WASHINGTON, Pa. -- Joey Koroly (Washington, Pa./Trinity) returned the opening kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown and Jordan West (Washington, Pa./Washington) rushed for 126 yards on just 14 carries as the Washington & Jefferson football team rolled to a 50-14 over Waynesburg University on Senior Day at Cameron Stadium.
The win improves the Presidents to 7-3 overall and 6-3 in Presidents' Athletic Conference. W&J will await word of a possible Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) bowl berth. Those bids are formally announced on Monday. Meanwhile, Waynesburg finishes the season at 1-9 overall and 1-8 in league play.
West led a Presidents ground game that rushed for a season-high 282 yards against the Yellow Jackets. The Presidents ran at will, as four different players scored rushing touchdowns during the game. West's big day helped him surpass 2,500 rushing yards for his career. West has combined to score 43 touchdowns (35 rushing, 8 receiving) in a W&J uniform.
Koroly set the tone from the opening kickoff, as the sophomore raced 85 yards on the game's opening play. Koroly now has three return touchdowns in 2019, two on kickoffs and one punt return.
After the W&J defense forced a punt, the Presidents compiled a six-play, 82-yard drive that culminated in a one-yard touchdown run by West. The point after by freshman Ian Phillips (Steubenville, Ohio/Steubenville) made the score 14-0 less than six minutes into the game.
W&J added another touchdown late in the first quarter, as senior quarterback Jacob Adams (Louisville, Ohio/Louisville) connected with junior receiver Josh Burns (Coraopolis, Pa./Moon) on an eight-yard scoring play. That touchdown gave the Presidents a 21-0 lead after the first quarter.
Junior running back EJ Thompson (La Plata, Md./Thomas Stone) capped a seven-play, 65-yard drive with a 16-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. The point after by Phillips extended the lead to 28-0 at the 11:07 mark.
Following another three-and-out by Waynesburg, the Presidents added another touchdown when they matriculated the ball 55 yards on just five plays. Adams raced 29 yards untouched for his first rushing touchdown of his collegiate career. The PAT by Phillips gave W&J a 35-0 lead at halftime.
With 4:17 left in the third quarter, junior wide receiver Payton Skalos (Cranberry Township, Pa./Seneca Valley) hauled in a 50-yard touchdown catch and run from Adams. The point after by senior Tyler Rainear (Buena, N.J./Buena Regional) made the score 42-0.
The W&J defense added a safety late in the third quarter. After an errant snap by Waynesburg forced the quarterback into the end zone, senior Joe Franjione (Bridgeville, Pa./South Fayette) made the hit to secure the two points, extending the W&J lead to 44-0.
The Presidents added a final touchdown late in the fourth quarter when junior running back Jack Ryan (Lower Burrell, Pa./Burrell) outraced everyone 74 yards for the touchdown. That score helped the Presidents reach 50 points or more for the third time in 2019.
Adams was efficient through the air, completing 13 of 18 passes for 153 yards and two touchdowns. Skalos had another strong game in the receiving ranks, as the junior catch eight passes for 126 yards.
Freshman defensive back Dillon Rebuck (Louisville, Ohio/Louisville) and Koroly finished with six tackles apiece. Sophomore Alex Keith (Hartville, Ohio/Lake) recorded five tackles, two sacks and three tackles for loss. Sophomore Tyler Sabo (Aliquippa, Pa./Hopewell) registered his third interception of the season.