LEXINGTON, Va. - Washington and Lee University quarterback Charlie Nelson rushed for 154 yards and a touchdown to lead the Generals past Guilford College, 20-17, in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) opener for both teams. The contest was played on a cool, rainy and windy afternoon.
Guilford entered the week ranked 21st in the latest American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) poll and 23rd in the latest D3football.com Top 25 poll.
Both sides created long opening drives, but failed to convert. The Quakers (3-1, 0-1 ODAC) forced a fumble on the 11th play of Washington and Lee's (4-0, 1-0 ODAC) opening possession and the Quakers turned the ball over on downs after marching 61 yards on 13 plays. After the Generals gave the Quakers the football back on downs, Tyler Hunt capped a six-play, 52-yard drive with a 44-yard field goal, the longest of his career, to claim the early advantage.
After a Matt Underhill 31-yard field goal tied the contest, quarterback Mitch Ferrick entered the game for Guilford after starter Matt Pawlowski left due to injury. After Guilford missed a field goal, Washington and Lee committed its second turnover of the half on a fumble, keeping the score even, 3-3, entering halftime.
After Guilford's opening second-half drive stalled, Washington and Lee took advantage by capping a 13-play, 86-yard drive with an Evan Hinkle one-yard touchdown run to take the lead, 10-3. The Generals followed their next possession with an 81-yard drive capped by a Nelson five-yard touchdown rush to push the lead to 14 points.
Guilford's passing attack cranked up on the next drive as Ferrick connected with Adam Smith three times as part of a 75-yard drive. After a key Washington and Lee holding penalty in the red zone, Ferrick found Trey Dill for an eight-yard scoring reception that pulled the Quakers back to within, 17-10.
With Guilford stopping Washington and Lee at the Quakers' 34-yard line, Underhill took advantage of a stiff wind at his back to convert on a 51-yard field goal that cushioned the Generals' lead. The long kick capped a nine-play drive that used 5:35 off the clock.
Pushing to rally, Ferrick fired a 21-yard pass to Daniel Woodruff to close within three points of the Generals with less than three minutes to play. Washington and Lee recovered the Quakers' ensuing on-side kick and ran out the clock to seal the victory.
The Quakers amassed 358 yards of total offense, led by De'Eric Bell's 107 yards on 23 carries and 32 yards receiving on four receptions. Ferrick finished the contest 13-of-24 passing for 139 yards and two scores. Chad Christopher led Guilford's receivers with four receptions for 65 yards.
The Generals totaled 485 yards of total offense with the triple-option scheme producing 381 yards on the ground. Nelson added 104 yards passing for Washington and Lee on just three completions. Hinkle ran for 90 yards on 13 carries with a touchdown.
Robert Smith led the Quakers' defense with 11 tackles, two for a loss of five yards. Jaylan Martin and Hunter English both added nine tackles while Hunter Hoots totaled eight stops and recovered a fumble.
Jimmy Moynahan and Max Garrett both made 11 tackles for Washington and Lee. Will Dyson totaled five tackles, one for a loss, and broke up two passes.
The Quakers look to bounce back next Saturday (10/10) when they host Shenandoah in a 1 p.m. ODAC contest inside Appenzeller Field at Armfield Athletic Center.