ASHLAND, Va. – The Washington and Lee football jumped out to a 31-0 lead early in the third quarter en route to a 44-7 victory over ODAC-rival Randolph-Macon on Saturday afternoon at Day Field. It was the Generals' first win over the Yellow Jackets in Ashland since a 33-8 win during the 1989 season.

The Generals (3-1, 1-0) took a 7-0 lead with 3:59 remaining in the first quarter on a 3-yard touchdown run by senior running back Michael Lackett (Allenwood, N.J./Wall Township). The scored remained 7-0 until W&L freshman defensive back Stuart Sitterson (Atlanta, Ga./Westminster) found paydirt on a 46-yard punt return with 4:28 left in the second quarter. It was W&L's first punt return for a touchdown since the 1979 season.

The Generals would score 10 more points in the last two minutes of the half to take a 24-0 lead into halftime. Senior quarterback Greg Tweardy (Bethel Park, Pa./Bethel Park) hit junior wide receiver Colton Ward (Charlotte, N.C./Charlotte Country Day) for a 23-yard touchdown pass at the 1:58 mark and junior placekicker Ben Long (Frankford, W.Va./Hargrave Military) nailed a 30-yard field goal with 20 seconds remaining in the half.

W&L pushed its lead to 31-0 with 11:09 remaining in the third quarter on a 1-yard touchdown run by Lackett. Randolph-Macon (0-5, 0-2) got on the board at the 6:19 mark of the quarter on a 1-yard touchdown run by junior quarterback Steven Ahonen, but the Generals tallied the final 13 points to give head coach Frank Mirello his 50th career win.

Tweardy finished 15-for-18 for 188 yards with one touchdown and one interception, while Lackett carried nine time for 49 yards and the two touchdowns. Sophomore wide receiver Jack Martin (Princeton, N.J./Hun School) caught three passes for 109 yards, including a 62-yard touchdown reception from junior quarterback Hunter Dawkins (Charlotte, N.C./Charlotte Country Day). Sitterson returned four punts for 77 yards and the one touchdown. He also rushed eight times for 48 yards and a touchdown.

Defensively, the Generals were led by junior defensive back Rob Rain (Dallas, Texas/Highland Park), who totaled seven tackles. Senior linebacker Ryan Hoover (McLean, Va./McLean) and freshman linebacker Bradley McAllister (Upper Saint Clair, Pa./Upper Saint Clair) each posted six tackles, while McAllister also had an interception.

For the Yellow Jackets, sophomore quaterback Tyler Ball went 25-for-50 for 278 yards and one interception. Ahonen rushed 10 times for 63 yards and a touchdown, while freshman Rodney Nelson caught 11 passes for 170 yards. Defensively, senior Jonathan Farmer and junior Chris Washburn each made eight tackles.

Washington and Lee returns to action on Saturday as it hosts Catholic University for a 1:00 pm contest.

-- GENERALS --