Presidents score 21 unanswered points to top Wolverines
By Matthew Purucker · Editor-in-Chief
WASHINGTON, Pa. — Washington & Jefferson’s offense was sharp Saturday. Correction: It was Andrew Sharp.
Sharp had 24 touches for 179 yards and five total touchdowns, including all three second-half scores, as Washington & Jefferson (W&J) rushed past Grove City 42-14 at Cameron Stadium.
In addition to Sharp’s 151 rushing yards, W&J quarterback Braylon Wagner nabbed 145 on the ground and a touchdown, along with 133 passing yards and a touchdown to Sharp. That backfield tandem proved difficult for the Wolverines to stop. The Grove City defense surrendered 310 rushing yards.
“When you run the quarterback, what makes it tough is that it evens out any type of numbers advantage that you’re trying to get because you’re adding a blocker anytime you either run the quarterback or have the quarterback read somebody,” Grove City coach Andrew DiDonato said. “But we use everything for our good. Even looking back on that game, there’s some things that we’re excited to build upon.”
The first half was competitive. After Wagner’s first-quarter touchdowns put W&J up 14-0, Grove City got to work.
On the third play of the second quarter, Grove City quarterback Mike Hollomon fired a laser to Sam Penna in the slot for a 64-yard outburst. The next play, Hollomon found Darviae Gray for a five-yard touchdown.
Hollomon completed 15 of 24 passes for 181 yards, while Penna led all receivers with 92 yards on three catches.
“The key to our success in the second quarter was getting back to our offensive vision. We got back to sustaining drives and taking what the defense gave us,” Hollomon said. “That was especially apparent on the throw to Sam Penna. It wasn’t actually a far throw, but I just got the ball in one of our best athletes’ hands, taking what the defense gave, and he did all the rest.”
W&J responded with Sharp’s second touchdown, increasing the lead back to 14.
Afterward, Grove City completed a 14-play, 61-yard drive that lasted over eight minutes to strike back. Braxtyn Brown capped the long, run-heavy possession with a two-yard rushing touchdown immediately following the two-minute timeout.
“(W&J is) really good at a lot of movement on their defensive line, and we felt we’d be able to run the ball against them. … And in that quarter, it was what we expected,” DiDonato said. “We had the numbers to run, and they moved a lot. But our guys picked it up well, and that’s how we were able to get the run game going, which then set up everything for those two scoring drives.”
Grove City running back Nico Casciato finished with 117 total yards on 21 touches, including managing six for 40 yards on that drive.
“I thought he had a great game against a top run defense,” DiDonato said.
Just before halftime, the Presidents looked primed to score again, but on a third-and-goal from the 7, Caleb Kuhl came up with a strip-sack of Wagner, and Andrew Moberg recovered the fumble to keep the score at 21-14 W&J at the break.
Grove City reached the W&J red zone once and failed on three fourth-down conversion attempts in the second half. The Wolverines were 0-for-4 on fourth-down tries and 4-for-11 on third downs.
“Our offense is focusing on sustaining drives better by cleaning up the easy stuff like penalties, miscommunications and operational issues which really hurt us last week, while also growing in winning our one-on-one matchups and taking care of the box,” Hollomon said.
The Wolverines’ second-leading receiver, Seth McGroerty, left the game after taking a hard, legal hit in the first quarter while trying to catch a quick slant pass. Cornerback Noah Wheeler, a third-team AP All-American last year, also suffered a game-ending injury in the first half.
The Wolverines look to shake off the loss and injury concerns as they prepare to face Case Western Reserve (7-1, 4-1) Saturday at Robert E. Thorn Field.
“Truly, it’s biblical. God works everything together for the good of those who love him, and I view it that way,” DiDonato said. “We’re going to use everything for good.
“Already, I’m very encouraged with what I see and the adjustments we can make for not only W&J going forward, but this week against a great opponent, Case Western. … I’m excited for more guys to step up, with some guys who may be missing now,” DiDonato said. “Part of a strong program is having those next guys ready, and I believe we have guys who are going to fill in well.”
