WASHINGTON, Pa. -- Four players recorded double-digit tackles and Ryan Ruffing scored four touchdowns as the No. 14 Presidents survived Westminster, 35-31, in the 2015 home opener.
Washington & Jefferson remains undefeated on the season with a 2-0 record, while the Titans drop to 1-1 after posting a 17-9 win over Hiram in week one.
Ruffing scored on runs of 1, 7, 3, and the eventual game-winning score of one-yard on fourth-and-goal from the one-yard line with 1:04 to play.
W&J trailed, 24-14, through three quarters, but 21 points in the final period allowed the Presidents to stave off a feisty Titans' squad.
With 12:32 to play, quarterback Pete Coughlin eluded pressure in the pocket before escaping and sneaking just inside the far pylon from 13 yards out to bring W&J within 24-21 (video number one below). The defense was able to hold up its part and force a three-and-out and get the offense right back on the field with plenty of momentum.
The first three plays of that ensuing drive were first down completions from Coughlin to Daniel Lis and Eric Scott, as Lis went for 29 yards and then Scott corralled a 21-yarder (video number two below) to put W&J at the Westminster 18-yard line. The next play was a connection to Lis that went to the three and two plays later, Ruffing punched it in for his third TD of the night and put the Presidents back in the lead for the first time since it was 7-0 in the first quarter, 28-24.
Westminster was not done yet. Utilizing the wildcat formation with running back Kimu Kim and also a career showing from running mate Dominique McKinley (22 carries, 163 yards), the Titans marched 73 yards in 11 plays to re-take the lead, 31-28, with 2:26 remaining.
Thanks to a 44-yard kickoff return by Anthony Keriotis, the Presidents began their final push from inside Westminster territory at the 45. On a third-and-one at the 36, Ruffing sprinted 26 yards to the 10, setting W&J up with a first-and-goal as time ran down. Ruffing eventually capped the drive by going in around the left end from one yard out on fourth-and-goal, 31-28.
The first two plays that Westminster ran on their final drive went for completions of 15 and nine yards and the third play was a pass down field that was picked off by Dan Graziano at the W&J 14-yard line, eventually sealing the victory.
Ruffing's first touchdown run of the day occurred 4:45 into the evening before Westminster tied the game, 7-7, with 3:19 left in the first quarter. On the ensuing kickoff, Westminster had a player ejected after he drove a W&J player to the ground and landed two punches after the play was over. Thanks to a safety and interception return for a touchdown that came in the second quarter, Westminster held a 16-14 lead at halftime.
For the defense, Bryce Merrill led all players with 12 tackles (eight solo), including six in the fourth quarter alone and four consecutive at one point. Jon Turner, Ryan Snedeker and Zach Walker each posted 10 stops, with Turner turning in 2.5 TFL and a sack, Snedeker 1.5 TFL and a sack and Walker half a sack. Walker also forced a fumble and recovered it on the second play from scrimmage in the second half.
As the defense forced a three-and-out on Westminster's second drive of the half, the stadium lights went out and forced a 15-minute delay while the outage was addressed.
Lis and Scott once again tied for the team- and game-high with seven receptions apiece. Lis turned his seven grabs into 88 yards, while Scott's went for 66. Coughlin completed 19-of-35 passes for 210 yards. After comleting just 11-of-25 passes through 45 minutes, Coughlin was 8-of-10 in the fourth quarter. Ruffing carried the ball 24 times for 84 yards and four scores.
W&J will return to action on Saturday, Sept. 19 when it hits the road to Pittsburgh for a 1 p.m. kick-off at Carnegie Mellon.
