Early Lead Dissipates for Guilford
The Guilford College football team ventured north to Lexington, Virginia to face the Washington and Lee University Generals. Despite leading early, the Quakers fell to the Generals, 48-25.
Washington and Lee received the opening kickoff and on its second offensive play fumbled the ball. DJ McRae recovered the loose ball and set up Guilford at the W&L 30. The Quakers gained a couple yards before Burke Nettles made a 43-yard field goal to give the team a 3-0 lead just over two minutes into the game.
The Generals marched down the field on their next drive and scored on a four-yard rush. The point after was no good as the hosts now led 6-3 with 9:33 left in the first. After just two plays on GC’s latest drive, Bailey Baker dropped back and found JuJu Rice for a 75-yard pass and catch. The Nettles point after was good and gave the visitors a 10-6 edge.
Both teams exchanged possessions as the hosts controlled the ball for the final 4:30 of the first. Just two plays into the second, W&L found the endzone to retake the lead, 13-10, with 14:24 in the first half.
A punt by both sides and a turnover on downs by Guilford, the Generals took over at their own 30. Washington and Lee went 70 yards in seven plays to score once more and extend its lead to 10 (20-10) with 6:12 on the clock.
On Guilford’s next drive, the team picked up a first down and was nearing midfield. On second-and-eight, Baker was intercepted and set up the hosts at their own 35. W&L used nine plays 4:33 to go 65 yards with a three-yard touchdown run capping off the drive. Following the extra point, the home squad led 27-10 as it stood at the half.
To start the second half, Guilford started with the ball. After a first down pickup, the Quakers were forced to punt the ball. The Generals started their drive on their 28 with 12:40 on the clock.
Washington and Lee went the full length of the field on nine plays. The final play of the drive was a four-yard rushing touchdown and increased the lead to 24 (34-10) with 9:08 left in the third quarter.
Back-to-back punts by each side put the Quakers at their 25 for the next possession. GC put together one of its best drives as Baker found Parker DeHart in the endzone for the 16-yard score. The PAT was converted and made the score 34-17 just under two minutes into the fourth.
The hosts wasted little time and responded on its next drive going 73 yards over 5:04 to increase the lead back to 24 (41-17). Guilford’s next drive, Baker only missed on one pass, as he went 4-5 for 63 yards including the eight-yard touchdown to Messiah Ramseur. Trailing by 18, the Quakers went for two. Baker rolled out to his right and found Ramseur for the conversion. With 6:10 left in regulation, the hosts still held the lead, 41-25.
Guilford attempted an onside kick but the Generals fielded the kick at the GC 41. Just six plays later, Washington and Lee found itself in the endzone for the final score of the game as it went on to win by the 23-point margin.
Baker finished the day going 24-37 from the pocket for 352 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. Shane Shaprio led the receiving core with six catches for 105 yards. Rice totaled 86 yards on three grabs with the 75-yard touchdown.
Guilford (2-3, 0-2) returns to the Armfield Athletic Center on Saturday, October 14 to face Shenandoah University Kickoff is slated for 1:00 p.m.