Nov 23, 2013 3 min read

ALLIANCE, Ohio – Under the worst weather conditions of the season, Alex Baroffio had his best game.

And he wrapped up a college career that left him as one of, if not the best, wide receiver in the history of Washington & Jefferson College’s football program.

Baroffio caught 12 passes for 131 yards and two touchdowns in a 34-20 loss to Mount Union in the first round of the NCAA Division III playoffs at Mount Union Stadium Saturday.

It came on a snow-covered field and winds that made the passing game difficult.

Baroffio became the school’s career leader in receiving yards with 3,204, 49 more than the 3,155 Ryan Silvis had before graduating in 2001. His 269 career receptions also are a school record. His three touchdown catches against the Purple Raiders accounted for all the Presidents’ points.

“I’m proud of the record,” said Baroffio. “But I would much rather have a victory than me breaking the record.”

Baroffio connected with freshman quarterback Pete Coughlin for two first-half touchdowns. The first came from 24 yards out, and Baroffio made a nice catch of a perfect pass on a post pattern. That cut Mount Union’s lead to 14-7 at the time.

The second one was a mini-post pattern from seven yards out three plays into the second quarter, cutting the Purple Raiders’ lead to 21-13.

“Pete made some good throws,” Baroffio said. “We had a good week of practice.”

Baroffio’s final touchdown was a vintage play. He made a diving catch in the end zone with 7:20 left in the game to bring the Presidents to within 14 points.

“Pete made big passes,” said W&J head coach Mike Sirianni, “and Baroffio is just a great, great player. He’s one of the best to ever play here.”

As a senior at Bethel Park High School, Baroffio chose W&J over St. John Fisher. He remembers the first time he watched the team play.

“It was against Thiel, and I came over to watch,” he said. “I knew I wanted to go there.”

It helped that another Bethel Park player, quarterback Matt Bliss, also decided to come to W&J. Bliss and Baroffio would terrorize opposing secondaries with a potent passing game that produced huge numbers in Sirianni’s spread offense.

After the loss to Mount Union, Baroffio sat in the interview room with Bliss, Coughlin and Sirianni.

“It’s painful to lose,” said Baroffio. “I’m proud of breaking the record. Matt threw the majority of passes to me. I’m just proud to call myself a President.”

Bliss missed two games with an injured knee and the concussion this season. He also suffered injuries last season and was knocked out of last year’s first-round playoff game against Johns Hopkins after only four pass attempts.

“Because of what Matt has meant to the program and everything he’s done for the program, he has to be considered one of the best, too,” said Sirianni.

Baroffio has played quarterback, running back, and returned kickoffs and punts. He has done all those things well, and it will be hard to replace him next season.

“It’s sad to say I’m done,” he said. “I’ve been playing football all my life. Now, it’s over.”