LEXINGTON, Va. - The Washington and Lee University football team returns to the gridiron following the bye week to take on Averett University in their Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) opener at Wilson Field on Saturday evening.
Game Information:
When: Saturday, October 5, 2024
Where: Lexington, Va.
Stadium: Wilson Field
Kickoff: 5 p.m.
Gameday Forecast: 78°, Mostly Sunny, Wind NE 6 mph
Gameday Links: Watch |
Live Stats |
Flipcard
Series History:
This match up marks the ninth meeting in program history between the two institutions. The Blue and White hold a 5-3 advantage in the series, having won the last three match ups. The Generals and Cougars first squared off in 2007 in Salem, where the Generals claimed a 35-21 win, followed by a 31-23 victory in 2008. Averett won the next three meetings in 2009, 2010, and 2014 before the Generals began their current winning streak in 2015.
Last season, the Generals traveled to Danville, Va. for the third time and the first since Averett joined the ODAC in the 2022-23 school year. The Blue and White's defense stood tall in that match up, allowing only one score in the second half to secure a 25-20 comeback win. The Generals accumulated 376 yards of total offense, rushing for 222 yards and passing for 154. W&L's defense shut down the Cougars' rushing attack, which averaged 224.3 yards per game, holding them to just 97 yards on the ground. Jacob Romero led all rushers with 132 yards on 28 carries and two touchdowns, while Josh Garcia hauled in three catches for 49 yards. Will Knight led the defensive effort with seven tackles (two solo, five assisted), while Connor O'Malley added a tackle for loss and an interception.
Scouting the Cougars:
The Cougars enter this week with a 2-1 record after their bye, securing wins over N.C. Wesleyan (41-29) and Greensboro College (27-20). Their only setback came in week three against Ferrum College in a non-conference match up, where the Panthers claimed a 36-10 victory in Danville on Sept. 21. The Cougars produced 325 yards of total offense, but Ferrum generated just under 500 yards while capitalizing on two Averett fumbles.
Quarterback Ethan Ross completed 9 of 19 passes for 156 yards, while Gaby Soto rushed for 83 yards on 17 carries, averaging 4.9 yards per carry and scoring one touchdown. Wide receiver Jamahrie Owens caught two passes for 67 yards, including a 50-yard reception. On defense, Cameron Ross and Hunter Callahan led the team with seven total tackles, while Ross added one tackle for loss (TFL). Davon Simpkins and Will Hairston each recorded a sack against the Panthers.
Through three games, the Cougars have been outscored 85-78 while averaging 371 yards of offense per game, including 202.67 passing yards. Ethan Ross has completed 38 of 64 passes (59%) for 585 yards and four touchdowns, ranking fourth in the ODAC in passing yards this season. Gaby Soto leads the team in rushing with 316 yards on 56 carries, averaging 5.6 yards per carry and 105 yards per game, with two touchdowns. Linebacker Tre' Maxwell leads the Cougars' defense with 27 tackles (16 solo, 11 assisted) and three tackles for loss, ranking third in the conference in total tackles. Freshman Jarrell Williams leads the team with two sacks, adding 13 tackles and four TFLs.
Scouting the Generals:
Prior to the bye week in Week 4, the Generals traveled to San Antonio, Texas, for a match up with the Trinity University (Texas) Tigers, where they dropped their second contest of the season, falling 16-10. The game featured 532 total yards of offense, with Trinity recording 280 yards. The Generals' offense was held to 152 rushing yards, their lowest mark since 2022, when they rushed for 100 yards against Christopher Newport. Both defenses forced three punts and five turnovers. The Blue and White shut down Trinity's offense in the second half, forcing three straight punts before recovering a fumble on the Tigers' fourth drive, giving the Generals the ball with just a few minutes to play.
Sophomore QB Ty Collins completed 12 of 21 passes (57%) for 100 yards but threw two interceptions. Jacob Romero carried the ball 13 times for a season-low 56 yards, averaging 4.3 yards per carry. Andrew Bland led the receiving corps with three catches for 38 yards, while Josh Garcia hauled in six passes for 37 yards. The Generals' lone touchdown came from Senior Captain Uno Christopher, who intercepted Ryan Back on the Tigers' second drive of the game and sprinted 65 yards to the end zone. First-year Brennan Stout led the defense with a career-high 15 tackles and a fumble recovery, while senior Jalen Todd continued his impressive season with 13 total stops, 1.5 tackles for loss (TFLs), and one sack.
Through three games of their 2024 campaign, the Generals have outscored their opponents 104-92, averaging 34.67 points per game. The offense is averaging 422 yards of total offense per game, with 312.7 yards on the ground and 109.33 yards through the air. Collins has completed 26 of 42 passes (62%) for 328 yards and five touchdowns, averaging 109.33 yards per game. Romero leads the rushing unit with 290 yards and one score, while Marcus Payne, Michael Schoenberg, and Anthony Crawford have each surpassed 100 rushing yards this season. Garcia and Bland are the top two receiving targets, with Garcia catching nine passes for 101 yards and a touchdown, while Bland has 100 yards on five catches, including one score. Jalen Todd leads the team and the ODAC in tackles with 30 this season, along with 1.5 TFLs and one sack. Will Mahmud's four TFLs and three sacks leads the Blue and White, he ranks third in the ODAC in TFLs and second in sacks.
National Statistical Rankings:
The Generals continue to boast one of the best rushing offenses in the nation, ranking sixth in Division III with 312.7 yards per game. The Blue and White also rank 52nd in total offense, averaging 422 yards per game. The punt return unit ranks fourth in the nation, averaging 28.50 yards per return, while the team ranks 32nd in net punting with an average of 37.57 yards per punt.
Individually, Jalen Todd ranks 33rd in Division III in total tackles, with 30 tackles, averaging 10 per game. Jacob Romero ranks 40th in the nation in rushing yards per game, averaging 96.7 yards. Connor O'Malley ranks 18th in interceptions per game with 1, after securing two interceptions in the Generals' 68-28 win over Apprentice.
Around the ODAC:
Shenandoah University was the only ODAC team in action in Week 4, defeating Juniata 62-27 in Huntington, Pa. The Hornets recorded 646 total yards in the win, their highest total since 2019. They lit up the scoreboard with 17 points in both the first and second quarters before adding four more scores after halftime.
Saturday, Sept. 21
Hampden-Sydney vs. Guilford | 1 p.m.
Shenandoah vs. Randolph-Macon | 1 p.m.
Ferrum vs. Bridgewater | 2 p.m.
Washington and Lee vs. Averett | 5 p.m.
Nestled in the mountains of Virginia, Washington and Lee University is a proud member of NCAA Division III and the Old Dominion Athletic Conference. Founded in 1749, W&L is the ninth-oldest college in the United States and a top-ranked liberal arts university. With over 500 student-athletes in 24 varsity sports, the Generals have celebrated over 265 conference championships. Learn more about the Blue and White by visiting www.generalssports.com or on social media at @WLUGenerals.
