GREENSBORO, N.C. -- Guilford freshman quarterback Josh Vogelbach found junior wide receiver Chris Barnette with a 12-yard touchdown pass with three seconds remaining to lift the Quakers to a 28-26 win over Washington and Lee in ODAC Football action on Saturday afternoon in Greensboro, N.C.
W&L (5-2, 3-1) took a 26-21 lead with 4:25 remaining in the game on a 2-yard touchdown run by freshman running back Stuart Sitterson (Atlanta, Ga./Westminster), but the attempt at a two-point conversion failed. The Generals stopped the Quakers on fourth down on the ensuing possession to take over on their own 15 yardline with 2:10 remaining in the game. W&L was forced to punt three plays later, but managed just a 16-yard punt giving the Quakers possession on the W&L 33 yardline with 1:04 remaining. The Quakers drove to the W&L 12 yardline where they faced a 4th-and-10 play with nine seconds remaining. Volgelbach then found Barnette for the game-winner.
Guilford built a 14-0 lead late in the second quarter, before the Generals found the scoreboard on an 88-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by junior wide receiver Colton Ward (Charlotte, N.C./Charlotte Country Day) with 3:55 remaining in the half. For Ward, it was his third career kickoff return touchdown, a new school record.
Trailing 14-7 at the half, W&L scored a pair of touchdowns in just 26 seconds of the third quarter for a 20-14 lead. Senior quarterback Greg Tweardy (Bethel Park, Pa./Bethel Park) found sophomore wide receiver Jack Martin (Princeton, N.J./Hun School) with a 6-yard touchdown pass with 2:38 left in the third and then the duo hooked up for a 34-yard touchdown after Guilford fumbled the ensuing kickoff. The PAT attempt failed and Guilford went back on top at the 8:39 mark of the fourth quarter on a 20-yard hookup between Vogelbach and Barnette.
Guilford committed seven turnovers in the contest, including on four straight second half possessions. Despite the turnovers, the Quakers out-gained W&L, 490-334.
Washington and Lee was paced by Ward, who totaled 264 all-purpose yards and one touchdown. In addition to notching 130 kickoff return yards, he caught a career-high 15 passes for 138 yards. Martin caught four passes for 54 yards and two touchdowns, and set a new W&L season record for receiving yards (1,028), eclipsing the record of 1,010 held by Craig Irons '91 since 1989. Tweardy completed 30-of-47 passes for 294 yards and two touchdowns to tie the school record for season touchdown passes (16). Senior linebacker Brian Gallagher (Potomac, Md./Good Counsel) led the defense with 11 tackles, two forced fumbles and one interception.
Vogelbach paced Guilford by completing 33-of-58 passes for 406 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed for 36 yards, but was intercepted four times. Barnette caught 13 passes for 200 yards and two touchdowns, while junior wide receiver Micah Rushing snared 12 passes for 110 yards and rushed for 29 yards and one touchdown. Sophomore safety Taylor Baker led the Quaker defense with 10 tackles.
Washington and Lee returns to action on Saturday as it hosts Bridgewater for a 1:00 pm game that could determine the ODAC Champion.
-- GENERALS --
