Bearcats stun W&J on Homecoming Weekend
Powered by 21 second-half points, the Saint Vincent Bearcats
defeated the Washington & Jefferson Presidents, 35-27, on
Homecoming weekend. Defensively, the Bearcats intercepted three
W&J passes in the second half, all of which set-up Saint
Vincent touchdowns.
The Bearcats victory was the first over the Presidents in program
history and, arguably, the biggest win in the modern era of Saint
Vincent football.
Leading 14-7 at the start of the second half, W&J scored 14
consecutive points to take a 21-14 lead with just over 4:30
remaining in the third quarter.
On the first play of the Presidents' next offensive possession,
W&J quarterback Matt Bliss' pass was intercepted
by Dan Wirkowski and returned 61 yards to the
Presidents' 22-yard line. Two plays later, Joe
Yezovich plowed into the endzone from the one-yard line
for the Saint Vincent touchdown. Morgan Porter's
extra point tied the contest at 21 with 2:40 left in the third
quarter.
The Saint Vincent defense was not done, though. On the second play
of the ensuring Presidents' drive, Bliss' pass was deflected off
the hands of receiver Hunter Creel and intercepted
by Drew Owusu at the W&J 36-yard line.
Three plays later, Smetanka found tight end Jake
Smith on a pass over the middle and Smith powered his
way into the end zone for the touchdown, giving Saint Vincent the
28-21 advantage with 1:19 left in the third.
With time winding down in the third quarter, Bliss was picked-off
again, this time by Darius Brown, giving the
Bearcats the ball on the W&J 40-yard line.
After the interception, Saint Vincent used a steady dose of
running backs Mike Kale and Huey
Ehredt to wear down the W&J defense. On second down
at the W&J 23-yard line, Ehredt rushed for five yards but the
Presidents committed a facemask penalty and set Saint Vincent up
with first-and-goal at the eight-yard line. After Kale got the ball
to the one-yard line on a rush, Smetanka plunged into the end zone
on third down, making the score 35-21 Saint Vincent with just over
11:30 remaining in regulation.
With 3:18 left in the fourth quarter, W&J marched 58 yards in
six plays, with Bliss finding Creel for the
touchdown. Anthony May blocked the extra
point attempt and Saint Vincent led 35-27 late in the fourth
quarter.
The Bearcats' were forced to punt the ball back to the
Presidents' with :16 remaining in the game. Kale's punt
pinned W&J at their own 23-yard line. With one second left, the
Presidents attempted one last shot to the end zone but Bliss; pass
was knocked down by Wirkowski and Saint Vincent held on for the
35-27 victory.
W&J opened the game's scoring on their first possession of the
game. The Presidents went 87 yards in eight plays with Bliss
finding Brett Axner for a touchdown and the 7-0 lead.
Saint Vincent got on the board on their first drive of the second
quarter. The Bearcats marched 85 yards in nine plays and took 4:36
off the clock. Six of the nine plays on the drive were rushes by
Kale, with the final one being a five-yard touchdown run. Porter's
extra point attempt sailed wide and W&J still led, 7-6.
After the Bearcats defense forced W&J to go three-and-out on
their next possession, Saint Vincent grabbed the lead. Smetanka
found Carl Jeune on a 17-yard strike to set-up
first-and-goal from the W&J six-yard line. Ehredt hit pay dirt
on the next play to make the score 12-7. The Bearcats elected to go
for two and Smetanka connected with Jarius Marlow on a roll-out
pass to give the Bearcats the 14-7 edge.
Smetanka finished the day 13-of-20 for 200 yards and two
touchdowns, one rushing and one passing. Ricky
Douglas led all Saint Vincent receivers with four
receptions for 90 yards. Kale and Ehredt each rushed 16 times for
92 yards and 83 yards, respectively. Kale was also integral to the
special teams, including a 46-yard punt with time winding down in
regulation that pinned W&J deep in their own territory.
On defense, Anthony Johnson led the way with
11 tackles in the game. Marvin Daney added 10
stops while Armando Fortunato chipped in with
eight tackles and one sack for a loss of nine yards.
