked the most points scored by W&L since Nov. 3, 1984, when it defeated Samford 49-28.
Watson scored on carries of 18 and 61 yards, as well as an 88-yard kickoff return to start the second half. He finished the day with 16 carries for 100 yards and two kickoff returns for 136 yards.
Watson's 18-yard touchdown run gave W&L a 7-0 lead at the 12:27 mark of the first quarter. With just over three minutes to play in the first quarter, sophomore tight end Davis White (Birmingham, Ala./Episcopal) caught a five-yard touchdown pass from sophomore quarterback Bobby Littlehale (Villa Park, Ill./Willowbrook) to put the Generals up 14-0.
Senior placekicker Andy Vendig (Arlington, Va./Washington-Lee) kicked his seventh field goal of the season with 32 seconds remaining in the first half giving W&L a 17-0 lead at the half.
Watson then took the second half kickoff 88 yards to the endzone to give Washington and Lee a 24-0 lead.
Senior wide receiver Wesley Hardy (Spartanburg, S.C./Spartanburg) pulled in his first touchdown of the game with 4:38 left in the third quarter on pass from freshman quarterback Zack McQuigg (Marriottsville, Md./Glenelg) to put the Generals in front 31-0. McQuigg's pass was his first collegiate touchdown. Watson scored his third touchdown on a 61-yard scamper to up the lead to 38-0 with 2:46 to play in the third quarter.
Centre (1-2) got on the board as time expired in the third quarter on a 11-yard touchdown pass from Drew Mildren to Joe Guthire. However, McQuigg found Hardy for a second time on a 42-yard pass to round out the scoring with 12:37 to play.
Washington and Lee (3-0) was led by Watson and Hardy, who caught four passes for 130 yards and two touchdowns. Littlehale and McQuigg combined to go 13-27 for 203 yards and three touchdowns. The Generals outgained the Colonels 357-240, holding Centre to only 79 yards rushing. The defense picked off Mildren three times. Freshman defensive back Lee Walker (Raleigh, N..C./Needham B. Broughton) had seven tackles, a sack and an interception.
The Generals return to action next Saturday as they host ODAC opponent Randolph-Macon at 1 pm.
--GENERALS--
