The Washington and Lee University football team secured its second consecutive postseason bowl game win, shutting down a late comeback to earned a 14-12 road win over Lycoming College 14-12 in the Cape Charles Bowl on Saturday in Williamsburg, Pa.
The Generals (7-4) wasted no time on their opening drive, marching 75 yards on 16 plays and consuming eight minutes to take a 7-0 lead. Freshman Ryan Clemens capped off the drive with a 5-yard touchdown run, and Marcus Gafford converted the extra-point kick.
Early in the second quarter, Clemens called his own number again, scampering four yards into the end zone, and Gafford’s PAT W&L up 14-0 after a 12-play, 83yard 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 and rushed ten yards before Lycoming’s Louie Shank jarred the ball loose. Ryan Pentz recovered the fumble, setting up the Warriors (5-6 overall, 5-1 Landmark Conference) in W&L territory.
Joe Lyons III then found Karson Kline for a 7-yard TD pass 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 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 twopoint conversion to tie the game, but Lyons’s 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 completion 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.
The Generals, under the direction of 17th-year head coach Garrett LeRose, finished the season with a winning record for the 10th consecutive year. In the Old Dominion Athletic Conference, W&L went 6-2. The win also marked the Generals’ second postseason bowl win in program history and their second consecutive after defeating Wilkes University 40-21 in the Cape Henry Bowl last year.
W&L became the first team to win both bowls in the Chesapeake Challenge, owning a 2-1 record in three appearances.
On Saturday, the Generals 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.
W&L senior defensive back Jack Johnson was named the most valuable player of the game after making an interception.
Lycoming threw for 238 yards on 18-of-35 passing, but two interceptions thwarted some of the Warriors’ efforts. Joe Lyons III was 18-of-34 for 238 yards and two TDs while throwing two interceptions. For W&L, junior quarterback Ty Collins, completed 3-of-7 passes for 24 yards while adding 21 yards on the ground on five carries.
Clemens led all players with 33 carries for 188 yards and two TDs, while junior teammate Michael Schoenberg rushed for 66 yards on 15 carries. Terrence Oliver led the Warriors with 14 carries for 28 yards.
Leading W&L’s defense, Brennan Stout total tackles with six solo stops and one pass breakup. Knight and Cole Sheppard each notched a sack in the win as well.
For more on W&L’s season, visit www.generalssports.com.
THE W&Lplayers and coaches celebrate with young fans after winning the Cape Charles Bowl. The Generals fended off a late comeback to defeat Lycoming College 14-12 on Saturday in Williamsport, Pa. W&L ended the season with a record of 7-4. (photo by Rich Schultz, Stockton Photos)
SOPHOMORE RUNNING back Joseph Pizzo carries the ball for W&L. (photo by Rich Schultz, Stockton Photos)
