jtuscano@observer-reporter.com

NEW WILMINGTON - Brian Dawson had Todd Fry. Chris Edwards had Aaron Krepps.

Bobby Swallow has Tom McCafferty.

The quarterback-wide receiver connection that has served Washington & Jefferson College's football team so well over the past decade was again on display Saturday afternoon at Burry Stadium.

Swallow, the Presidents 6-2 junior quarterback, and McCafferty, a 6-0 senior wide receiver, put on an amazing show in connecting for four touchdowns in W&J's 58-18 victory over Westminster in a PAC game.

The win keeps No. 8 W&J undefeated at 6-0 and moves its conference record to 2-0. Westminster fell to 3-3 overall and 1-2 in the conference.

The victory was costly. Tailback Kevin Mathews injured his ankle and strong safety Mike Sedunov went down with what is believed to be a severe knee injury. For Mathews, the worst prognosis is a two- to three-week recovery.

Meanwhile, Swallow, who came into the game the leading quarterback in all divisions with a 238.5 passer rating, completed 27 of 39 passes for 357 yards and rifled six touchdown passes, tying a school record he set against Hanover.

McCafferty snagged eight passes for 146 yards and a school-record four touchdowns. None of the other great receivers in the Presidents' history, including Ryan Silvis, Fry or Krepps, had as many.

"We have playmakers," said Swallow. "They can catch the ball five yards downfield and take it 65. They get a lot of yards after a catch."

Swallow's eye-popping stats - he has 28 touchdowns and one interception on 158 pass attempts this season - are more impressive considering he's not known for his arm strength.

"He's so accurate," said W&J coach Mike Sirianni. "He doesn't have a cannon, he doesn't force the ball, and he's so poised in the pocket."

Swallow and McCafferty connected on an eight-yard touchdown with 3:56 left in the first quarter and scored from 10 yards out as time ran out in the first quarter to make it 14-0. McCafferty caught touchdown passes of four and eight yards in the second quarter, the latter giving W&J a 37-12 lead.

"Their offense is very good," said Westminster head coach Jeff Hand. "They did a nice job and you have to give them credit."

By halftime, Swallow had completed 23 of 35 passes for 320 yards and six touchdowns. He hit Mathews with a 30-yard score and David Ravida with a six-yard toss that put W&J up 44-12 at halftime.

"Last year was hard because we ran a lot," said McCafferty. "The fact is we're throwing more and getting in the groove. There are a lot of openings. It's a lot easier catching him. If he misses me, I know there is either pressure or he got hit. He takes care of the little things. I've never taken a shot (to the ribs on a high pass) since my sophomore year at Bridgewater and he wasn't the quarterback."

Part of Swallow's efficiency comes from bloodlines. His brother, Ben, was a quarterback at Geneva. But Bobby also put in a lot of time in the back yard.

"My brother's buddy used to hold a bucket and walk across my yard and I would try to get the football into the bucket," Swallow said. "It helped me a lot. It instilled something in me. Once, I tried to strengthen my arm so I could throw longer and harder. But it didn't work. So I tried to become more accurate."

Before leaving the game, Mathews had 78 yards rushing on 14 carries and grabbed eight passes for 100 yards. He injured the ankle with 5:42 remaining on an ordinary off-tackle running play at the Westminster nine. His replacement, Josh Linton, fumbled on the next play and the Titans recovered.

Mathews was helped off the field and had an ice pack placed on his right ankle. Mathews' injury came three plays after tailback Curt Jones bruised his right leg.

"It's something just above the ankle," said Sirianni. "If it's broken, then he'll be back in Week 9 or 10. Curt is fine. I hope Kevin is OK. If he's not, then that's just football."

Notes

W&J's Mike Sedunov returned an interception on a two-point conversion try 94 yards. That gave the Presidents two points and a 30-12 lead with 7:11 left in the half. ... Brendan O'Mohany and Terrence McCallister had second-half touchdown runs for the Presidents.

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