WINCHESTER, Va. – Junior running back Josh Breece (Lorton, Va. / Stone Bridge) rushed for a game-high 151 yards and one touchdown to lift the Washington and Lee football team to a 34-31 victory at Shenandoah on Saturday afternoon.
 
The win improved W&L to 6-4 overall, giving the Generals their fifth straight winning season.
 
Washington and Lee jumped out to a 21-7 lead after the first quarter on a pair of 3-yard touchdown runs by junior quarterback Jack Pollard (Richmond, Va. / Douglas Freeman) and senior quarterback Drew Richardson (Watkinsville, Ga. / Athens Academy), and a 9-yard scoring run by Breece.
 
However, the momentum turned in the second quarter when several miscues stunted the Generals' momentum.  W&L had a punt blocked just a few plays into the second quarter, leading to a Hornets' touchdown just two plays later.  The Generals added a 29-yard field goal by junior placekicker Jarrett Wright (Charlotte, N.C. / Ardrey Kell) on the next possession, but failed on a 4th-and-goal from the Shenandoah 5-yardline on the ensuing series.  The Hornets proceeded to drive 95 yards in eight plays, cutting it to a 24-21 game on an 11-yard touchdown pass from first-year quarterback Chris Sonnenberg to senior wide receiver Casey Stewart with 1:06 left in the half.  The Generals were driving in the closing seconds, but fumbled the ball on the SU 25-yardline with 16 seconds remaining to end the threat.
 
W&L looked to assume control of the contest with the opening drive of the third quarter, moving 59 yards in nine plays for a 31-21 lead.  Sophomore running back Coby Kirkland (Duncan, Okla. / Duncan) ended the drive with a 5-yard touchdown run.  But, the Generals couldn't pull away as another turnover set up the Hornets for a 28-yard field goal that was knocked through by first-year placekicker Drew Geyer with 1:17 left in the third.
 
The Blue & White pushed the lead back to 10 points on another Wright field goal, this time from 39 yards out with 7:02 left, but the Hornets scored on 4th-and-goal from the 2-yardline with 3:12 left to make it a 34-31 game.
 
Shenandoah went for an onside kick, but W&L recovered and started the series on the SU 43-yardline.  However, a personal foul penalty put the Generals behind the sticks and W&L was forced to punt.  The Hornets took over on their own 13-yardline for a potential game-winning drive, but senior linebacker Will Corry (Watkinsville, Ga. / Athens Academy) picked off Sonnenberg on his own 33-yardline with 1:28 left. 
 
The Generals kneeled three times, but still had eight seconds remaining on the clock.  Senior quarterback Drew Richardson (Watkinsville, Ga. / Athens Academy) tried to run out the clock, but gave himself up on the SU 40-yardline with two seconds remaining.  The Hornets attempted a game-winning hail mary on the final play, but sophomore cornerback Owen Roberts (Athens, Ga. / Athens Academy) intercepted a tipped ball at the 15-yardline and the Generals claimed the victory.
 
W&L finished with 421 yards of total offense led by Breece's effort on a season-high 21 carries.  Sophomore running back Alex Wertz (Sterling, Va. / Dominion) carried 10 times for 67 yards, while Pollard tallied 54 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries and completed 7-of-11 passes for 78 yards.  Kirkland added 50 yards and a touchdown on 11 rushes as well.
 
The Generals' defense forced five Shenandoah turnovers and limited the Hornets to just 337 total yards.  Corry led the way with nine tackles and one interception.
 
Sonnenberg led the Hornet offense by completing 29-of-40 passes for 263 yards and four touchdowns, but also four interceptions.  Stewart caught seven passes for 70 yards and three touchdowns, while senior defensive back Nate Hill led the defense with 14 tackles and two fumble recoveries.
 
W&L's season is now complete.  The Generals finished with a 6-4 overall mark and a 5-3 record in ODAC play.  Shenandoah fell to 5-4 overall and 4-4 in the conference.