Football

W&L Football Wins a 48-34 Shootout Over Guilford

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.

-- http://www.generalssports.com --

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Players Mentioned

Walker Brand

#8 Walker Brand

RB
5' 7"
Junior
Connor Chess

#41 Connor Chess

RB
5' 10"
Senior
Rhett Delk

#50 Rhett Delk

DL
5' 11"
Senior
Max Garrett

#55 Max Garrett

LB
6' 1"
Junior
Witt Hawkins

#22 Witt Hawkins

WR
6' 0"
Junior
Oliver Herndon

#28 Oliver Herndon

RB
6' 0"
First Year
Evan Hinkle

#7 Evan Hinkle

RB
5' 11"
Senior
Marshall Hollerith

#35 Marshall Hollerith

RB
6' 0"
Senior
Charlie Nelson

#10 Charlie Nelson

QB
6' 1"
Senior
Grey Reames

#23 Grey Reames

DB
5' 10"
Junior
Matt Sgro

#4 Matt Sgro

QB
6' 2"
Junior
Michael Shields

#26 Michael Shields

DB
6' 0"
Junior

Players Mentioned

Walker Brand

#8 Walker Brand

5' 7"
Junior
RB
Connor Chess

#41 Connor Chess

5' 10"
Senior
RB
Rhett Delk

#50 Rhett Delk

5' 11"
Senior
DL
Max Garrett

#55 Max Garrett

6' 1"
Junior
LB
Witt Hawkins

#22 Witt Hawkins

6' 0"
Junior
WR
Oliver Herndon

#28 Oliver Herndon

6' 0"
First Year
RB
Evan Hinkle

#7 Evan Hinkle

5' 11"
Senior
RB
Marshall Hollerith

#35 Marshall Hollerith

6' 0"
Senior
RB
Charlie Nelson

#10 Charlie Nelson

6' 1"
Senior
QB
Grey Reames

#23 Grey Reames

5' 10"
Junior
DB
Matt Sgro

#4 Matt Sgro

6' 2"
Junior
QB
Michael Shields

#26 Michael Shields

6' 0"
Junior
DB