WASHINGTON, Pa. – Junior quarterback Jacob Pugh (Jefferson Hills, Pa./Thomas Jefferson) tossed for six touchdowns, four of which were caught by sophomore receiver Jacob Macosko (Venetia, Pa./Peters Township) to lift the Washington & Jefferson College football team to a 46-21 victory over the United States Merchant Marine Academy in the 2023 ECAC James Lynah Bowl.
Pugh tossed for a career-high six touchdowns in the victory. The Presidents' Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year finished with 232 passing yards. The six touchdowns is one shy of the W&J single game record of seven, which was set twice by Pete Coughlin.
Macosko earned ECAC James Lynah Bowl Most Valuable Player honors after hauling in a career-high four touchdowns. He finished with five catches and 88 yards receiving Saturday.
The game got off to a wild and wacky start. Both teams committed turnovers in the opening five minutes of play. USMMA scored first when they blocked a punt and returned it for a touchdown at the 7:55 mark of the first quarter.
A few minutes later, an interception by sophomore cornerback Bruno Fabryicki (New Salem, Pa./Albert Gallatin) helped set W&J up with the ball around midfield. The Presidents put their first points of the day on the board when Pugh hit sophomore receiver John Peduzzi (Hilton Head, S.C./Hilton Head Christian Academy) for a 10-yard touchdown. The point after made the score 7-7 at the 1:46 mark.
The ultimate difference in the game was a strong second quarter surge by the Presidents. W&J found the end zone four times in the quarter. Pugh connected with Macosko for a 16-yard touchdown at the 13:37 mark of the second. After a lengthy 17-play drive helped the Mariners regain the lead with 6:52 to play in the half, W&J found the end zone three more times to take control.
A six-yard pass by Pugh to Macosko pushed W&J back in front at 19-14. After a second interception by Fabrycki, Pugh hit Peduzzi for a 40-yard scoring strike to make it 25-14 W&J at the 3:26 mark.
Another USMMA turnover, this time a fumble forced by Tanner Volpatti (Bethel Park, Pa./Bethel Park) allowed W&J to get another crack at the end zone before halftime. Pugh and Macosko hooked up for a third time in the first half. A 10-yard scoring play with 1:38 remaining in the half made it 32-14 Presidents at the break.
The lone touchdown of the third quarter came with 4:48 showing on the clock. Pugh connected with Macosko for a fourth time. The 47-yard passing play allowed W&J to reach the end zone and swell the lead to 39-14.
Both teams scored a touchdown each in the fourth. Sophomore running back Troy Volpatti (Bethel Park, Pa./Bethel Park) rushed in from 11 yards out to conclude the scoring with 6:55 to play.
Peduzzi added an eight-catch, 96-yard effort to cap his strong sophomore season.
Junior running back Owen Petrisek (Ellsworth, Pa./Bentworth) led the Presidents' ground efforts. Petrisek finished with a career-high 100 yards rushing on just 11 carries.
Senior linebacker Justin Johns (Murrysville, Pa./Franklin Regional) posted a career-high 23 tackles in the victory.
Senior linebacker Keaton Hall (Dover, Ohio/Dover) and senior defensive back Brandon Brown (Monessen, Pa./Greensburg Central Catholic) both finished with double-digit tackle efforts against USMMA's triple-option attack.
Hall recorded a career-high 18 tackles and recovered a fumble. Brown finished with 11 tackles and a fumble recovery.
Fabrycki intercepted a pair of passes as W&J forced four turnovers Saturday.
Notes: W&J has earned at least eight wins in each full season since the 2012 campaign. The win improves the Presidents to 6-1 all-time in ECAC Bowl games. Pugh finishes the 2023 season with 38 passing touchdowns. Peduzzi hauled in 18 touchdown receptions while Macosko tallied 11 touchdowns through the air in 2023.
Passing attack helps W&J roll past USMMA in ECAC James Lynah Bowl
/seasons/2023/boxscores/20231118_32v1.xml
2023
Merchant Marine
21
Washington and Jefferson
46
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merchant Marine (7-3) | 7 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 21 |
| Washington and Jefferson (9-2) | 7 | 25 | 7 | 7 | 46 |
Nov 18, 2023