LEXINGTON, Va. — Washington and Lee was a welcoming host to Averett University for the Cougars first-ever ODAC contest, but all niceties were put aside once the opening whistle sounded with the Generals posting a 31-0 shutout on Saturday afternoon on Wilson Field. W&L's Parents Weekend victory marks the program's second whitewash of the season, a feat the club accomplished in 2021 as well.
You would be hard-pressed to find an area where Washington and Lee (3-1, 1-0 ODAC) did not out-shine Averett (2-2, 0-1). The Generals racked up 511 yards of offense on 80 total plays. Both of those totals were roughly double their opponent's figures with the W&L defense holding the Cougars to 216 yards from scrimmage on just 47 plays. That disparity in plays run led to the Blue & White holding possession for an eye-opening 42:45 of clock time.
W&L's offense was powered by 338 yards rushing and three touchdowns from three different ball-carriers. Junior back Andrew Bland (Richmond, Va. / Douglas Freeman) led with 69 yards and a touchdown on just three carries, while junior quarterback Stephen Murrin (Fort Worth, Texas / Fort Worth Country Day) and senior running back Harry Crutcher (Dallas, Texas / Cistercian) each posted 50 yards and a score on a combined 21 carries.
The Generals' passing attack also got involved with Murrin and sophomore quarterback Eli Hildebrandt ( Milton, Ga. / Fellowship Christian) combining to go 7-of-10 for 173 yards through the air. Hildebrandt and Burke Cigelske (Atlanta, Ga. / Riverwood) connected on a 44-yard TD pass late in the third quarter, marking the first passing and receiving touchdown for either player, respectively.
The offense was buoyed by an equally impressive outing from the Generals defense, which surrendered just 4.6 yards per play to the Cougars. W&L was particularly stout against the run, allowing 56 yards on 15 carries. Sophomore linebacker Uno Christopher (Fredericksburg, Va. / Massaponax)  and senior lineman Nathan Unger (Virginia Beach, Va. / Cox) helped set that total back with a tackle-for-loss each. Junior linebacker Hunter Hawk (Cumming, Ga. / Holy Innocents' Episcopal) and senior linebacker David Onyejekwe (Falls Church, Va. / McLean) led the unit with five tackles apiece.
The Blue & White passing defense was sound as well, holding AU to 160 yards by pass catchers. Washington and Lee allowed only 12-of-32 attempts to be completed, good for a low 37.5-percent completion rate. W&L defenders broke up six passes. Senior defensive back Cole Cameli (Mooresville, N.C. / Southlake Christian) intercepted a pass to account for the game's lone turnover.
Points did not populate the Wilson Field scoreboard until midway through the first quarter. Murrin capped a nine-play 50-yard drive with a two-yard touchdown run. He had to fight his way around the left edge before his offensive line teammates helped push him into the end zone for a 7-0 lead with 8:57 on the clock.
Home fans would not have to wait long for the next W&L score. Bland, who exploded for a 44-yard run on the second play of the Generals next possession, ended that drive in the end zone with a 16-yard run with 3:28 to play in the opening frame. Murrin was key on the scoring play as he completed a five-yard option-pitch to Bland to spring the Generals back down the left sideline.
Washington and Lee scored two more times before halftime. The Generals took possession with 14:09 on the second quarter clock and did not surrender control until Crutcher plunged over right guard from one-yard out 8:02 later. That drive covered 68 yards and featured 17 plays, the longest possession of the game in terms of plays and time for either team.
Junior kicker Arturo Ramirez (Providence Village, Texas / Braswell) sent the teams into their locker rooms with a 22-yard field goal with 25-seconds to go for a 24-0 Generals lead.
The only points of the second half were set up by the lone turnover of the contest. Midway through the third quarter and with Averett close to the red zone at the W&L 33-yard line, Cameli played his zone perfectly as he stepped back to intercept an underthrown AU pass at the 11-yard line. Seven plays after the takeaway, Hildebrandt and Cigelske connected on a 44-yard touchdown pass-and-catch. Cigelske caught the ball at the 23-yard line and eluded one tackler before sprinting to the end zone down the right sideline with 3:36 on the third quarter clock.
Washington and Lee returns to action next week Saturday, October 8, as the Generals hit the road for an ODAC contest at Guilford College. Kickoff is slated for 2:00 p.m. ET at the Armfield Athletic Center in Greensboro, N.C.
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