Blocked Punt, Run Game Lead W&J past Hiram

Owen Sinclair broke through the line and blocked a Hiram punt, John Peduzzi picked up the loose ball and returned it for a touchdown on the game’s opening possession as Washington & Jefferson routed Hiram, 70-13. Kobe DeRosa scored four times in the game, three on the ground, as W&J pounded out 239 rushing yards. Andrew Sharp and Cam Mulvaney tallied a pair to TDs on the ground and Kellen Stahl threw a pair of scoring passes in the win. Following the blocked punt score, Hiram tied the game halfway through the opening quarter. W&J scored six more times before intermission, taking a 49-7 lead to the locker room, then added three more touchdowns in the second half. The W&J defense registered five interceptions, including a pair by Dante DeRubbo, the second straight game that the Trinity grad posted two picks. That defense limited the Terriers’ passing game to 220 yards and 253 total yards on the afternoon. Hiram came into the game averaging more than 400 passing yards.  The 70 points scored on the road is the most by the Red & Black since putting up 70 on West Virginia University in 1891. The win extends W&J’s streak against Hiram to eight straight, though the game was the first between the schools since 1992.