SALISBURY Md. – The No. 14 Salisbury University football team returns to Sea Gull Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 19, welcoming Washington and Lee University for the second game of the 2026 season. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. The Sea Gulls enter the matchup at 1-0 following a 31-0 shutout victory over McDaniel in the season opener, while the Generals bring a 2-0 record into Salisbury after rallying for a 27-23 victory over Gettysburg last Saturday.

THE RUNDOWN
GAME NOTES
LIVE STATS
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TICKETS

The Series: Saturday's contest marks the 13th meeting between Salisbury and Washington and Lee. The Sea Gulls hold the advantage in the all-time series and have won each of the last three meetings. Salisbury and Washington and Lee met in the season opener each of the last two seasons, with the Sea Gulls earning a 42-21 victory at Wilson Field in 2025 and a 48-26 win in Salisbury in 2024. Salisbury also defeated the Generals, 38-17, in the 2023 season opener. Last season's meeting saw the Sea Gulls jump out to a 14-0 first-quarter lead and carry a 28-14 advantage into halftime. Salisbury finished with 463 yards of total offense, including 258 passing yards and 205 rushing yards. SyRus McGowan led the way with 340 total yards and four touchdowns, completing 9-of-14 passes for 246 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 94 yards and two scores. Dario Belizaire added 89 receiving yards, including a 59-yard touchdown reception, while Daniel Clark hauled in four passes for 112 yards and a score.

Last Time Out: Salisbury opened the 2026 season in dominant fashion, shutting out McDaniel, 31-0, at Sea Gull Stadium. The Sea Gulls built a 21-0 halftime advantage before adding 10 points after the break. Salisbury's defense held the Green Terror scoreless throughout the afternoon, while the offense produced touchdowns through the air and on the ground. The victory extended Salisbury's winning streak in season openers and gave the Sea Gulls a 1-0 start to the 2026 campaign.

National Rankings: Football — 14th | D3football.com Top 25, Week 2
Salisbury climbed three spots to No. 14 nationally with 248 points, flanked by No. 13 Johns Hopkins (315) and No. 15 Berry (235). The Sea Gulls (1-0) made a statement in their season opener, shutting out in-state rival McDaniel 31-0 behind a balanced attack. Quarterback SyRus McGowan was efficient through the air, throwing for 176 yards and two touchdowns to received Brayden Rogers. On the defensive side, Dylan Lyerly set the tone with seven tackles and an interception. SU stays home again this week, hosting Washington & Lee for Joe Rotellini Era weekend on Saturday at 1 p.m.

Strong Start: The Sea Gulls opened the season with one of their strongest defensive performances in recent years, holding McDaniel without a point in the 31-0 victory. Salisbury's offense also showed its versatility, finding the end zone through multiple contributors while controlling the line of scrimmage and creating opportunities with strong field position. With the victory, the Sea Gulls moved to 1-0 and now turn their attention to another undefeated opponent in Washington and Lee.
Key Returners: Salisbury returns several key pieces from last year's NCAA Tournament team, including senior defensive back Patrick Sheil, junior defensive back Dylan Lyerly, senior slot back Dario Belizaire and junior quarterback SyRus McGowan. McGowan enters his junior season as one of the leaders of the Salisbury offense after producing 340 yards of total offense and four touchdowns in last year's meeting with Washington and Lee. Belizaire also returns as a dynamic threat for the Sea Gulls after accounting for multiple big plays against the Generals in 2025, including a 59-yard touchdown reception and a three-yard touchdown run.

Scouting the Generals: Washington and Lee enters Saturday's contest with a 2-0 record after opening the season with consecutive one-score victories. The Generals began the year with a 13-7 overtime victory over Wittenberg before rallying from behind to defeat Gettysburg, 27-23, on Sept. 12. The victory moved Washington and Lee to 2-0 for the first time since 2018. Against Gettysburg, Washington and Lee produced 381 yards of total offense, rushing for 280 yards and four touchdowns. The Generals converted 8-of-16 third-down attempts and 4-of-5 fourth-down opportunities while possessing the football for more than 31 minutes. Senior running back Ryan Clemens led the Generals with 111 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries. Quarterback Sean Clark completed 24 passes for 249 yards and a touchdown, while Ty Collins added 87 passing yards and 41 rushing yards. Defensively, Brennan Stout paced the Generals with 15 tackles, while Marcus Canton added nine tackles and two pass breakups. Canton was named to the first D3football.com Team of the Week following his 12-tackle performance against Wittenberg, which also included a forced fumble. Washington and Lee was picked to finish tied for second in the 2026 Old Dominion Athletic Conference preseason poll after finishing 7-4 overall and third in the conference in 2025.

A Familiar Opponent: The matchup has become a familiar early-season test for both programs. Salisbury and Washington and Lee have opened their seasons against one another in recent years, creating a series of competitive non-conference contests between two established Division III programs. Last year's meeting in Lexington featured 803 combined yards of offense and multiple momentum swings before the Sea Gulls pulled away in the second half. This year's meeting will mark the first time since 2024 that the Generals visit Sea Gull Stadium.

At Sea Gull Stadium: Saturday's game continues a three-game homestand to begin the 2026 season for Salisbury. The Sea Gulls opened the year with the annual Gold Rush game against McDaniel and will welcome Washington and Lee for the Joe Rotellini Era Reunion. Salisbury will then host Catholic University on Sept. 26 for Youth Day and the 40th Anniversary of the 1986 Football Team.

Up Next: Following Saturday's matchup, Salisbury will remain at Sea Gull Stadium for one more non-conference contest, welcoming Catholic University on Saturday, Sept. 26, at 1 p.m. The game will feature Youth Day and a celebration of the 40th Anniversary of the 1986 Salisbury football team.

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Salisbury University is a proud member of NCAA Division III with primary membership in the Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference, along with affiliate membership in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (football, men's & women's swimming), Coastal Lacrosse Conference (men's lacrosse), State University of New York Athletic Conference (field hockey), and Colonial Women's Golf Conference (women's golf). With over 500 student-athletes in 23 varsity sports, SU is recognized as one of the nation's most competitive intercollegiate athletics programs regardless of division, featuring dedicated coaches and staff that foster excellence on and off the field. The Sea Gulls have won a combined 23 team national championships, 24 individual national championships, and 205 conference championships, and have produced 53 Academic All-Americans.

To Make Tomorrow Yours at Salisbury University, and learn more about Sea Gull Athletics' tradition of excellence, visit SUSeaGulls.com or follow on social media @SUSeaGulls.