Washington & Jefferson Rolls Past Thiel 58-7
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Shane Lux | September 15, 2024
Greenville – Washington & Jefferson scored 27 second-quarter points en route to a 58-7 victory over Thiel during Presidents Athletic Conference play in Alumni Stadium at Stoeber Field.
For the second consecutive week, the Presidents cruised to victory. A week ago, Washington & Jefferson throttled Saint Vincent 59-6. It was much of the same Saturday night.
Jacob Pugh completed 24-of-32 passes for 280 yards and four touchdowns as the Presidents put up 510 yards of total offense.
“We played well as a team,” Pugh said. “We need to continue to work on things and get better. I played alright. There were some throws out there tonight that I wanted back. But my life’s easy when I have the two best receivers in the conference to throw to.”
Taking the opening kickoff, Washington & Jefferson took only 1:50 off the clock and opened the scoring on Kobe Derosa’s 8-yard run.
In the second quarter, the Presidents put the game away with four touchdowns in the final 8:23 of the quarter.
Sabron Felton caught a 21-yard pass from Pugh, capping a 9-play 62-yard drive that opened the floodgates.
Sabron Felton 21 yd pass from Jake Pugh, Washington Jefferson 14 Thiel 0, 8:23 2nd, @WJFootball @PAC_Athletics pic.twitter.com/kF6n5IytbB
— Shane Lux (@PFN_Luxy) September 14, 2024
The Presidents then blocked a punt at the Tomcats’ 20-yard line, leading to Derosa’s second touchdown of the night from three yards out.
Kobe Derosa rushed for 51 yards on eight carries with two touchdowns, while Dom Barca led Washington & Jefferson with 57 yards on four attempts.
Carson Laconi then intercepted Daniel Rennie on the next play from scrimmage, followed shortly by Pugh’s 26-yard touchdown pass to John Peduzzi.
Thiel then fumbled the ensuing kickoff at their 18-yard line, leading to Zach Cernuto’s 4-yard reception from Pugh that gave the Presidents a 34-0 lead at the half.
Early in the third stanza, Washington & Jefferson extended their 41-0 as Jacob Pugh threw his fourth touchdown of the night to Anthony Rosati from seven yards out, ending the night for the Presidents’ first-team offense.
Thiel scored their first touchdown and points of the season when Luke Faber intercepted Kellen Stahl on a batted ball and returned it two yards for a touchdown.
The Tomcats could only muster 74 yards of offense. Daniel Rennie completed 7-of-14 passes for 71 yards and an interception to lead Thiel.
Kellen Stahl, however, led two touchdown drives on Washington & Jefferson’s next two possessions as he drove the Presidents’ offense, tossing a pair of 6-yard scores to Cernuto and Roberto Smith.
T. J. Lynn 6 yd TD from Stahl, Washington Jefferson 55 Thiel 7, 8:11 4th, @WJFootball @PAC_Athletics pic.twitter.com/HQY6MJmP1w
— Shane Lux (@PFN_Luxy) September 15, 2024
The first score was set up by Derosa’s 84-yard kickoff return to the Thiel 11-yard line.
Ricky Hunter’s 21-yard field goal with 3:49 to play closed the scoring.
“I think Thiel has a very good defense, and their coach is doing a very good job,” said Washington & Jefferson head coach Mike Sirianni. “I think they are on the right track. They played a defense we hadn’t seen on tape, so I thought our guys did a nice job adjusting. I’m proud of how our guys adjusted and took care of business.”
Washington & Jefferson is now 2-0 on the season and will travel to Waynesburg next Saturday for a 1 p.m. kickoff.
Thiel will attempt to bounce back when they travel to Beaver Falls to take on Geneva College. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. Saturday.
Game Highlights:
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