SAN ANTONIO, Texas. - In a defensive battle that came down to the final play, the Washington and Lee University football team was denied a comeback win as they fell 16-10 to Trinity University (Texas) on Saturday afternoon.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Trinity (2-1) received the opening kickoff and marched 73 yards on 14 plays down to the Generals' two-yard line. On 3rd and 2, Winston Hutchison attempted to dive into the end zone but was met by Jack Johnson and Uno Christopher. Tyler Huettel then knocked down an 18-yard field goal to put the Tigers up 3-0.
- After a Generals (1-2) punt, the Tigers regained possession, but Christopher jumped in front of an out route, intercepting quarterback Ryan Back and sprinting 65 yards to the end zone to give the Blue and White a 7-3 lead.
- The Tigers scored on back-to-back drives in the second quarter. Huettel nailed a 45-yard field goal, and Johnny Milo later walked into the end zone from six yards out, giving Trinity a 13-7 lead. Huettel added his third field goal of the game, a 19-yarder, extending the Tigers' lead to 16-7 at halftime.
- The Generals' defense came out strong in the second half, forcing three straight punts. The Blue and White's offensive drive extended into the fourth quarter, and after a penalty at the one-yard line, Michael Fernandes split the uprights from 33 yards out to cut the deficit to six.
- W&L's defense came up big again in the fourth quarter when Jerzee Allentini forced a fumble from Hutchison, giving the Generals possession with six minutes to play.
- Although a Ty Collins interception seemed to seal the win for the Tigers, the Generals' defense had other plans. Will Mahmud and Jalen Todd stopped running back Legend Grigsby on 3rd and 4, forcing another punt. Huettel mishandled the snap on the punt, and Fidel Small and Michael Schoenberg tackled him for a 13-yard loss at the TU 36-yard line.
- The Blue and White faced a 4th and 5 on the TU 13-yard line. Collins targeted Marcus Payne at the sticks, but Anthony Njoku jumped the route, breaking up the pass and sealing the game for the Tigers.
W&L GAME NOTES
- The Generals fell to 1-2 on the season with the loss. The Blue and White rushed for a season-low 152 yards on 30 attempts, averaging 5.1 yards per carry, and generated just 252 yards of total offense.
- The Generals' defense forced two turnovers while holding the Tigers to 155 rushing yards, their second-lowest total of the season.
- W&L struggled on third and fourth downs, converting just 1-of-11 on third down and 1-of-6 on fourth down.
TRINITY GAME NOTES
- Trinity improved to 2-1 on the season with the win. The Tigers controlled possession for 36 minutes, registering 280 yards of total offense, including 155 rushing yards and 125 passing yards.
- The Tigers' defensive unit forced three turnovers, intercepting Collins twice and recovering a fumble. They effectively shut down the Generals' offense, not allowing a touchdown and holding them to 152 rushing yards, their lowest of the season.
TOP PERFORMERS
- Ryan Back completed 16 of 25 passes for 125 yards with one interception, while Ty Collins went 12-for-21 for 100 yards with two picks.
- Winston Hutchison led all players with 63 yards on 16 carries, averaging 3.9 yards per carry, while Johnny Milo rushed seven times for 44 yards and one touchdown. Jacob Romero led the Generals with 56 yards on 13 carries, averaging 4.3 yards per rush.
- Brennan Stout led all players with a career-high 15 tackles and a fumble recovery. Jalen Todd recorded a season-high 13 tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss (TFLs) and one sack. Cade Rabson led the Tigers with 12 total tackles and 2.5 TFLs.
UP NEXT
- The Generals will rest up during the bye week, they will be back in action on Saturday, Oct. 5 as they take on Averett University at 5 p.m. at Wilson Field for parent's weekend.
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.
