LEXINGTON, Va. - The Washington and Lee University football team secured their second-straight win as they shutout Gallaudet University 45-0 on Saturday afternoon at Wilson Field.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- After receiving the opening kickoff, the Generals (3-3, 2-1 ODAC) marched down the field on an 11-play, 65-yard drive to open up the scoring. First-year Ryan Clemens took a handoff left and sprinted 19 yards into the end zone for his first career touchdown.
- The Generals' defense forced a punt on Gallaudet's (1-4, 1-3 ODAC) opening drive before Ty Collins found Teddy Sparrow for a 57-yard touchdown, the second straight week where the two have connected for a 50+ yard score.
- After another punt for the Bison, the Blue and White extended their lead to three scores after a ten-play, 73-yard drive. Collins called his own number on the option for a nine-yard rushing touchdown.
- W&L took a 28-0 lead with 4:41 left in the second quarter as Michael Schoenberg scampered in from four yards out, finishing off a five-play, 46-yard drive. The Generals' defense shut down Gallaudet's next drive as Allan Gushue pressured quarterback Dylan Officer, forcing an errant throw that Mac Palmer picked off to end the half.
- The second half started how the first half ended as Officer's pass was tipped and picked off by a diving Will Mahmud, his second interception in as many games.
- W&L used the turnover to their advantage as they expanded their lead to 35 as Dominic Hahn found the end zone for the first time this season with a two-yard score.
- Ian Gallimore gave the Generals a 42-0 lead after leading them on a six-play, 51-yard drive, which he capped off with a four-yard rushing touchdown, the first of his career.
- Marcus Gafford produced the final points of the game as he knocked down a 27-yard field goal to secure the 45-0 win for the Blue and White.
W&L GAME NOTES
- The Generals moved to 3-3 on the season while improving to 3-1 in Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) play. The win marked their second victory over the Bison and their first since 1913.
- W&L amassed 475 yards of total offense while rushing for 399 yards and five touchdowns, averaging 5.7 yards per carry. They added 76 yards through the air with one touchdown. The offense produced 40 points for the second straight week while eclipsing the 350 yard mark on the ground for the third time this season.
- The Blue and White's defense shut down the Gallaudet offense, allowing only 71 yards—the fewest given up since 2006, when they allowed just 100 yards against Catholic on Oct. 7. They also forced two turnovers, picking off a pair of passes this afternoon.
GU GAME NOTES
- Gallaudet falls to 1-4 on the season with a 1-3 mark in conference play. This also marks their third-straight loss this season.
- The Bison generated 71 yards of total offense, airing it out for 87 yards while rushing for -16 yards on 21 carries.
TOP PERFORMERS
- Dylan Officer of Gallaudet was 7-of-15 (46%) for 72 yards and two interceptions. Ty Collins completed two of his five passes for 72 yards and a touchdown, including a 57-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter.
- Dominic Hahn led all rushers with 14 carries for a career-high 113 yards and one score, averaging 8.1 yards per carry. Ian Gallimore and Ryan Clemens each found the end zone for the first time in their careers. Gallaudet's Carter Johnson led the rushing attack with 12 carries for seven yards.
- Teddy Sparrow found the end zone for the second straight week as he had a 57-yard receiving touchdown, his only catch of the day. Johnson led the Bison with three catches for 25 yards.
- Zefan Nathanson led all tacklers with 17 tackles, including ten solo stops, while Jacob Hundley added 14 with a tackle for loss. Brennan Stout led the Generals with seven tackles and a tackle for loss. Wesley Covert had the lone sack of the afternoon while adding a pair of tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss. Will Mahmud and Mac Palmer each picked off a pass on Saturday as well.
UP NEXT
- The Generals will head into the bye week before returning to Wilson Field on Oct. 25 as they welcome Bridgewater College on Parents and Family weekend for a 4 p.m. kick off.
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.
