LEXINGTON, Va. – Washington and Lee rushed for 473 yards and moved to 3-0 for the first time since the 2000 season with a 56-21 win over the Apprentice School on Friday evening at Wilson Field.

The Generals (3-0) scored just 1:19 into the game as they took the opening kickoff and marched 70 yards on just four plays as sophomore running back McKenna Johnston (Jupiter, Fla. / Benjamin School) scored on a 43-yard run for a 7-0 lead.

The Apprentice School (0-4) answered right back with a 7-play, 75-yard drive that was capped by a 1-yard touchdown run from junior running back Joseph Hodge (Longwood, Fla./Lyman) at the 10:26 mark.

W&L then ripped off a 15-play, 67-yard drive for a 14-7 lead at the 4:36 mark of the first quarter.  Junior running back Marshall Hollerith (Richmond, Va. / St. Christopher's) finished the possession with a 1-yard touchdown run.

First-year wide receiver Lou Picolo (Nashville, Ga./Berrien County) returned the ensuing kickoff 49 yards to the W&L 40-yardline and the Builders scored eight plays later on a 2-yard run by sophomore running back Dustin Hiner (Bedford, Va./Liberty) to knot the score at 14-14 with 1:21 left in the opening quarter.

The Generals used the return game to their benefit as well.  Johnston returned the ensuing kickoff 59 yards to the Apprentice 32-yardline and junior running back Jimmy Dugan (Rye, N.Y. / Rye) found the endzone three plays later with a 1-yard run that gave the Generals a 21-14 lead with 27 seconds left in the opening quarter.

The Blue & White came up with a stop on the next possession and took a 14-point lead (28-14) as junior running back Connor Chess (Fairfax, Va. / Flint Hill) scored on a 28-yard touchdown run with 9:48 left in the half.

Apprentice bounced back with a 9-play, 85-yard drive finished off by a 23-yard run from Hiner, but junior running back Evan Hinkle (Glen Allen, Va. / Deep Run) capped another quick possession for the Generals with a 7-yard touchdown run on the third play of the drive for a 35-21 lead that W&L carried into the break.  The drive was started with a 65-yard completion from junior quarterback Charlie Nelson (Redding, Conn. / St. Luke's) to sophomore wide receiver Witt Hawkins (Memphis, Tenn. / Memphis University School).

Following the break, Apprentice controlled the ball for 10:24 of the third quarter, keeping the Generals' quick strike offense from getting started.  However, the Builders could not find paydirt either and W&L bounced back with three fourth quarter touchdowns for the final margin.  Hollerith scored a second touchdown on a 3-yard run at the 14:42 mark and Dugan scored for a second time when he plunged across the goal line from 4-yards out with 7:37 left.  Sophomore running back Duncan Maxwell (Jackson, Miss. / Jackson Academy) ended the scoring on a 3-yard run with 4:38 remaining.

W&L gained 552 total yards led by Hollerith's 95 yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries.  Hinkle rushed for 86 yards and a score on nine carries, while Maxwell had 83 yards and a touchdown on eight carries.  Chess finished with 55 yards and a touchdown on seven rushes, and Dugan had 36 yards and two touchdowns on six rushes.  Sophomore linebacker Max Garrett (Fairfield, Conn. / Choate Rosemary Hall) posted a team-best nine tackles on defense.  Senior linebacker Christian Cranford (Greensboro, N.C. / Page) added seven tackles and a sack.

Hiner rushed for a game-high 194 yards and two touchdowns on 28 carries to pace the Apprentice School offensive effort that resulted in 409 total yards.  Sophomore linebacker Michael K. Scott (Campobello, S.C./Chapman) logged nine tackles, including 2.0 tackles for a loss (-3).

Washington and Lee returns to action on Saturday, October 3 as it hosts Guilford (3-0) for a 1:00 pm contest.

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