LEXINGTON, Va. - The Washington and Lee University football team looks to bounce back from a Week 1 set back as they host the Newport News Apprentice School in their home opener on Saturday afternoon at Wilson Field. 

Game Information: 
When: Saturday, September 14, 2024
Where: Lexington, Va.
Stadium: Wilson Field
Kickoff: 2 p.m.
Gameday Forecast: 76°, Cloudy, Wind E 8 mph
Gameday Links: Watch | Live Stats | Flipcard

Series History:
This is the fourth meeting between the two programs. The Generals have won all three previous match ups, including a 28-9 victory over the Builders last season in Newport News. Apprentice will be making their third trip to Wilson Field, and their first visit since the teams last met in 2021.

In last season's win, the Blue and White accumulated 340 total yards of offense, rushing for 184 yards and passing for a season-high 156 yards. Jacob Romero led all rushers with 76 yards on 19 carries and also caught a five-yard touchdown pass. The Generals' defense limited the Apprentice offense to 211 total yards and did not allow a touchdown. The defensive line consistently pressured the Builders' quarterback, recording three sacks.

Scouting the Builders:
The Builders (1-0) are coming off a 44-9 victory over Southern Virginia University last weekend. Apprentice amassed 427 total yards of offense, with 304 yards on the ground and 123 yards through the air. Wide receiver T.K. Petty caught three passes for 51 yards and scored each time he touched the ball, tying the Apprentice School single-game record. Quarterback Grant Swanger and Petty connected for a 25-yard touchdown and a 22-yard touchdown on back-to-back drives, putting the Builders up 21-0. Petty then caught a 4-yard touchdown pass from Swanger in the third quarter to put the game out of reach.

The Builders' defensive unit shut down the Knights' offense, allowing only 237 total yards and limiting SVU's rushing attack to 64 yards on 35 attempts. Benny Nena led all players with nine solo tackles, one tackle for loss, and one forced fumble. Syncere Hawkins registered eight tackles, including seven solo and one assisted. Adnous Watson and Darius Carney each had five tackles, with Watson leading the team with 3.5 tackles for loss and two sacks.

Scouting the Generals:
The Generals are looking to bounce back after falling 48-26 in their season opener at Salisbury University last weekend. The Sea Gulls wasted no time, scoring touchdowns on their first four drives to build a 28-0 lead. They generated 617 yards of offense on just 49 plays, averaging 12.6 yards per play. The Blue and White produced 460 yards of offense, rushing for 340 yards on 57 attempts with one touchdown, and passing for 120 yards and three touchdowns in the loss.

Jacob Romero led W&L with 121 rushing yards on 26 carries, averaging 4.7 yards per carry. Marcus Payne added six rushes for 85 yards, including a 53-yard run, averaging 14.2 yards per carry. Ty Collins, in his first start for the Generals, went 11-for-16 for 120 yards and three touchdowns, while also rushing nine times for 25 yards. Andrew Bland led the receiving corps with two catches for 62 yards, including a 47-yard touchdown reception to start the fourth quarter.

On defense, Jalen Todd led the team with eight total tackles, including four solo and four assisted. Will Mahmud recorded a team-high two tackles for loss and one sack, adding up to seven total tackles. Defensive back Charlie Fleming hauled in the first interception of the season, contributing five tackles and breaking up one pass.

National Statistical Rankings: 
After one week of action, the Generals are ranked in the Top 50 nationally in several offensive statistical categories. The Blue and White lead the nation in fourth-down conversions, having converted all attempts at Salisbury—making them the only team in Division III with four successful fourth-down conversions. The Generals are ranked fifth in rushing offense after gaining 340 yards on the ground.

W&L's offense is 38th in Division III for total offense, generating 460 yards on 72 plays in Week 1. while ranking 33rd in team passing efficiency (181.1) and 44th in time of possession (33:52). Senior running back Jacob Romero is ranked 28th in Division III for rushing yards per game and rushing yards, having totaled 121 yards on the ground in their season opener at Salisbury.

Around the ODAC:
Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) teams finished 4-4 in the first weekend of action. No. 9 Randolph-Macon defeated Dickinson College 47-21 on Friday night, while Guilford won the Gate City Soup Bowl with a 14-0 victory over Greensboro College. Shenandoah opened the season with a 33-14 win at Methodist, and Averett concluded the weekend's action with a 41-29 win over North Carolina Wesleyan University on Saturday night.

Ferrum and Hampden-Sydney both lost their home openers on Saturday. Ferrum fell 55-6 to No. 5 Mount Union, while Hampden-Sydney was defeated 41-21 by Delaware Valley. Bridgewater dropped their season opener on Friday night, falling 41-7 to 12th-ranked Susquehanna University.

Saturday, Sept. 14
Averett at Greensboro | 12 p.m.
#8/9 Randolph-Macon vs. Hobart | 12 p.m.
Hampden-Sydney at Brevard (N.C.) | 1 p.m.
Washington and Lee vs. Newport News Apprentice School | 2 p.m.
Bridgewater vs. Southern Virginia | 2 p.m.
Ferrum at North Carolina Wesleyan | 6 p.m.
Guilford vs. Methodist | 7 p.m.
 

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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.