LEXINGTON, Va. – Senior running back Stuart Sitterson (Atlanta, Ga./Westminster) scored a pair of touchdowns in the final 5:57 of the game to lift the Washington and Lee football team to a thrilling 35-28 victory over Southern Virginia on Saturday evening at Wilson Field.
The Knights (1-3) knotted the game at 21-21 with 12:43 left in the fourth quarter on a 39-yard touchdown run by sophomore running back Marcus McCollum (Fort Meyers, Fla./Virginia State) that occurred on a 4th-and-2 play. SVU then took a 28-21 lead with 6:14 remaining on a 37-yard touchdown pass from freshman quarterback Sam Trulock (Lehi, Utah/Urbana) to senior wide receiver Tye Hiatt (Vale, Ore./Vale).
The Generals (2-1) responded on the ensuing kickoff as Sitterson fielded the kick on his own 6-yardline and weaved his way 94 yards for the tying score. Sitterson then scored the game-winner with 1:10 remaining in the game on a 31-yard touchdown run on the first play following a Southern Virginia fumble.
The Knights then drove to the W&L 29-yardline in the final seconds, but W&L junior defensive back Donavon Sawyer (Little Rock, Ark./Robinson) intercepted a pass in the end zone to preserve the Generals' first win at the New Wilson Field.
Sitterson paced the W&L offense by rushing 33 times for 169 yards and two touchdowns. He also caught two passes for 20 yards and totaled 122 yards on returns for 311 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns on the day. Freshman quarterback Charlie Westfal (New Caanan, Conn./New Caanan) rushed 13 times for 47 yards and one touchdown and also completed 14-of-22 passes for 118 yards. Senior tailback Tom Pacicco (Charlotte, N.C./Charlotte Catholic) added 24 yards and one touchdown on seven carries, while junior wide receiver Ryan Welsh (Robbinsville, N.J./Lawrence) snared seven passes for 61 yards. Senior linebacker Bradley McAllister (Pittsburgh, Pa./Upper Saint Clair) led the Generals' defense with 10 tackles.
Trulock paced the Knights by completing 14-of-25 passes for 242 yards and two touchdowns and rushing for 59 yards and a touchdown. McCollum carried the ball nine times for 77 yards and a touchdown, while Hiatt caught six balls for 109 yards and one touchdown. Sophomore defensive back Nick Deniz (Allen, Texas/Allen) led the SVU defense with 15 tackles.
Washington and Lee returns to action on Saturday as it plays Averett University at Salem Stadium in Salem, Va. Kickoff is slated for 1:00 pm.
-- GENERALS --
