FINAL SCORE: Washington & Lee 56, Apprentice School 21

RECORDS: Washington & Lee 3-0, Apprentice School 0-4

LOCATION: Lexington, Va.

IN BRIEF: Both teams scored early and often, with each team trading scores before Washington & Lee distanced themselves and took a 35-21 lead into the break. The second half was a defensive battle, but the Generals would score three touchdowns late to seal the victory.

HOW THEY SCORED

• McKenna Johnston broke off a 43-yard run to put Washington & Lee on the scoreboard early. The effort capped off a 70-yard drive with 13:51 remaining in the first half.
• The Apprentice School answered with a 7-play, 75-yard drive of their own. On first and goal from the Generals' 1-yard line, Joseph Hodge ran in for the score to tie the game at 7-7 at the 10:26 mark.
• The Generals used up more of the clock on their second outing, driving 66 yards in 154 plays to set up a 1-yard Marshall Hollerith rushing touchdown. The drive, taking the clock down to 4:36 in the 1st quarter, put Washington & Lee up 14-7.
• On the ensuing kickoff, Lou Picolo returned the ball 49 yards, giving the Builders excellent field position at the Generals' 40-yard line.  Using an 8-play, 40-yard drive, Dustin Hiner tied the game for the second time with a 2-yard run.
• Washington & Lee got a great return of its own as Johnston returned the following kickoff 59 yards to the Builders' 32-yard line. A pair of Evan Hinkle rushes for 31 yards would set up Jimmy Dugan for a 1-yard rushing tochdown, putting the Generals up 21-14 with 0:27 remaining in the opening quarter.
• After Washington & Lee's defense forced a punt, Connor Chess' 28-yard rushing touchdown would extend the Generals' lead to two touchdowns. The play capped off a 6-play, 80-yard drive that left 9:48 to play in the opening half.
• Starting at their own 15-yard line, the Apprentice School used a 9-play, 85-yard drive to pull within a touchdown at 28-21. Hiner found the endzone for the second time with a 23-yard run, leaving 4:43 remaining in the half.
• On the first play of Washington & Lees' next drive, Charlie Nelson found Witt Hawkins for a 65-yard pass that took the Generals down to the Builders' 21-yard line. Walker Brand  then rushed 14 yards to set up Hinkle for the 7-yard rushing touchdown, giving the Generals a 35-21 lead with 3:50 left in the second quarter.
• Washington & Lee's Will Dyson intercepted a pass late in the 3rd quarter, returning it 8 yards to the Builders' 44-yard line. The Generals then picked up 44 yards on the ground in 4 plays, including a Hollerith 3-yard score, to take a 42-21 lead early in the 4th quarter.
• Set to punt from the Builders' own 21-yard line, O'Neil's kick was blocked by Tim Joyce and recovered by Josh Malm, who returned it 17 yards. Starting the Generals' drive from the 4-yard line, Dugan needed one rushing attempt for the score and put Washington & Lee up 49-21 with 7:37 remaining in the game.
• The Generals' Moody Heard forced a Builders' fumble and Alex Yacoubian recovered the ball at the Builders' 25-yard line. A Duncan Maxwell 3-yard rush capped off a 3-play, 25-yard drive for the final score.

BEHIND THE BOX SCORE

• Both teams racked up 22 first downs.
• The Apprentice School held the advantage in third-down efficiency, converting 7-of-15 attempts (47%). Washington & Lee went 0-for-6.
• The Builders edged out the Generals in the passing game 99 yards to 79 yards. However, Washington & Lee racked up more yards on the ground, totaling 473 rushing yards to the Apprentice School's 310 yards.
• The Builders possessed the ball for 36:31, compared to 23:29 for the Generals.
• Hiner led the Builders' rushing attack, falling just 6 yards short of 200 on the day. The Sophomore averaged 6.9 yards on 28 attempts for 2 touchdowns, including a long of 45 yards.
• The Apprentice School looked like it might score again late in the 4th quarter. Starting at their own 14-yard line, the Builders drove all the way down to the Generals' 7-yard line, but three incomplete passes and a rush for no gain turned the ball back over to Washington & Lee with 0:46 remaining in the game.
• Michael K. Scott led the Builders on defense with 9 tackles, including two for losses. John Jackson also recorded an interception.

NEXT UP

The Builders will host Fork Union Military Academy next Saturday, October 3 for a 4 p.m. contest at Apprentice Field. The game is the first meeting between the programs and marks Homecoming and Alumni Day for the Builders.