Wash-Jeff Tops Wittenberg

Tyler Sabo pulled in two interceptions, the second coming with less than two minutes to play, helping #21 Washington & Jefferson past #18 Wittenberg, 16-8, Saturday afternoon. Defense and special teams ruled the day for both sides. W&J’s Jacob Adams threw three first-half interceptions and Justin Heacock added another as the Presidents committed four first half turnovers and gave up a safety on a botched punt snap. A Wittenberg fumble midway through the first quarter set up W&J for the game’s first score, an Adams to Josh Burns 21-yard TD pass. Wittenberg took an 8-7 lead following Heacock’s interception when Blake King connected with Thad Snodgrass for a 35-yard TD on the ensuing play. Very late in the third quarter, W&J punted from inside its own 35-yard line but the ball hit a Tiger blocker. Nick Freiwald recovered. The Presidents got a 24-yard field goal to go up, 10-8 with just under 13 minutes to play. On Wittenberg’s next possession, Mike Williams sacked King, forcing a fumble that Nick Getz scooped and returned 52 yards for the final score of the day. The teams traded punts before Sabo picked off Bobby Froelich pass deep in Presidents territory to seal the win. Adams was rushed most of the afternoon and struggled, but crossed the 4,000-career-passing-yards mark with a 5-yard completion to Jordan West midway through the third quarter. W&J is 3-0-1 all-time against Wittenberg. The Presidents visit Thiel next Saturday to begin defense of their PAC title.