W&J football overwhelms Allegheny for 66-14 victory on Homecoming - Washington & Jefferson College Athletics (2024)

WASHINGTON, Pa. -- Sophom*ore quarterback Jacob Pugh (Jefferson Hills, Pa. / Thomas Jefferson) rushed for three touchdowns and the defense returned two interceptions for touchdowns as the Washington & Jefferson College football team rolled to a 66-14 victory over visiting Allegheny College Saturday afternoon in the annual homecoming game at Cameron Stadium.

The Presidents have now scored at least 60 points in each of the past three homecoming games. W&J beat Bethany 69-21 in 2019 before beating Saint Vincent by a 63-22 last fall.

W&J overwhelmed Allegheny from the opening drive, as the Presidents led 21-0 after the first quarter before extending the lead to 56-0 at halftime. The Presidents scored eight touchdowns in the first 30 minutes of play.

On the opening drive, the Presidents marched 70 yards on six plays to open the scoring with a one-yard touchdown run by Pugh. Later in the first quarter, Pugh capped an 11-play, 70-yard drive with a four-yard touchdown run. That point after gave W&J a 14-0 lead with 4:01 to play in the first quarter. On the ensuing Allegheny drive, the W&J defense got into the scoring act, as Tanner Volpatti (Bethel Park, Pa./Bethel Park) grabbed a ball out of the air and raced 44 yards for a touchdown. The extra point by Deven Wyandt (Altoona, Pa./Bishop Guilfoyle) extended the W&J lead to 21-0 after the opening quarter.

A blocked punt by Drew Ehrlich (Annapolis, Md./The Gilman School) late in the first quarter set up the Presidents with another scoring opportunity. Pugh capped the brief three-play, 15-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown run. The point after made it 28-0 W&J. On the next Allegheny possession, W&J returned another interception for a touchdown. This time it was Dillon Rebuck (Louisville, Ohio/Louisville) stepping in front of a Gators' pass and returning it 64 yards for a W&J score to stretch the lead to 35-0.

Midway through the second quarter, Allegheny fumbled a punt inside its own five-yard in which Samuel Vessah (Chambersburg, Pa./Chambersburg) recovered. Raymond Holmes (Verona, Pa./Serra Catholic) rushed two yards for the touchdown. A few minutes later, W&J marched 71 yards on 10 plays for its seventh touchdown in the first half. A one-yard run by Colton Jones capped the scoring drive. The Presidents added one more touchdown to its first half outburst when John Peduzzi (Hilton Head, S.C./Hilton Head Christian Academy) scored on a five-yard touchdown pass from Jones. A 43-yard catch and run by T.J. Troxell (Hatboro, Pa./Upper Moreland) set up the Peduzzitouchdown.

W&J tacked on a 22-yard field goal by Wyandt in the third quarter and a 16-yard touchdown run by Owen Petrisek (Ellsworth, Pa./Bentworth) to conclude its scoring.

The Presidents rolled up 7.0 tackles for loss, two defensive touchdowns off interceptions, a blocked punt and forced a fumble in the victory. Defensively, W&J was led by Ehrlich, who finished with a team-high seven tackles (2.0 tackles for loss) and a blocked punt. Dawson Dietz (Allison Park, Pa./Hampton) finished with four tackles for loss and a sack. Braden Gennock (New Castle, Pa./Neshannock) had six tackles.

Colton Jones finished 11-of-17 passing for 171 yards and a score. Pugh added five completions for 68 yards through the air to go along with his three touchdown runs. Peduzzi hauled in five receptions for a game-high 114 yards.

W&J travels to Westminster College for a PAC showdown on Saturday, Oct. 8. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.