MEADVILLE, Pa. – The Washington & Jefferson College Football team has successfully won their 27th Presidents' Athletic Conference Championship in program history with their win over Allegheny, 45-0.
The champion Presidents finish the regular season with a 9-1 overall and conference record. This marks the first PAC Championship victory since the 2018 season where W&J finished with a 9-2 overall record and 8-1 in conference play. The Presidents share the PAC Championship with Carnegie Mellon and Grove City but will earn the conference's Pool-A (automatic) bid to grant an automatic spot into the NCAA Tournament.
W&J hit a multitude of milestones this week, beginning with linebacker Justin Johns (Murrysville, Pa./Franklin Regional) breaking the W&J total tackles record. Johns posted five total tackles on the day to compile 350 career tackles to lift past former W&J tackle leader Eric Field '04 (348 career tackles).
Jacob Pugh (Jefferson Hills, Pa./Thomas Jefferson) recorded five touchdowns on the day with 295 yards through the air with an 86.4 completion percentage. With his 92nd career passing touchdown, Pugh now holds sole possession of fourth all-time at W&J in passing touchdowns and sits three away from third. Pugh also holds the second-most passing touchdowns thrown in a single season at W&J only Behind Bobby Swallow '08 (46).
John Peduzzi (Hilton Head, S.C./Hilton Head Christian Academy) joins an elite group of historic W&J receivers as one of five wideouts to tally 3,000+ career receiving yards. Peduzzi passes Todd Fry '02 (3,024) with a career 3,048 receiving yards to this point after hauling in 103 yards on seven receptions. Peduzzi also tied former offensive coordinator and wide receiver Aaron Krepps '05 with 39 career receiving touchdowns to this point. Peduzzi and Jacob Macosko (Venetia, Pa./Peters Township) each close the regular season as 1,000-yard receivers.
Dawson Dietz (Allison Park, Pa./Hampton) picked up another half sack with Tyler Primrose (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Catholic) to his seasons total, heading the defensive efforts. Dietz now holds the fourth most tackles for loss at W&J with 57 in his career to this point, passing both Stephen Swentkowsky '90 (56.5) and Dan Primrose '96 (53). Da'Jahn Telfair (Cleveland, Ohio/Padua Franciscan) and Joey Lacey (Bristow, Va./Avalon School) each led the team in pass breakups with two each. The defense held the Gators to under 100 yards passing and only 148 yards of total offense in the shutout win.
The Presidents showcased their standout running backs this afternoon as a complimentary piece to their air raid offense. Troy Volpatti (Bethel Park, Pa./Bethel Park) led the backfield with 12 rushes for 76 yards followed by Andrew Sharp (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) with eight rushes and 64 yards in the later portion of the bout.
Deven Wyandt (Altoona, Pa./Bishop Guilfoyle) went flawless on the day going six-for-six in extra-point opportunities and nailing a 27-yard field goal to put the Presidents up by their final score of 45-0.
The Presidents opened the bout, holding the Gators to a first-possession punt that set up the Presidents in a position to log their first points of the matchup. Pugh and the offense did just that as they trotted down the field with ease to set up the two-yard rushing touchdown by Kobe Derosa (New Castle, Pa./Laurel), 7-0. Later in the opening quarter, Pugh connected with Peduzzi in the back of the endzone to lift the score to 14-0 before the close of the first quarter.
The W&J defense opened the second quarter with a huge stop on fourth down thanks to a tipped pass by Aidan Thomas (Johnstown, Pa./Richland). With the ball back, Pugh tossed his second touchdown of the day to Macosko for the grab in the endzone for six more, pushing the score to 21-0. W&J logged another quick score on a 23-yard contested catch made by Macosko. An interception by Angelo Volomino (Jefferson Hills, Pa./Thomas Jefferson) gave the Presidents crucial field position to set up another score before the close of the half. Pugh quickly dialed up a 29-yard pass to Peduzzi for six to push the lead to 35-0 heading into the half.
Out of the break, the Presidents offense began another methodical 75-yard drive down the field to tack on their final trip to the endzone for six more. On fourth and goal at the Allegheny two-yard line, Pugh connected on a short yardage rollout pass to Zach Cernuto (Scottdale, Pa./Southmoreland) to elevate the score to 42-0.
In the fourth quarter, the Presidents tacked on their final points of the bout with a 27-yard field goal made by Wyandt.
The Presidents now await the NCAA Tournament selection show set to air Sunday (Nov. 17) to reveal their first opponent in the postseason since 2018.
W&J Football Claims 27th PAC Championship with Victory over Allegheny
/seasons/2024/boxscores/20241116_jc4q.xml
2024
Washington and Jefferson
45
Allegheny
0
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. 17 Washington and Jefferson (9-1) | 14 | 21 | 7 | 3 | 45 |
| Allegheny (1-9) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Nov 16, 2024