ASHLAND, Va. – First-year running back Josh Breece (Lorton, Va. / Stone Bridge) scored on a 1-yard run with 38 seconds remaining to lift the Washington and Lee football team to a hard-fought 17-14 victory over Randolph-Macon on Saturday at Day Field.

The Generals (6-2, 3-1) trailed 14-9 at the half and, despite repeated drives into Randolph-Macon (5-3, 2-2) territory, simply couldn't find the go ahead score until Breece's game-winner.  W&L drove to the RMC 7-yardline late in the third quarter, but fumbled on the 4-yardline on a 3rd-and-goal play.

W&L appeared to have taken the lead with just over four minutes remaining in the fourth quarter on a 14-yard run by Breece, but the play was called back on a holding call at the 2-yardline.  Two plays later, the Yellow Jackets stopped the Generals inches short of a first down on a 4th-and-2 from the Macon 9-yardline.

Randolph-Macon took over on its own 8-yardline with 3:51 left in the contest.  Three plays later the Generals' defense forced a 3rd-and-8 from the RMC 33-yardline.  W&L senior linebacker Max Garrett (Fairfield, Conn. / Choate Rosemary Hall) intercepted sophomore quarterback Burke Estes at midfield on the third down play and returned the ball to the RMC 39-yardline with 2:51 left.  From there, W&L moved the ball via the run to the 1-yardline.  Breece rushed 11 yards to the 1-yardline on a 3rd-and-3 from the 12, setting up his winning touchdown.   Sophomore quarterback Drew Richardson (Watkinsville, Ga. / Athens Academy) then rushed in for a 2-point conversion and a 17-14 lead with 38 seconds left.

On the first play of the final Randolph-Macon series, sophomore cornerback Matt Dodson (Oxford, Conn. / Oxford) picked off a long Estes pass to preserve the win, W&L's fourth straight and second consecutive on the road in conference play.

The first half saw the Yellow Jackets take a 7-0 lead on a 3-yard touchdown run from junior running back Tre' Frederick in the first quarter.  W&L got on the board with a 28-yard field goal from first-year placekicker Jarrett Wright (Charlotte, N.C. / Ardrey Kell) at 3:17 of the first quarter, and the Generals assumed a 9-7 lead on a 56-yard touchdown run by Breece with 9:55 left in the second quarter.  Randolph-Macon grabbed the lead back on a 50-yard touchdown pass from Estes to sophomore tight end Sam Tanner on a 3rd-and-6 play from midfield with 3:32 left in the half. 

W&L totaled 392 yards of offense in the contest, all of which came on the ground.  Breece led the way with 199 yards and two touchdowns on 27 carries.  He now has 1,127 rushing yards on the season, the most-ever by a first-year player and good for fifth on the school's single-season rushing list.  His 14 touchdowns are tied for sixth all-time for a single-season.

Junior running back Collin Sherman (Virginia Beach, Va. / Cox) rushed for 88 yards on 10 carries, while first-year quarterback Trey Laughlin (Henrico, Va. / Douglas Freeman) carried 11 times for 63 yards.  On defense, Garrett led the way with a season-high 14 tackles and one interception.  Senior safety Michael Shields (Charlotte, N.C. / Charlotte Country Day) added nine tackles, while sophomore defensive lineman Philip Davis (Peachtree Corners, Ga. / Norcross) notched five tackles and 1.5 sacks.

Randolph-Macon gained 338 total yards led by Frederick, who rushed 29 times for 139 yards and one touchdown.  Estes completed 11-of-19 passes for 167 yards and one touchdown with two interceptions, while Tanner caught two passes for 70 yards and one touchdown.  Senior defensive lineman Jake Pinkston paced the R-MC defense with 14 tackes.

Washington and Lee returns to action next Saturday when it hosts Bridgewater for a 1:00 pm contest.

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