Box Score GREENSBORO, N.C. – Washington and Lee amassed 550 yards of total offense, including a season-high 498 yards on the ground, in posting a 48-34 win over Guilford in ODAC football action on Saturday at the Armfield Athletic Center.
The win was the 11th-straight ODAC victory for the Generals dating back to 2014 and ended Guilford's 14-game home winning streak that dated back to the 2013 season.
Guilford (4-2, 1-2) jumped out to a 17-7 lead in the opening 12 minutes and change, but the Generals (4-2, 3-0) flipped the script with three straight scoring drives across the first and second quarters for a 27-17 lead with 6:15 left in the first half.
W&L began the surge with a 4-play, 67-yard drive that was finished off with a 2-yard touchdown run from senior running back Marshall Hollerith (Richmond, Va. / St. Christopher's) at the 1:41 mark of the first quarter. Junior cornerback Grey Reames (Nashville, Tenn. / Montgomery Bell) then set up the offense with a short field on the next possession as he picked off Guilford junior quarterback Karsten Miller at the GC 29-yardline. Junior running back Walker Brand (Roanoke, Va. / Hidden Valley) gave W&L a 20-17 advantage six plays later when he scored on a 3-yard run at the 12:50 mark of the second quarter. The PAT was wide.
After W&L junior safety Michael Shields (Charlotte, N.C. / Charlotte Country Day) blocked a 40-yard field goal attempt from Guilford sophomore Erick Fuentes, the Generals got on the board again when junior quarterback Matt Sgro (Wilmington, Del. / Salesianum) scampered 53 yards for a touchdown with 6:15 left in the half for a 27-17 lead.
Guilford tacked on a Fuentes 19-yard field goal with seven seconds left in the half and the Blue & White carried a 7-point lead (27-20) into the break.
W&L received the opening kickoff of the third quarter, but the Quakers levelled the score at 27-27 just 47 seconds in when senior safety Karl Roberts recovered a fumble by W&L senior quarterback Charlie Nelson on the second play of the half and ran 23 yards for a touchdown.
The Generals responded five plays later when first-year running back Oliver Herndon (Crozet, Va. / Western Albemarle) broke off a 49-yard touchdown run at the 12:03 mark of the third quarter. After forcing a punt on the following series, Nelson broke into the open on an option run and found paydirt with a 75-yard run. The PAT was blocked and W&L held a 40-27 advantage at the 6:44 mark of the third quarter.
Guilford trimmed it to a 40-34 game with 12:58 left in the game on a 27-yard touchdown pass from Miller to junior wide receiver Rontavius Miller. The Quakers forced W&L into a 3-and-out on the next possession, but Guilford muffed the punt return and the Generals recovered on the GC 28-yardline. Senior running back Connor Chess (Fairfax, Va. / Flint Hill) scored two plays later on a 9-yard touchdown run and Nelson added a 2-point conversion run for a 48-34 lead with 10:27 remaining.
The W&L defense held from there, constantly harassing Miller on his pass attempts and recording five total sacks in the contest.
Hollerith led the offense with a season-high 123 yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries. Nelson gained 85 yards and scored a touchdown on just three carries, while senior running back Evan Hinkle (Glen Allen, Va. / Deep Run) gained 61 yards on six carries. Herndon rushed for 56 yards and a touchdown on three carries and Chess amassed 56 yards and a touchdown on eight rushes. Sgro contributed 56 yards and a score on four carries and Brand notched 44 yards and a touchdown on eight carries. Junior wide receiver Witt Hawkins (Memphis, Tenn. / Memphis University School) caught one pass for 52 yards that set up a first quarter touchdown.
Junior linebacker Max Garrett (Fairfield, Conn. / Choate Rosemary Hall) totaled a team-best 15 tackles, while senior defensive lineman Rhett Delk (Johns Creek, Ga. / Wesleyan School) had four tackles and a pair of sacks.
Guilford had 443 yards of offense, but compiled just 121 yards in the second half. Miller completed 28-of-42 passes for 234 yards and three touchdowns with one interception. Junior running back Hunter Causey tallied 167 yards on 26 carries, while first-year wide receiver Tyriek Russell caught nine passes for 85 yards and a touchdown. Junior defensive back Julian Cuthbertson made a game-high 16 tackles on defense.
Washington and Lee returns to action on Saturday when it hosts Hampden-Sydney for a 1:00 pm contest.
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