WASHINGTON, Pa. – Junior quarterback Jacob Pugh (Jefferson Hills, Pa./Thomas Jefferson) tossed for six touchdowns, four of which were caught by sophomore receiver Jacob Macosko (Venetia, Pa./Peters Township) to lift the Washington & Jefferson College football team to a 46-21 victory over the United States Merchant Marine Academy in the 2023 ECAC James Lynah Bowl.
Pugh tossed for a career-high six touchdowns in the victory. 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 of seven, which was set twice by Pete Coughlin.
Macosko earned ECAC James Lynah Bowl Most Valuable Player honors after hauling in a career-high four touchdowns. He finished with five catches and 88 yards receiving Saturday.
The game got off to a wild and wacky start. Both teams committed turnovers in the opening five minutes of play. USMMA scored first when they blocked a punt and returned it for a touchdown at the 7:55 mark of the first quarter.
A few minutes later, an interception by sophomore cornerback Bruno Fabryicki (New Salem, Pa./Albert Gallatin) helped set W&J up with the ball around midfield. The Presidents put their first points of the day on the board when Pugh hit sophomore receiver John Peduzzi (Hilton Head, S.C./Hilton Head Christian Academy) for a 10-yard touchdown. The point after made the score 7-7 at the 1:46 mark.
The ultimate 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 W&J at the 3:26 mark.
Another USMMA turnover, this time a fumble forced by Tanner Volpatti (Bethel Park, Pa./Bethel Park) allowed W&J to get another crack at the end zone before halftime. Pugh and Macosko hooked up for a third time in the first half. A 10-yard scoring play with 1:38 remaining in the half made it 32-14 Presidents at the break.
The lone touchdown of the third quarter came with 4:48 showing on the clock. Pugh connected with Macosko for a fourth time. The 47-yard passing play allowed W&J to reach the end zone and swell the lead to 39-14.
Both teams scored a touchdown each in the fourth. Sophomore running back Troy Volpatti (Bethel Park, Pa./Bethel Park) rushed in from 11 yards out to conclude the scoring with 6:55 to play.
Peduzzi added an eight-catch, 96-yard effort to cap his strong sophomore season.
Junior running back Owen Petrisek (Ellsworth, Pa./Bentworth) led the Presidents' ground efforts. Petrisek finished with a career-high 100 yards rushing on just 11 carries.
Senior linebacker Justin Johns (Murrysville, Pa./Franklin Regional) posted a career-high 23 tackles in the victory.
Senior linebacker Keaton Hall (Dover, Ohio/Dover) and senior defensive back Brandon Brown (Monessen, Pa./Greensburg Central Catholic) both finished with double-digit tackle efforts against USMMA's triple-option attack.
Hall recorded a career-high 18 tackles and recovered a fumble. Brown finished with 11 tackles and a fumble recovery.
Fabrycki intercepted a pair of passes as W&J forced four turnovers Saturday.
Notes: W&J has earned at least eight wins in each full season since the 2012 campaign. The win improves the Presidents to 6-1 all-time in ECAC Bowl games. Pugh finishes the 2023 season with 38 passing touchdowns. Peduzzi hauled in 18 touchdown receptions while Macosko tallied 11 touchdowns through the air in 2023.