LEXINGTON, Va. -- Washington and Lee forced seven turnovers and senior quarterback Greg Tweardy (Bethel Park, Pa./Bethel Park) tossed a school-record five touchdown passes as the Generals opened the season with a 36-22 win over Alfred University.

The Generals (1-0) opened the scoring with 13:08 remaining in the second quarter as junior placekicker Ben Long (Frankford, W.Va./Hargrave Military) booted a 25-yard field goal. The Saxons (0-1) responded with a 5-yard touchdown pass from sophomore quarterback Paul Keeley (Caledonia, N.Y./Caledonia-Mumford) to senior wide receiver Craig Zarzycki (Gansevoort, N.Y./Schuylerville) on the following possession. However, W&L would make the score 10-7 at the half when Tweardy found junior tight end Ryan Neff (Charleston, S.C./Porter-Gaud) with an 11-yard touchdown pass as time expired in the second quarter.

W&L extended to a 23-7 lead midway through the third period as Tweardy tossed an 8-yard strike to sophomore wide receiver Jack Martin (Princeton, N.J./Hun School) and followed with a 5-yard strike to junior wide receiver Colton Ward (Charlotte, N.C./Charlotte Country Day) exactly one minute later. Alfred climbed to within 23-15 on a 13-yard touchdown pass from Keeley to Zarzycki with 4:30 left in the third quarter, but Tweardy found Martin with scoring strikes of 31 and 33 yards early in the fourth quarter for a 36-15 lead.

In addition to forcing seven turnovers (five interceptions), the Generals' defense limited the Saxons to just eight rushing yards and 236 yards of total offense.

Tweardy completed 27-of-40 passes for 244 yards and the five touchdowns, while Martin caught 10 passes for 159 yards and three touchdowns. Neff snared eight balls for 59 yards and one score. Senior defensive end Liam Murray (Oneonta, N.Y./Oneonta) totaled a team-high nine tackles and one sack, while sophomore defensive back Mark Snoddy (Atlanta, Ga./Westminster) posted six tackles and two interceptions.

Keeley led the Alfred offense, completing 21-of-43 passes for 228 yards and three touchdowns. Zarzycki caught four passes for 53 yards and two touchdowns, while junior defensive back Aaron Myers (Delevan, N.Y./Pioneer) tallied a game-high 12 tackles and one interception.

Washington and Lee returns to action on Saturday as it travels to Sewanee. Opening kickoff is slated for 1:30 pm CST.

-- GENERALS --