Nov 16, 2013 3 min read

For the first part of the season, Washington & Jefferson College’s defense took a lot of abuse.

It was well deserved.

The Presidents hemorrhaged 733 total yards and five touchdowns of 30 yards or more in a 21-point beating by St. John Fisher Sept. 14, then collapsed in a five-point loss to Bethany in which they surrendered 563 yards.

Those two losses seem like ages ago, and no one could have predicted that this group would play a major part in throttling Waynesburg’s high-powered passing attack and help the Presidents to a 38-13 victory Saturday afternoon at Cameron Stadium.

But that’s what happened

W&J’s defense picked off Waynesburg quarterback Carter Hill three times, including two by senior cornerback Sam Comly, and held the Yellow Jackets rushing game to just 46 yards on 18 carries. Hill came in with just two interceptions through nine games.

“We know we’re good,” said free safety B.J. Monacelli, who had the other interception. “We have confidence. We’re ready to bring it to whoever we play in the playoffs.”

They better be, because W&J will be without starting quarterback Matt Bliss for the rest of the season after sustaining a concussion. Freshman Pete Coughlin will get the start.

“They’re playing with confidence,” W&J head coach Mike Sirianni said of the defense. “We simplified things and we’re not blitzing as much. We’re getting pressure with a three- and four-man front. I (defensive coordinator) Shawn Rohrer a lot of credit, because he adjusted to what this team was.”

Waynesburg’s Carter Hill came in averaging 288 yards passing per game and held him 11 yards under that total. More important, the defense allowed just one touchdown, which was set up on a short field after W&J began the game with a sack and fumble. Other than that, the Yellow Jackets managed just two field goals by Alex Henry.

“After the Bethany game, we had a reality check,” said Comly, who had two interceptions against Waynesburg in a JV game two years ago. “I had confidence in this defense all year, even if the stats didn’t show it.”

W&J forced Hill into 64 pass attempts, which broke the record of 60 set by Darren Elvey in 1997 against Juniata.

Monacelli got the first interception, on Hill’s 48th pass of the game, with 4:50 left in the third quarter. It came on a deflection and Monacelli returned it 25 yards to set up a one-yard touchdown run by Alex Baroffio from the wildcat formation that gave W&J a 31-13 lead.

“We were in man-to-man (coverage), and it was a quick hitch,” said Monacelli. “It was just a pop pass, and it bounced into my hands.”

That began a series of turnovers for Waynesburg on three straight series. Hill was hit by Bryce Merrill, fumbled the ball and it was recovered by W&J’s Dan Graziano at the Waynesburg 22. That led to a missed field goal by Eric Eberle from 31 yards.

Waynesburg’s next possession lasted one play, when Comly got the first of his two interceptions on a deep pass.

“They got me on my heels twice on the deep ball,” said Comly. “They weren’t getting me a third time.”

W&J’s defense has helped forge a five-game winning streak, beginning with a good performance against nationally ranked Thomas More. Those types of performances will be critical in the playoffs.

“We’re not satisfied where we are,” said Monacelli. “We’re still hungry.”