LEXINGTON, Va. - The Washington and Lee University football team kicked off the 2026 campaign on a high note as they defeated Wittenberg University 13-7 in overtime on Saturday afternoon at Wilson Field.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- After a scoreless first half that featured four punts, three by the Generals (1-0), the Tigers (0-1) marched down the field on their third drive of the second half to take a 7-0 lead. Quarterback Cole Burton found tight end Stephen Lauterbach on a slip route for a two-yard touchdown pass, capping an 11-play, 79-yard drive to open the scoring with 2:04 remaining in the third quarter.
- The Blue and White's ensuing drive carried into the fourth quarter, where sophomore running back Ryan Clemens punched it in from two yards out to level the score at seven. W&L took six minutes off the clock during the 12-play drive, marching 80 yards for the game-tying score.
- Wittenberg was on the move with 1:30 remaining in regulation. On fourth-and-1, Burton went under center for a quarterback sneak but fumbled the snap, which was recovered by senior Zach Cruet to send the game to overtime.
- The Generals won the overtime coin toss and elected to play defense first. Wittenberg gained six yards on its first two plays before Cruet swatted down a pass on third-and-4, setting up a field goal attempt for Nico Razo. Razo pushed his 36-yard attempt wide right to keep the game tied at seven.
- Senior quarterback Ty Collins opened W&L's overtime possession with a six-yard rush before Clemens gained 12 yards to move the chains. On third-and-5, Collins sprinted to his right and pitched the ball to Marc Geffrard, who dove across the goal line for the game-winning touchdown, giving the Generals a 13-7 victory.
W&L GAME NOTES
- The Generals opened the season with a win for the first time since 2018, when they defeated Dickinson College, 16-10, in overtime in Carlisle, Pa.
- The Blue and White registered 312 yards of total offense on 61 plays, averaging 5.1 yards per play. W&L rushed for 220 yards on 45 attempts, with both touchdowns coming on the ground, while adding 92 yards through the air. The Generals converted 5-of-13 (38.5%) third-down attempts while possessing the ball for just over 26 minutes.
- W&L's defense forced two fumbles and recorded an interception while forcing four punts and limiting the Tigers' offense to seven points.
WITT GAME NOTES
- The Tigers dropped to 0-1 on the season, marking their first loss to the Generals in the four all-time meetings between the programs.
- Offensively, Wittenberg posted a game-high 320 yards on 74 plays, throwing for 170 yards and rushing for 150. The Tigers committed three turnovers on the afternoon but possessed the ball for nearly 34 minutes. They converted 9-of-18 (50%) third-down attempts.
- The Tigers' defense forced seven punts while limiting the Generals' offense to 4.9 yards per carry.
TOP PERFORMERS
- Cole Burton went 24-of-36 (66.7%) through the air for 170 yards and a touchdown with one interception. Ty Collins went 8-for-18 (44.4%) for 92 yards while adding 36 yards on seven carries.
- Gerald Banks led all rushers with 115 yards on 28 carries, while Ryan Clemens paced the Blue and White with 69 yards on 19 attempts. Carter Shallcross posted 130 yards of total offense, rushing six times for 63 yards while hauling in four passes for 67 yards. Lucas Swierk led all receivers with six catches for 76 yards, while Stephen Lauterbach hauled in the lone receiving touchdown.
- Brennan Stout led all tacklers with 18 total stops, including two solo tackles and 0.5 tackles for loss. Marcus Canton (12) and Mac Palmer (10) also reached double figures in tackles, while Canton forced a fumble and added a tackle for loss. Nolan Wirick recorded the first interception of his career and the Generals' first of the season. William Reid and Will Dix Jr. led the Tigers with 10 tackles apiece, with Dix adding four solo stops.
UP NEXT
- The Generals start a two game road trip next Saturday as they travel to Gettysburg, Pa. for a 6 p.m. match up with the Bullets of Gettysburg College.
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.
