W&J takes early lead, hangs on for one-score triumph
Washington & Jefferson appeared on its way to an easy Presidents’ Athletic Conference victory after taking a two-touchdown lead in the first quarter, but Westminster battled back to tie the game heading into the fourth before the Presidents pulled out a 21-14 victory Saturday afternoon at Westminster.
Washington & Jefferson (4-1, 4-1) was coming off a heartbreaking overtime loss to Carnegie Mellon and took its frustrations out on the Titans (3-1, 3-1) in the early going, as Zach Cernuto (six yards) and John Peduzzzi (33 yards) pulled in touchdown receptions from Jacob Pugh at 8:15 and 1:02 of the first quarter for a 14-0 advantage after Deven Wyandt made two of his three extra points.
Westminster used special teams to get on the scoreboard when Brite Cannon returned a punt 35 yards into the end zone and Andrew Caranna made the first of two extra PATs with 9:29 left in the second quarter.
Ryan Gomes’ 33-yard run tied the game at 14-14 with 1:12 left in the third quarter.
Kobe Derosa scored from one yard out with 11:43 remaining in the fourth period and the Presidents’ defense was able to keep the Titans from scoring to close out the conference tilt.
Pugh was 26 of 40 for 248 yards and an interception. Peters Township graduate Jacob Macosko led W&J in receiving with 8 receptions for 119 yards. Peduzzi pulled in 3 receptions for 57 yards. Cernuto caught 8 passes for 40 yards.
Bentworth graduate Owen Petrisek led the game in rushing with 96 yards on 16 carries.