LEXINGTON, Va.  Methodist University football played a road non-conference game against Washington & Lee University on Saturday afternoon. Going into the contest neither side had a win in 2023 but after 60 minutes of action the Generals picked a dominate victory, 54-14, over the Monarchs on Wilson Field.

JUST THE FACTS
Final score: Washington & Lee def. Methodist, 54-14
Records: Methodist 0-3, Washington & Lee 1-1
Location: Wilson Field; Lexington, Virginia

HOW IT HAPPENED

• After a couple of three and outs by Methodist, Washington & Lee scored the opening points on a two-yard rush by Anthony Crawford. Pickups of 10- and 23-yards on the ground by Jacob Romero helped the Generals move the ball most of the way before Crawford capped off the drive with the touchdown.
• Washington & Lee doubled its score, 14-0, on its next possession. Following a 16-yard rush by Burke Cigelske, the option run-style offense saw quarterback Stephen Murrin complete a 38-yard pass to Evan Novak and spot the ball on the Monarchs six-yard line. Two plays later Cameron Reed found the end zone on his seven yard run.
• Methodist offense was unable to move the ball and were forced to punt on its ensuing possession. Following the quarter break, the Monarchs caught a massive break as the General's punt returner muffed the punt and Dacarris Jacobs was right there to secure the loose ball for Methodist at midfield.
• That brought life back to the Monarchs sideline and then in seven plays, 50 yards, Methodist record its first touchdown of the game. The drive saw quarterback Brandon Bullins throw four completions on five attempts, which includes the 23-yard strike to Wade Thomas III in the end zone.
• With the momentum looking to swing in favor of the Monarchs, Washington & Lee made it a two-score game again in a flash. The next General's drive lasted only three plays but traveled 69 yards for a touchdown with Romero scoring on a 36-yard sprint.
• Taking the field again was the Methodist offense after the ensuing kickoff and this time it was their turn to score again. Mainly moving the ball through the air Bullins competed passes to five different Monarch receivers on their way to a first and goal opportunity at Washington & Lee's two-yard line. After chewing up almost seven minutes of clock, running back Keyshaun Pete eventually finished off the 16-play, 72-yard, drive with a touchdown plunge from one yard out.
• The Generals would take a 27-14 advantage into halftime though as they scored another touchdown, a six-yard run by Cigelske, but missed the extra point.
• The second half was one Methodist would like to forget. It started out with Washington & Lee getting the ball first and possessing the ball for nearly half of the time in the third quarter. To make matters worse the General got a touchdown on that drive with Murrin finding an open Novak on an eight-yard throw.
• The success the Monarch offense had late in the first half was non-existent in the fourth quarter. They turned the ball over three times, two by way of fumbles and the other a turnover on downs, and that led to Washington & Lee scoring a touchdown on its next possession.

MORE TO IT

• The Generals punished Methodist defense on the ground. Washington and Lee run game accumulated over 400 rushing yards and had seven touchdowns.
• After recording a new career-high (12) last week, defensive end Alex Boyd tops that with a 13 tackle effort to lead the Monarch defense. Josh Hill and Christian Richardson were not too far behind Boyd with seven tackles each.
• Each squad almost attempted the same exact number of plays throughout the game, Generals: 66 and Methodist: 65. Washington & Lee though had a higher yard average per play than the Monarchs, 8.1 to 4.3.

UP NEXT
Methodist now starts league play as the team returns to Monarch Stadium next Saturday, September 23, to face Southern Virginia University. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.