Pugh throws 6 TDs as W&J wins bowl game
Junior quarterback Jacob Pugh passed for a career-high six touchdowns, four to Jacob Macosko, lifting Washington & Jefferson to a 46-21 victory over the United States Merchant Marine Academy in the 2023 ECAC James Lynah Bowl on Saturday at Cameron Stadium.
Pugh, the Presidents’ Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year, finished with 232 passing yards. The six touchdowns is one shy of the W&J single-game record.
Macosko earned the game’s Most Valuable Player award by hauling in a career-high four touchdowns. He finished with five catches and 88 receiving yards.
The game got off to a wild and wacky start. Both teams committed turnovers in the opening five minutes. USMMA scored first when it blocked a punt and returned it for a touchdown midway through the first quarter.
A few minutes later, an interception by Bruno Fabryicki helped set up W&J around midfield. Pugh hit sophomore wide receiver John Peduzzi for a 10-yard touchdown to tie the score at 7-7.
The difference in the game was a strong second-quarter surge by the Presidents. W&J found the end zone four times in the quarter. Pugh connected with Macosko for a 16-yard touchdown at the 13:37 mark of the second. After a lengthy 17-play drive helped the Mariners regain the lead with 6:52 to play in the half, W&J found the end zone three more times to take control.
A six-yard pass by Pugh to Macosko pushed W&J back in front at 19-14. After a second interception by Fabrycki, Pugh hit Peduzzi for a 40-yard scoring strike to make it 25-14 at the 3:26 mark.
Another USMMA turnover, this time a fumble forced by Tanner Volpatti, allowed W&J to get another crack at the end zone before halftime. Pugh and Macosko hooked up for a third time, a 10-yard scoring play with 1:38 remaining in the half made it 32-14 Presidents at halftime.
The lone touchdown of the third quarter came when Pugh connected with Macosko for a fourth time. The 47-yard pass gave W&J a 39-14 lead.
Both teams scored a touchdown each in the fourth with W&J getting an 11-yard scoring run from Troy Volpatti.
Junior running back Owen Petrisek led the W&J ground game with a career-high 100 yards on only 11 carries.
Senior linebacker Justin Johns made a career-high 23 tackles.