W&J outscores Bethany 66-42 in PAC shootout
Washington & Jefferson wide receiver Eric Scott trips over Bethany’s Darius Wade but holds onto the footbball for a first down during Saturday night’s game at Cameron Stadium.
W&J’ Jesse Zubik carries the ball in for a touchdown along with Bethany’s Darius Wade Saturday night at Cameron Stadium.
Presidents’ David Kincaid carries the ball for a first down against Bethany on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2015 at Cameron Stadium.
Presidents’ O’Shea Anderson tries to stop Bethany’s Jalen Holmes during a game at Cameron Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2015.
Presidents’ Justin Bauer tries to tackle Bethany’s Eric Blinn during a game at Cameron Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2015.
Offense was the main course on the menu Saturday night at Cameron Stadium as Washington & Jefferson and Bethany combined for 73 points and 522 total yards of offense. – and that was just by halftime
The Presidents, who can’t afford any slipups for the rest of the season, made sure thigs were well in hand by the half in a 66-42 Presidents’ Athletic Conference victory over the visiting Bison.
The 66 points scored by the Presidents is the most they have scored since they put up 72 against Saint Vincent in 2008.
“We did some good things,” said W&J head coach Mike Sirianni. “We knew they would be able to score some points. They are a talented team, but we were playing well as an offense and our defense made some plays getting turnovers for us. It was nice to have a comfortable lead in the second half and get some other guys playing time.”
W&J (3-1, 5-1) quarterback Pete Coughlin threw three first-half touchdown passes and Ryan Ruffing found the end zone on the ground three times as the Presidents built up a 52-21 halftime lead.
After Tim Blair picked off Bethany (1-4, 3-4) quarterback Lincon Reyes on the Bison’s first possession of the game, the Presidents started to roll, scoring on their first four possessions.
Coughlin, who completed 20 of 22 pass attempts last week against Grove City, came out nearly as perfect, completing 15 of 19 pass attempts for 202 yards and three touchdowns. He also added a 10-yard third-quarter touchdown run.
“I think I bounced back from the Thomas More game pretty well,” said Coughlin. “I wasn’t really worried about it. That was very uncharacteristic of me turning the ball over that much, even dating back to high school. I think it has shown the last two weeks. We’ve been taking good care of the football and putting a lot of points up on the scoreboard.”
The junior squarterback got the Presidents on the scoreboard with an 11-yard touchdown pass to Daniel Lis to open the scoring, and then the teams began trading scores. The Bison hung in for a while as Reyes hit Eric Blinn with a four-yard touchdown pass before Coughlin connected with Jesse Zubik for a 14-yard score to give W&J a 14-7 lead.
“Pete has practiced well and today was a product of that,” said Sirianni. “You play the way you practice and he is practicing well. We need more of that with a big game next week.”
Bethany’s Jalen Holmes, who finished with a career-high 182 rushing yards, tied the score with a 53-yard touchdown run before Ruffing gave the Presidents a 21-14 lead with an 18-yard run.
Coughlin and Zubik connected one more time with a 48-yard touchdown pass, before Bethany answered again when Blinn caught his second touchdown of the night to pull the Bison to within 28-21.
Blinn put together a solid game for the Bison with 11 receptions for 146 yards and three touchdowns, which set career highs.
After that it was all W&J.
The Presidents scored the next 31 points as Ruffing scored on runs of three and 18 yards. Sandwiched in between, the W&J special teams got in the action when Asa Costelnock blocked a punt that Will Bowser recovered in the end zone for a touchdown.
“We are definitely getting better on the offensive side of the ball,” said Sirianni. “I thought we played better at Thomas More than we did the first three weeks. We have definitely executed better as an offense the past couple of weeks.”
Ruffing finished with 116 yards on 17 carries with three touchdowns.
The teams combined for 925 yards of total offense, but the Presidents’ starting defense made some big plays before the game got out of hand.
W&J intercepted Reyes four times, with Blair, Dan Graziano, Luke Merhaut, and Zach Queen each getting one.
The Bison scored three late touchdowns against the Presidents’ reserves to make the score look a little closer than the game really was.
“I don’t like giving up 42 points, but what are you going to do?” said Sirianni. “Am I supposed to leave my starters in the whole time and risk getting someone hurt or should I get some guys playing time? I would rather get some guys some valuable experience.”
The win sets up the Presidents for a big matchup Saturday at Case Western Reserve, which is undefeated in conference play.
“It’s a huge game,” said Sirianni. “They are going to see a team on tape that gave up a lot of points and a lot of yards. We have to have a good week of practice. We have a lot to clean up.”