BRIDGEWATER, Va. - The Washington and Lee University football team dropped a heartbreaker at Bridgewater College on Saturday afternoon as the Eagles completed a hail mary and a two-point conversion as time expired to secure a 22-21 win.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Generals (4-2, 2-1 ODAC) opened the scoring early, needing just seven plays to find the end zone. Following six consecutive rushing attempts that moved the ball to the Bridgewater (2-4, 2-1 ODAC) 24-yard line, quarterback Ty Collins connected with Teddy Sparrow for a 24-yard touchdown pass, W&L's first passing score of the season, to take a 7-0 lead.
- After forcing punts on the Eagles' first two possessions, the Generals took over at their own 15-yard line for their third drive, which extended into the second quarter. Ryan Clemens capped off the 11-play, 85-yard drive with a two-yard rushing touchdown to extend W&L's lead to 14.
- Bridgewater responded with a touchdown drive of its own on the ensuing possession. The Eagles marched down the field on an 11-play, 70-yard drive that consumed 6:40 of game time, culminating in a one-yard rushing touchdown from Wyatt Jervis to cut the deficit to 14-7.
- Facing fourth-and-12 from the Eagles' 33-yard line, Collins was intercepted by Baylor Jones, who returned the ball 61 yards to the W&L one-yard line, setting up Bridgewater with a prime scoring opportunity with 1:24 remaining in the half. After a delay-of-game penalty pushed the Eagles back to the six-yard line, quarterback Parker Burke connected with Jalin Quintanilla for a five-yard gain before finding Brandon Anderson for a one-yard touchdown pass to even the score at 14.
- The third quarter featured three consecutive drives ending in punts before the Generals moved into scoring position late in the period. Collins connected with Sparrow for a 43-yard gain to close the quarter before Clemens added 14 yards on the ground to move W&L into the red zone. However, Kyle Galloway forced a fumble on the next play, which Pierre Harris Jr. recovered to end the Generals' scoring threat.
- The W&L defense forced a punt on the ensuing possession, giving the offense the ball back at its own 31-yard line. The Blue and White then orchestrated a 16-play, 69-yard touchdown drive that consumed eight and a half minutes of game time. Clemens found the end zone for the second time, punching it in from four yards out to put W&L back in front, 21-14, with 2:28 remaining in regulation.
- Bridgewater methodically moved down the field on its final possession, converting two fourth-down attempts to keep the drive alive. Facing 4th-and-14 from the W&L 21-yard line, Burke connected with Nick Barahona on a Hail Mary touchdown pass as time expired to cut the deficit to 21-20. The Eagles elected to go for the win with a two-point conversion attempt, and Burke found Caeden Walters in the corner of the end zone to secure a thrilling 22-21 comeback victory over the Generals.
W&L GAME NOTES
- The Generals fell to 4-2 overall and 2-1 in ODAC play. The loss snapped W&L's three-game winning streak over the Eagles, which dated back to the 2023 season.
- The Blue and White generated 411 yards of total offense on 65 plays, rushing for a season-high 344 yards and two touchdowns. W&L added 67 yards through the air on two completions, recording its first passing touchdown of the season. The Generals won the time-of-possession battle, holding the ball for 31 minutes while converting 6-of-10 third-down attempts (60%) and 1-of-2 fourth-down attempts (50%).
- Defensively, the Generals allowed 273 yards of total offense, including 108 yards on the ground and 165 through the air. W&L also registered four sacks and forced four punts while limiting the Eagles to a 4-of-14 performance (28.6%) on third down.
BC GAME NOTES
- The Eagles secured their second consecutive win, improving to 2-4 overall and 2-1 in ODAC play.
- Bridgewater recorded 273 yards of total offense on 59 plays, throwing for a game-high 165 yards and two touchdowns on 25 completions while adding 108 rushing yards on 26 carries.
- The Eagles' defense proved to be the difference-maker, forcing two turnovers, including a fumble and an interception, while forcing the Generals to punt twice.
TOP PERFORMERS
- Parker Burke completed 25-of-33 passes (75.8%) for 165 yards and two touchdowns in the win while adding 13 yards on the ground. Ty Collins completed 2-of-5 passes (40%) for 67 yards, one touchdown and an interception while adding 28 rushing yards on four carries.
- Ryan Clemens led all rushers with 197 yards and two touchdowns on 28 carries, averaging 7.0 yards per attempt. Aiden Grefe paced the Eagles' rushing attack with 34 yards on one carry, while Wyatt Jervis recorded BC's lone rushing touchdown.
- Nick Barahona led all receivers with eight catches for 82 yards and a touchdown, while Brandon Anderson hauled in six passes for 30 yards and a score. Teddy Sparrow paced the Generals with two receptions for 67 yards and a touchdown, his first of the season.
- CJ Milazzo led all tacklers with 16 stops, including three solo tackles, while Oscar Whitely added 15 tackles and one tackle for loss. Jayden Booth recorded the Eagles' lone sack, while Baylor Jones registered an interception and Pierre Harris Jr. recovered a fumble. Marcus Canton and Brennan Stout led the Generals with six tackles each, with Canton recording six solo stops. Zach Cruet posted a career-high three tackles for loss and two sacks, while Arnez Dowe and Randolph Smith each added a sack.
UP NEXT
- The Generals are back in action on Saturday, October 24th as they welcome Hampden-Sydney College for a 1 p.m. kick off at Wilson Field for Hall of Fame 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.
