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Thompson making most of early chance at W&J

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Great running back depth at Washington & Jefferson has been as rare as a huddle.

Head coach Mike Sirianni has created one of the best passing games in NCAA Division III and the success has been amazing. Sirianni is inching closer to becoming the career leader in football coaching victories at the school. He is four shy of passing John Luckhardt (137-37-2).

The 2017 version of the Presidents have shown to have an emerging defense and more depth at running back than at any time in Sirianni’s 15 seasons.

One reason why the running game has flourished is the unexpected success of a 17-year-old freshman, E.J. Thompson. The 5-8, 210-pound battering ram has gained 220 yards and averages 6.3 yards a carry. Thompson stepped in behind Justin Vickless, who also is having an outstanding season, when starter Jordan West went down with a knee injury in Week 3.

That trio has to be on the minds of Westminster’s defensive coaches when the two teams meet Saturday in a crucial Presidents’ Athletic Conference game at Cameron Stadium.

W&J and Westminster are tied for second place behind Case Western Reserve with 4-0 records. Westminster struggled early against Grove City before pulling away in the second half.

Thompson has won back-to-back PAC Rookie of the Week honors.

“He’s been a spark for us,” said Sirianni. “He runs hard and hits the hole. We have all three (tailbacks) back now and that’s a good problem to have.”

Thompson admitted to some nerves when he saw West go down and realized he would get more carries. Most of his work had come in junior varsity games. He scored a key touchdown in a 27-20 win over Carnegie Mellon two weeks ago.

“Playing against actual (first-teamers), I thought whoa, this is going to be a roller coaster,” said Thompson. “When I got in against Carnegie Mellon, I wasn’t thinking. I was just reacting. When I scored, I couldn’t believe it. It was really cool.”

Thompson began his high school career at National Christian Academy in Fort Washington, Md., then transferred to Thomas Stone High School in Waldorf, Md. Because he had too many credits, Thompson was considered a senior so he missed his junior year. When some Division I programs backed off because of his age, W&J pounced.

Now Thompson is preparing for whatever comes against Westminster.

“They are aggressive and hard-nosed,” Thompson said of the Titans’ defense. “We’re going to give them all we got.”

Sirianni doesn’t feel W&J matches up well against Westminster.

“They are super talented,” Sirianni said. “Across the board, they are the most talented team in the PAC and top five in Division III.”

Westminster’s defense ranks second in the conference and has the Nos. 3, 4 and 5 sack leaders in the conference. Quarterback Paul Columbo has rushed for 272 and passed for 1,023 yards. He spreads the ball to three different receivers with Connor Cox’s 17 receptions leading the way.

California at Gannon

Kickoff: Saturday, Noon

California can break the logjam for third place with a win over Gannon. The Vulcans (2-2) can be in position for a tie for second place in the conference if Slippery Rock (3-1, 6-1) suffers an upset over the final few games. But Gannon (2-2, 3-4) must be handled first.

Cal is coming off a sluggish 21-19 win over Clarion, nearly blowing a 21-0 lead it built in the first half.

Gannon lost four straight games early but they were close, losing three by a combined 14 points. The Knights have won the last two, scoring a combined 123 points, including 76-31 over Seton Hill.

Thiel at Waynesburg

Kickoff: Saturday, 1:30 p.m.

Waynesburg’s best chances to win its first game of the season comes in the next two weeks, when Thiel and Saint Vincent coming to Wiley Stadium. The two teams have combined for two wins this season and each is on a three-game losing streak.

Waynesburg is 0-5 in the PAC, 0-7 overall.

Linebacker John-Glen Davis is second in the conference with 66 tackles and end Brent Blacharczyk is ninth with 54.

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