LEXINGTON, Va. - The Washington and Lee University football team is on the road for the second straight week as they travel to Ferrum College for an Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) match up on Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. at W.B. Adams Stadium.
Game Information:
When: Saturday, October 26, 2024
Where: Ferrum, Va.
Stadium: W.B. Adams Stadium
Kickoff: 2 p.m.
Gameday Forecast: 72°, Partly Sunny, Wind NW 16 mph
Gameday Links: Watch | Live Stats | Flipcard
Series History:
This marks the sixth and final meeting between the two institutions, with the Generals holding a perfect 5-0 record over the Panthers. The Blue and White have outscored the Panthers 154-92 in their five previous meetings.
In their last match up at Wilson Field, the Generals pummeled the Panthers, amassing 350 yards of total offense and scoring six touchdowns in a 41-16 victory. W&L rushed 57 times for 297 yards, averaging 5.2 yards per carry. Four different Generals found the end zone, with Stephen Murrin '24 and Anthony Crawford each scoring twice. Eli Hildebrandt led the rushing unit with 71 yards on four carries, while Crawford added 61 yards and Murrin contributed 59. Ferrum's Hunter Cannaday posted a game-high 15 tackles, while Alan Haigler and Hunter Hawk '24 each recorded seven for the Generals. W&L's defense had an impressive showing, registering seven sacks by nine different players and forcing two turnovers, marking the third-most sacks in a single game for the team.
Scouting the Panthers:
The Panthers dropped their season opener 55-6 to No. 5 Mount Union before bouncing back with two straight wins over N.C. Wesleyan (28-24) and Averett (36-10) to wrap up their non-conference slate. Ferrum struggled in their first two Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) games, falling 41-15 to Bridgewater on Oct. 5 and allowing 42 points in a 22-point loss at Shenandoah. However, they rebounded last weekend, defeating Hampden-Sydney 41-36 after scoring two touchdowns in each of the final three quarters and fending off a late push by the Tigers. Jahylen Lee led the way with a game-high 174 rushing yards on 30 carries and three touchdowns, averaging 5.8 yards per play. H-SC's Carter Sido threw for 282 yards and five touchdowns, while Ferrum's Zach Wyatt completed 14 of 24 passes for 133 yards and one score. Robert Clarke of Hampden-Sydney posted a game-high 14 tackles (eight solo) with one tackle for loss, while Ferrum's Ian Ashworth had a team-high six stops with 0.5 tackles for loss.
Despite holding a 3-3 record, the Panthers have been outscored 208-146 this season, while averaging 316.5 yards of offense per game. Ferrum has a balanced attack, rushing for 168.8 yards per game and passing for 147.7 yards per game. The Panther rushing unit ranks fourth in the conference this season, while their passing offense and passing efficiency rank fifth. Wyatt has been the primary quarterback, completing 74 of 117 passes (63%) for 886 yards, five touchdowns, and three interceptions. He's added 85 yards on the ground and one rushing score this season. Jahylen Lee leads the rushing attack with 517 yards on 111 carries and eight touchdowns, averaging 4.7 yards per carry. Caleb Holland is close behind with 339 yards on 68 touches and one score. Nathan Aguilar is Wyatt's top target, with 13 catches for 271 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 20.85 yards per reception. Lee and Marquise Woodruff have also caught double-digit passes for over 100 yards this season.
Defensively, the Panthers have allowed an average of 34.7 points per game and 469.2 yards of offense over their six games. They rank sixth in the ODAC in rushing defense, but have struggled against the pass, allowing the most passing yards in the conference at 292.7 yards per game. Zach Daigler leads the team with 40 tackles, including 19 solo stops. Cameron Ross has a team-high 2.5 tackles for loss, while Davon Simpkins leads with two sacks. The defense has recorded four interceptions and five forced fumbles, with Fuller Howard leading the team with two interceptions.
Scouting the Generals:
The Generals are coming off a 40-23 win against Guilford on Saturday. After trailing twice early, W&L rattled off 21 straight points en route to a 17-point victory. The Generals amassed 340 yards of total offense, rushing 38 times for 266 yards and four touchdowns, averaging 7.0 yards per carry. Despite the win, the Generals had possession for only 16 minutes, while the Quakers controlled the ball for 42 minutes. Guilford's time of possession played a significant role early, as the Quakers led 9-6 at one point before W&L's offense found its rhythm. Jacob Romero led all rushers with 110 yards on 15 carries and two touchdowns, averaging 7.3 yards per carry. Ty Collins followed closely with a career-high 102 yards on 11 carries, while completing two of four passes for 74 yards and a touchdown. Josh Garcia caught one pass for 38 yards, and Andrew Bland scored on his only reception, leaping over a defender for a 36-yard touchdown. Jalen Todd posted a Division III-high 22 tackles, along with two sacks and two tackles for loss, while Brennan Stout recorded his fourth consecutive double-digit tackle game.
W&L is averaging 34.5 points per game through six contests this season, outscoring opponents 207-141. The offense is averaging 384.5 yards per game, including 305.8 rushing yards per game, making them the best rushing unit in the ODAC and the fourth-best in Division III. Twenty-one of their 27 touchdowns have come on the ground, with the team scoring four or more rushing touchdowns in each of the last three games. Romero leads the rushing attack with 621 yards on 100 carries and six touchdowns, averaging 6.2 yards per carry and 103.5 yards per game. Collins is 35-of-59 (59%) for 472 yards and six touchdowns, averaging 78.67 yards per game. Garcia and Bland remain Collins' top targets, combining for 301 yards on 19 catches and three touchdowns. Bland leads the team with eight receptions for 158 yards and two scores.
Defensively, the Generals have faced some challenges but have stepped up when needed. As a unit, they allow 365.3 yards per game, including 227.83 yards through the air. W&L's run defense ranks fourth in the conference, holding opponents to 137.5 rushing yards per game. The defense has recorded 15 sacks, 33 tackles for loss, six interceptions, and four forced fumbles this season. Todd leads the defensive unit with 72 total tackles, including 22 solo stops, five tackles for loss, and three sacks. Will Mahmud has a team-high 6.5 tackles for loss and four sacks, while eight other Generals have recorded at least half a sack. Connor O'Malley leads the secondary with two interceptions, and Charlie Fleming has a team-high six pass breakups.
National Statistical Rankings:
The Blue and White continue to boast one of the top rushing offenses in the country, averaging 305.8 yards per game. They have ranked within the top-five each week this season. The offense also ranks 33rd in 4th down conversion percentage, successfully converting 14 of their 22 attempts. Additionally, W&L has the fourth-best punt return unit in the nation, averaging 24 yards per return, and they rank 26th in net punting, with an average punt of 37.3 yards.
Individually, Jacob Romero ranks 24th in Division III in rushing yards per game (105.2), 26th in total rushing yards (631), and 26th in rushing yards per carry (6.37). Wilson Axley ranks fourth in the country in punt return touchdowns after returning a 34-yard punt for a score, marking the first punt return touchdown for the Generals since 2005. He is one of 46 players in Division III to have a punt return touchdown this season. On defense, Jalen Todd ranks third in Division III in tackles per game (12.0) and fifth in total tackles (72). Jerzee Allentini remains among the top 25 in forced fumbles with two.
Players of the Week:
Jalen Todd earned ODAC honors after posting a career-high 22 tackles in W&L's 40-23 win over Guilford College. His 22 tackles are tied for the most in Division III this season and rank second across all divisions, which helped him earn a spot on the D3football.com Team of the Week. Todd became the 15th General in program history to be named to the Division III weekly honor roll and the first since Hunter Hawk '24 received the distinction during Week 10 last season.
Around the ODAC:
Week seven saw Randolph-Macon, Bridgewater, and Washington and Lee improve to 3-0 in conference play. Randolph-Macon accumulated 431 yards of offense in a 49-10 win over Averett, while Bridgewater narrowly escaped Shenandoah with a 22-21 victory after blocking a 55-yard game-winning field goal attempt. W&L trailed early against Guilford but responded with three straight touchdowns en route to a 40-23 win in Greensboro, N.C. Meanwhile, Ferrum and Hampden-Sydney battled to the wire, with the Panthers securing a 41-36 win after scoring 28 unanswered points.
Saturday, Oct. 26
Shenandoah vs. Guilford | Noon
Randolph-Macon vs. Bridgewater | 1 p.m.
Hampden-Sydney vs. Averett | 1 p.m.
Ferrum vs. Washington and Lee | 2 p.m.