Gators Fall to Wash. & Jeff 22-10

Sep 9, 2006

Boxscore

WASHINGTON, Pa. – The Allegheny Gators fell to 1-1 on the young 2006 season with a 22-10 loss to the Presidents of Washington & Jefferson College. The Presidents, who averaged 274.6 yards per game through the air and 132 on the ground over the previous three years, switched their attack and put up 298 on the ground and just 135 through the air.

Jimmy Savage (North Canton, Ohio/Hoover) was 23-of-36 passing in the game for 263 yards with a touchdown and interception, but was overshadowed by President running back Ryan Mendel, who had career highs with 177 yards and 33 carries.

The Presidents got on the board first in the game, when quarterback Ryan Church scampered in from 15 yards away, as the extra point went wide right, putting the score at 6-0. W&J took their lead to 12-0 in the second quarter with a Curt Jones one-yard touchdown plunge, before the two-point pass attempt failed for the hosts.

The Gators took their zero off of the scoreboard with a 29-yard field goal off the toe of Josh Whiteside (Pittsburgh, Pa./Upper St. Clair), cutting the deficit to 12-3, as the Gators trailed by the same nine points heading into the locker room at halftime.

After the break, Washington and Jefferson grinded away at the Gator defense with an 18-play, 58-yard drive, eating up 9:09 of the clock, culminating with a 30-yard field goal from kicker Kyle Sidebotham.

After a pair of punts, Allegheny responded with a 67-yard drive, ending when Savage found Shane Sullivan (McMurray, Pa./Peters Township) from 11-yards out, cutting the deficit to 15-10.

An onside kick attempt was recovered by the hosts, before the Presidents went three-and-out, with the Gators forcing a punt that was fair caught on Allegheny’s 12 yard line with 27 seconds to play in the game. After an incomplete pass, Savage’s next attempt was tipped and intercepted by Corey Walsh, who returned the pick 36 yards, diving into the end zone, capping the scoring at 22-10.

Mario Tarquinio (Charleroi, Pa./Charleroi) rushed 10 times for 43 yards, while the Presidents’ Kevin Matthews grounded out 89 yards on 13 attempts in a backup role.

Dallas Robinson (Wooster, Ohio/Northwestern) hauled in a game- and career-high eight catches for 79 yards, while Tarquinio picked up five receptions for 50 yards, both career bests. W&J was led by a quartet of receivers, each hauling in two passes, David Ravida for a team-best 48 yards.

Mateo Villa (Windsor, Ohio/Middlefield Cardinal) paced the Gator defense with 12 stops, while Andy Toner (Bethel Park, Pa./Bethel Park) had 11 stops in the loss. W&J was led by Walsh, who picked up a dozen tackles and an interception.

The Blue and Gold next take to the gridiron on September 16, the grand opening of the newly renovated Frank B. Fuhrer Field, with kickoff set for 1:00 p.m.

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