WINCHESTER, Va. - The Washington and Lee University football team dropped their regular season finale as they fell 17-14 to Shenandoah University on Saturday afternoon at Glo Fiber Field at Shentel Stadium.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Hornets (8-2, 6-2 ODAC) were set up in W&L territory after Roge't Walker took the opening kickoff 50 yards to midfield. His lengthy return set up a 12-play, 50-yard drive which saw Jalen Redfearn punch it in from one yard out to open up the scoring.
- The Generals (6-4, 6-2 ODAC) punted on their opening drive after it stalled on their own 39-yard line before forcing a three-and-out on Shenandoah's next drive. W&L's second drive looked promising as they marched down to the SU one-yard line following a 13-play, 67-yard drive. However, on 4th-and-1 at the SU three-yard line, Phoenix Andes-Stowell wrapped up Ryan Clemens at the line of scrimmage to force a turnover on downs.
- Both teams' next few drives would stall, and the Hornets headed into the break with a 7–0 lead.
- Washington and Lee tied the game at seven apiece after Ty Collins dove into the end zone from one yard out, finishing off a seven-play, 52-yard drive.
- After back-to-back punts, the Shenandoah offense got the ball at the 50-yard line, and on 3rd-and-4, Fritz Nottebohm tipped a pass at the line, which was caught by Will Knight to force the first turnover of the day. W&L used the turnover in their favor as Clemens took a pitch left and scampered 11 yards into the end zone to give the Generals a 14–7 lead.
- Shenandoah responded on their next drive with a 16-play, 75-yard drive which ate up eight and a half minutes of game clock to level the score. Redfearn found the end zone for the second time, punching it in from one yard out.
- The Generals were forced to punt for the third time after another three-and-out before the Hornets took a 17–14 lead after Carson Gallant knocked down a 31-yard field goal with 1:44 remaining in the game.
- Starting their final drive on their own 25, the Generals dinked and dunked their way down to the Shenandoah eight-yard line on 14 plays. On 4th-and-6, Michael Fernandes' kick missed the mark, securing the regular season finale win for the Hornets.
W&L GAME NOTES
- W&L's five-game winning streak was snapped, dropping them to 6–4 on the season and 6–2 in Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) play. This loss marked their second-straight against the Hornets.
- The Generals generated 332 yards of offense on 68 plays, with 259 yards on the ground and two scores, while throwing for 73 yards. They held possession for only 27:54 this afternoon with a 5-of-14 (36%) output on third down while converting on three of their five fourth-down attempts. Despite reaching the red zone four times, W&L was only able to find the end zone twice.
SU GAME NOTES
- The Hornets moved to 8–2 on the season with a 6–2 mark in conference play, locking up a second-place finish in the ODAC for the second-straight season. The win also marked their second straight and fourth in the last five meetings against the Generals.
- Shenandoah possessed the ball for over 32 minutes, generating 315 yards of total offense with a balanced attack. They rushed for 187 yards while throwing for 128, with both of their touchdowns coming on the ground.
TOP PERFORMERS
- Mekhi Brown of Shenandoah led all passers with a 14-for-19 (74%) performance in the pocket for 128 yards and an interception, while adding 10 yards on the ground on four carries. Ty Collins completed nine of his 17 (53%) passes for 73 yards, adding 37 yards on the ground with nine carries.
- Ryan Clemens led all rushers with 176 yards on 26 carries and one touchdown, marking his third straight game with a touchdown and over 150 rushing yards. Jalen Redfearn led the Hornets with 116 yards on 29 carries with two scores, while adding 34 receiving yards on two catches.
- Teddy Sparrow caught a pair of passes for 22 yards to lead the Generals' receiving corps. Guy Hayes of Shenandoah caught a game-high four passes for 31 yards.
- Brennan Stout led all defensive players with 16 total stops, including five solo tackles. Will Mahmud also reached double figures with 12 total tackles and four solo stops. Matt Conroy led the Hornets' defense with 13 tackles and a pass breakup.
- Will Knight posted a game-high two tackles for loss while registering his first career interception. He also added seven tackles with two solo stops. Jaren Mitchell of Shenandoah registered one tackle for loss in the win.
UP NEXT
- The Generals will be one of two ODAC teams to participate in the Chesapeake Challenge this season, a bowl series between the ODAC and the Landmark. Both conferences will announce the selections following the NCAA Selection Show at 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.
