Coughlin a one-man gang for W&J
A classic Pete Coughlin performance saved the season for Washington & Jefferson College’s football team last weekend.
Coughlin accounted for all eight touchdowns – seven passing and one rushing – in a crucial 55-52 double-overtime victory against Carnegie Mellon Saturday.
A loss would have destroyed any chance of the Presidents earning a berth in the NCAA Division III playoffs. Coughlin rallied W&J (2-1 in PAC, 4-1 overall) from a two-touchdown deficit in the second half and won it with a fade route pass to Jesse Zubik from eight yards. It was Zubik’s four TD reception of the game.
“This was probably the most intense game I’ve been a part of since I’ve been here,” said Coughlin, a senior from Upper St. Clair. “It was an exciting game and it’s great to come out ahead. I think we all knew CMU was a good team.”
Coughlin and the Presidents face a Bethany team that is 0-4 in the PAC and 1-5 overall. Kickoff is 6 p.m. Saturday at Cameron Stadium.
This series has always been filled with emotional play.
“There is definitely a lot of energy every time we play them,” said Coughlin. “Their defense is very good. They’re pretty aggressive.”
Coughlin rushed for a career-high 111 yards against CMU, his second 100-yard game. He had 451 yards of offense with his 15th career 300-yard passing performance. Coughlin passed Chris Edwards (8,303) on the W&J career passing yards list and is in third place with 8,367. Coughlin has 1,498 passing yards, 24 touchdowns and just three interceptions in 154 attempts this season.
“He was disappointed the way he played (against Thomas More),” said W&J head coach Mike Sirianni. “He knows the sense of urgency we need. The biggest thing he did – and we have been encouraging him to do this – was to run the ball more.”
Bethany is coming off a 37-14 loss to Case Western Reserve. Quarterback Chase Kinemond is the heart of Bethany’s offense, passing for 1,092 yards and rushing for 225. The offensive line has had trouble protecting Kinemond; he’s been sacked 21 times. Kinemond’s favorite receiver is Tyler Ambush, who has 47 receptions and three touchdowns.
Kickoff: 1:30 p.m., Saturday
Rick Shepas knows how Cleveland Browns fans feel.
The head coach at Waynesburg is on his third quarterback of the season – one behind the Browns – and we’ve only passed the midway point. Aaron Jenkins, a 6-1 freshman, is expected to start for the Yellow Jackets (2-2, 2-4) when they host PAC leader Thomas More (4-0, 5-1).
Jenkins led Waynesburg to a 10-9 victory over Geneva last week, the Yellow Jackets’ second in a row. Tyler Perone, a freshman from Venetia who graduated from Seton-La Salle, started a 14-10 win over Grove City. The two were called into action when sophomore Jake Dougherty was lost for the season with a shoulder injury.
“We switched our game plan and we are going to need them both,” said Shepas. “There won’t be a platoon system, but we’ll play the one who is best prepared.”
Thomas More is coming off a 70-20 rout of Grove City and need four more wins to sew up the PAC title.
“They can score a lot of points,” said Shepas. “It all comes down to matchups. I am glad we have them (at home).”
Kickoff: 6 p.m., Saturday
Following two key victories – a dramatic 31-28 win over Indiana and a 52-26 rout of Slippery Rock – California has to be wary of a letdown against Clarion.
Clarion (1-2, 2-4) has lost four of its last five. Quarterback Connor Simmons has passed for 1,464 yard with 10 TDs and four interceptions. Running back Delrece Williams is averaging 5.6 yards per carry and has scored five touchdowns.
Cal (3-0, 5-0) leads the PSAC in scoring offense (56.4), scoring defense (14.6) and kickoff returns (31.7). Senior wide receiver Garry Brown is having a standout season with 24 receptions for 520 yards and a conference-best eight touchdowns.