Washington & Lee downs Centre 34-16
Trailing 14-10 in the first half, the Centre College football team allowed 20 unanswered points and fell 34-16 to Washington & Lee University Saturday, Sept. 15 in Lexington, Va.
The two teams wasted little time finding the endzone. The Generals used only 2:29 as Nick Lombardo hit Alex Evans for a 39-yard scoring strike to cap the six-play, 75-yard opening drive.
Centre (2-1) answered with a 27-yard field goal by senior kicker Jordan Gay (Danville, Ky.), but Washington & Lee came right back with a 12-play, 54-yard drive capped off by a two-yard touchdown run by Luke Heinsohn to make it 14-3.
The Centre offense responded on its next drive. Sophomore quarterback Heath Haden (Kingsport, Tenn.) led the Colonels on a six-play, 66-yard drive and found senior receiver Greyson Janeway (Cincinnati, Ohio) for a 41-yard touchdown pass to cut the lead to 14-10.
Washington & Lee (2-1) added to that lead before the half as Brett Murray crossed the goaline from 17-yards out to make it 21-10.
On their second drive of the second half, the Generals got a 28-yard rushing touchdown from Heinsohn to extend the led to 27-10.
Lombardo then hit Evans again at the beginning of the fourth quarter, this time a nine-yard connection and Washington & Lee led 34-10.
Haden added a seven-yard touchdown run on Centre's next drive, but it wouldn't be enough.
The two teams finished with 434 total offensive yards apiece. Centre had a 311-96 advantage in the passing game, while the Generals out-rushed the Colonels 338-123.
Haden finished the game 22 of 32 for 284 yards and a touchdown pass. Senior running back Monte Scotton (Cleveland, Tenn.) gained 58 yards on 17 carries. Junior receiver Rob Melillo (Louisville, Ky.) caught six passes for 61 yards and senior receiver Jason Osterman (Monroe, Ohio) grabbed four passes for 72 yards.
Junior linebacker Erich Vogelsang (Northbend, Ohio) led the Centre defense with 11 tackles, including eight solo and three assists.
The Colonels will return home to host Kalamazoo College Saturday, Sept. 22. The game is set to start at 1:30 p.m. at Farris Stadium in Danville, Ky.
