WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. - The Washington and Lee University football team secured their second-straight Postseason Bowl Game win as they shut down a late comeback to defeat Lycoming College in the Cape Charles Bowl on Saturday.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Generals (7-4) wasted no time on their opening drive, marching 75 yards on 16 plays and consuming eight minutes to take a seven-point lead. First-year Ryan Clemens capped off the drive with a five-yard touchdown run.
- Both offenses' ensuing drives were halted by two punts and a turnover on downs before the Generals regained possession to start the second quarter. Clemens called his own number again, scampering four yards into the end zone to put W&L up by two scores after a 12-play, 83-yard drive.
- Following a turnover on downs forced by the Generals' defense, W&L took over on their own 29-yard line. After a pair of rushes and a six-yard pass to Ian Evans moved the chains, Josh Garcia took a handoff left and rushed ten yards before Louie Shank jarred the ball loose. Ryan Pentz recovered the fumble, setting the Warriors up in W&L territory.
- Joe Lyons III then found Karson Kline for a seven-yard touchdown to cap a seven-play, 51-yard drive to get Lycoming on the scoreboard. However, a failed extra point kept the score at 14-6 in favor of the Generals.
- Both defenses stood tall in the third quarter, forcing two interceptions and four punts. Lycoming (5-6) burned five minutes of clock on an 11-play, 69-yard drive to cut the Generals' lead to two, as Lyons III once again connected with Kline — this time for a 15-yard score. The Warriors attempted a two-point conversion to tie the game, but Lyons' pass was intercepted by Parker Maynard to preserve W&L's advantage.
- The Warriors managed a first down on their next possession with a 23-yard pass to Brendan Clark, but the Generals' defense held firm. On 4th-and-10, defensive lineman Will Knight effectively ended the contest with a sack of Lyons. W&L then knelt once in victory formation to run out the clock.
W&L GAME NOTES
- The Generals finish their season with a 7-4 overall record, marking their 10th-straight season with a winning record. The win also marked their second Postseason Bowl win in program history and their second consecutive after defeating Wilkes in the Cape Henry Bowl last season.
- They became the first team to win both bowls in the Chesapeake Challenge, owning a 2-1 record in three appearances.
- The Blue and White registered 361 yards of total offense on 73 plays while rushing for 337 and two touchdowns, marking the sixth game this season that they ran for over 300 yards.
- Senior defensive back Jack Johnson was named the Most Valuable Player of the game, joining Jacob Romero '25 to earn postseason honors in back-to-back seasons.
LC GAME NOTES
- Lycoming ends its 2025 campaign at 5-6 overall.
- The Warriors are now 1-1 in two Chesapeake Challenge appearances, adding this result to their 20-17 win at Washington and Lee in the 2023 Cape Charles Bowl.
- Lycoming threw for 238 yards on 18-of-35 passing, but two interceptions thwarted some of the Warriors' efforts.
TOP PERFORMERS
- Joe Lyons III was 18-of-34 for 238 yards and two touchdowns while throwing two interceptions. Ty Collins completed three of his seven passes for 24 yards while adding 21 yards on the ground on five carries.
- Ryan Clemens led all rushers with 33 carries for 188 yards and two touchdowns, while Michael Schoenberg rushed for 66 yards on 15 carries. Terrence Oliver led the Warriors with 14 carries for 28 yards.
- Jared Zimmerman led the Lycoming receiving corps with five catches for 80 yards, while Karson Kline caught a team-high six passes for 79 yards and two touchdowns. Ian Evans caught a team-high two passes for 13 yards.
- Ryan Pentz led all tacklers with 14 total stops, including four solo tackles and a fumble recovery. JayVon Story registered a team-high one tackle for loss, while Louie Shank and Daniel Atsou each recorded 0.5 tackles for loss. Brennan Stout tallied 13 total tackles with six solo stops and one pass breakup. Will Knight and Cole Sheppard each notched a sack in the win as well. Jack Johnson and Parker Maynard both forced turnovers, each picking off a pass in the victory.
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.
