Sep 07, 2024
SALISBURY, Md. - Four lengthy scores proved to be the deciding factor in the Washington and Lee University football team's 48-26 loss against Salisbury University on Saturday afternoon at Sea Gull Stadium.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Back-to-back three-and-outs from the Generals (0-1) allowed Salisbury to take a 14-0 lead. Gage Katzenell-Hall capped off an eight-play, 67-yard drive, followed by a 63-yard pass to Daniel Clark on the next drive. Ronald Clark then punched it in from one yard out, putting the Sea Gulls up 14-0.
- The Generals' offense gained some momentum on their second drive but coughed up the ball on Salisbury's 12-yard line. Two plays later, Katzenell-Hall connected with wide receiver Micah Brubaker for an 89-yard touchdown, extending the Sea Gulls' lead to 21-0.
- After a third-down sack by Sa'Veon Olfus, the Generals punted for the third time in four drives, leading to another Salisbury score. Clark took the first hand off of the drive 80 yards to the end zone, increasing the Sea Gulls' lead to 28-0 in the second quarter.
- The Blue and White capitalized on a missed field goal attempt by Salisbury when Ty Collinsfound Marcus Payne in the end zone for a nine-yard touchdown with 29 seconds left in the first half, capping off an 11-play, 66-yard drive.
- Following a fourth-down stop by Will Mahmud, Josh Garcia sprinted 46 yards to the end zone on 4th and 5, cutting the deficit to 28-13. However, Salisbury responded on the next drive with a 34-yard rushing touchdown by Dario Belizaire, increasing their lead to 35-13.
- Interceptions by both teams ended the third quarter. With the ball on Salisbury's 47-yard line, Collins connected with Andrew Bland for a 47-yard touchdown, bringing the Blue and White within two scores.
- Salisbury quickly answered back, as Belizaire took a hand off on the third play of the drive and ran 69-yards for a touchdown, putting the game out of reach.
- W&L's next drive resulted in a touchdown as Collins found Garcia in the end zone for his third passing touchdown of the game with 5:47 left on the clock. The Sea Gulls then ran down four minutes of game time on their final drive, finishing off an eight-play, 72-yard drive with a one-yard score by Ki'Sean Gray Dantzler to secure a 48-26 win.
W&L GAME NOTES
- With the loss, the Generals are now 3-9 in their last 12 season openers, with their most recent win coming in 2018, when they defeated Dickinson College 16-10 in overtime.
- The Blue and White generated 438 yards of offense on 73 plays, averaging six yards per play. However, they turned the ball over three times, fumbling twice and throwing one interception.
- The Generals converted 4 of 12 third-down attempts (33%) and were successful on all five of their fourth-down attempts.
SU GAME NOTES
- The Sea Gulls are now 2-0 against the Generals, having defeated them in two consecutive seasons while forcing seven turnovers across both games.
- Salisbury amassed 617 yards of total offense on 49 plays, with 348 rushing yards and 269 passing yards, averaging an impressive 12.6 yards per play.
TOP PERFORMERS
- Gage Katzenell-Hall completed 6 of 12 passes for a career-high 269 yards and one touchdown. Ty Collins went 11-for-16 for 120 yards and three touchdowns in his first game as a starter for the Blue and White.
- Salisbury's Dario Belizaire rushed four times for a career-high 143 yards and two touchdowns, averaging an impressive 34.3 yards per carry. Jacob Romero added 134 yards on 26 carries, averaging 3.8 yards per attempt.
- Micah Brubaker caught five passes for a career-high 206 yards and one touchdown, including an 89-yard score. Andrew Bland caught two passes for 62 yards and one touchdown.
- Salisbury's Carter Sollenberger, Chase Lomax, Sa'Veon Olfus, and W&L's Jalen Todd each recorded eight tackles. Olfus led the game with three tackles for loss and registered one sack in the win. Will Mahmud led the Generals with two tackles for loss and one sack.
- W&L's Charlie Fleming and Salisbury's Ben Malley each had an interception. Fleming picked off Katzenell-Hall in the third quarter, returning it 51 yards to the Salisbury 28-yard line.
UP NEXT
- W&L hosts the Newport News Apprentice School in their home opener on Saturday, Sept. 14. The Generals and Builders will square off at 2 p.m. at Wilson Field for Young Alumni Weekend.