LEXINGTON, Va. - The Washington and Lee University football team concluded its 2022 season with a 16-14 loss in triple overtime to Shenandoah University.
The Hornets (8-2, 5-2 ODAC) rallied back from a 14-point deficit in the final 15 minutes of regulation to push the Generals (5-5, 3-4) into extra time.
Both teams came up scoreless through the first two overtime periods, all four field goal attempts were no good. SU missed a 37-yarder and blocked W&L's 36-yard attempt on the ensuing possession. W&L opened the second period with a 25-yard miss before the Blue and White defense pushed SU back on the final frame for a 41-yard attempt. Shenandoah's kick was wide to the right and sent the two teams into the next tie-break period.
The Hornets went on to earn the Old Dominion Athletic Conference victory in the third overtime, alternating two-point plays by new NCAA overtime rules. Steven Hugney, sophomore quarterback for SU, rushed in on the right side after breaking a tackle out wide to cross the goal line.Â
On the field following the conversion, Washington and Lee called on Alex Wertz (Sterling, Va. / Dominion). His rush up the middle was stuffed just short of the endzone and with the 16-14 win, SU equaled their program record for victories in a season (eight).Â
Before the OT periods, the Hornets needed to respond to a 14-point Blue and White swing. The home team found the endzone on both
 the final possession of the first half and on the initial drive of the third quarter.Â
After a booming 66-yard second quarter punt, the Generals took the field at the WLU24 with 4:20 on the clock. Six straight rushes combined for 20 yards before the clock stopped with an incomplete pass. Peter Davin (Kensington, Md. / Georgetown Prep) checked in for the Blue and White to open up the play book. The passing game gained some momentum for the Generals with three consecutive Dryden Duggins (Baton Rouge, La. / Episcopal) completions for 22 total yards.Â
Wertz' rush up the middle was good for a first down on the SU16 and a spike stopped the clock with 43 seconds on the clock.
Davin called his own number on the next two snaps with a 9-yard gain to the right and a 7-yard touchdown run up the middle with 0:23 on the clock. Andrew Arnold (Richmond, Va. / Trinity Episcopal)Â split the uprights to put the Generals up on top 7-0.
Out of the locker room, W&L chewed up 4:11 of the game clock on eight plays and 58 yards, after a 17-yard Josh Garcia (Autin, Texas / Austin) return from the opening kickoff, for the second touchdown.Â
Eli Hildebrant (Milton, Ga. / Fellowship Christian) lined up in shotgun and connected with Andrew Bland (Richmond, Va. / Douglas Freeman) on a cut through the middle of the field for a 32-yard touchdown. The PAT was good and the Generals held that two-score advantage until the final stanza of regulation.Â
With the ball on the WLU02 to start the fourth quarter, Hugney was on the receiving-end of a touchdown pass from wideout Bryar Wheeler. The fourth-and-goal "Philly Special" capped a 12-play, 61-yard drive to cut the WLU lead in half five seconds into the last stanza.Â
A pair of three-and-outs and a 5-minute drive resulted in zero points for the Blue and White. The Hornets got the ball back with 1:43 to play. Starting at the SU25, Hugney marched Shenandoah down the field. The Generals' defense held their ground for three plays inside the ten before bending on a fourth-and-goal conversion from the five yard line. With 40 seconds on the clock, Hugney found Andre Jackson on a slant, the PAT sent the contest into overtime.
Washington and Lee out-gained Shenandoah 344-315 and possessed the ball for 35:57.Â
Wertz led all rushers with 26 attempts and 155 yards. Hildebrandt finished the game 5-of-9 for 44 yards and one touchdown and Davin added 29 yards on four completions. Hildebrandt ran for 58 yards on 18 carries.
For the Hornets, Hugney finished 29-of-52 for 228 yards with one touchdown and an interception on the day, Connor O'Malley (Darien, Conn. / Darien) jumped in front of a route up the left sideline for the pick.Â
Hunter Hawk (Cumming, Ga. / Holy Innocents' Episcopal) had a team-high 11 tackles with five solo efforts. Robert Poindexter (Atlanta, Ga. / Lovett) tallied a sack on Hugney for three yards and the defense made five stops behind the line of scrimmage for a combined 11 yards.
Washington and Lee broke up six pass attempts and was credited with eight QB hurries.Â
Ben Burgan tallied a game-high 22 stops for the visitors.Â
Prior to the season finale, the W&L football team honored the program's seniors and their families for the impact that they had on the team and on the Generals' community over the past four years.
Today's contest completes the Generals season and the 2023 schedule will be announced this coming spring and post-season/conference awards will be announced throughout the coming weeks.
-Generalssports.com-
