SALISBURY, Md. – The No. 14 Salisbury University football team turned in another dominant performance at Sea Gull Stadium on Saturday afternoon, pulling away in the second half for a 43-13 victory over Washington and Lee University.
The Sea Gulls improved to 2-0 on the season with the victory, scoring 27 unanswered points after halftime to break open a game that was tightly contested through the first two quarters. Salisbury finished the afternoon with 473 yards of total offense, including 345 yards on the ground.
Washington and Lee (2-1) opened the scoring on its first offensive possession, marching 65 yards on eight plays before Ryan Clemens scored on a one-yard touchdown run with 9:11 remaining in the first quarter.
Salisbury answered on its ensuing possession. The Sea Gulls drove 75 yards on eight plays, with quarterback SyRus McGowan finding the end zone on a two-yard touchdown run to tie the game at 7-7 with 5:04 remaining in the opening quarter.
After the Generals drove into Salisbury territory but missed a 37-yard field goal early in the second quarter, the Sea Gulls capitalized. Salisbury marched 80 yards on eight plays, with Malachi Dokes punching it in from one yard out to give the Sea Gulls their first lead of the afternoon, 14-7, with 8:29 remaining in the half.
Washington and Lee responded with its longest drive of the afternoon, covering 75 yards on 20 plays and taking more than eight minutes off the clock. The Generals' extra-point attempt was blocked by Dylan Lyerly, and Tahmir Jones returned the blocked kick for two points, sending Salisbury into halftime with a 16-13 advantage.
The Sea Gulls opened the second half with a nine-play defensive stand before the offense struck quickly. On Salisbury's first scoring drive of the second half, McGowan connected with Dario Belizaire for a 67-yard touchdown, extending the lead to 23-13 with 7:53 remaining in the third quarter.
After forcing another Washington and Lee punt, Salisbury added another touchdown on a 10-play, 54-yard drive. Dokes finished the drive with his second one-yard touchdown run of the afternoon, pushing the advantage to 29-13 with 1:19 left in the third quarter.
The Sea Gulls continued to pull away in the fourth quarter. Dokes completed his three-touchdown afternoon with a seven-yard touchdown run at the 11:02 mark, capping an eight-play, 63-yard drive.
Salisbury's defense then forced an interception on the Generals' next possession, with Patrick Sheil coming down with his first interception of the season. The Sea Gulls immediately turned the turnover into points, as Brayden Rogers broke loose for a 45-yard touchdown run to make it 43-13 with 7:02 remaining.
The Sea Gull defense held Washington and Lee scoreless throughout the second half and stopped the Generals on fourth down on their final possession, allowing Salisbury to close out the 30-point victory.
Salisbury finished with 473 yards of total offense on just 54 plays, averaging 8.8 yards per play. The Sea Gulls rushed for 345 yards and averaged 7.8 yards per carry, while holding Washington and Lee to 341 total yards.
Game Notes
- Salisbury improved to 2-0 on the season with the 43-13 victory over Washington and Lee.
- The Sea Gulls finished with 473 yards of total offense, including 345 rushing yards and 128 passing yards. Salisbury averaged 8.8 yards per play.
- Salisbury's 345 rushing yards came on 44 attempts, an average of 7.8 yards per carry. The Sea Gulls recorded five rushing touchdowns.
- Belizaire led Salisbury with 90 rushing yards on seven carries and added four receptions for 112 yards and a touchdown. His 67-yard touchdown reception was the longest play from scrimmage for the Sea Gulls.
- McGowan completed six of 10 passes for 128 yards and a touchdown while adding 65 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown on 13 carries.
- Dokes scored three rushing touchdowns, finding the end zone from one yard twice and seven yards once.
- Brody Strachan added 62 rushing yards on just four carries, including a 35-yard run. D.J. Brown contributed 34 rushing yards on four attempts.
- Rogers scored on a 45-yard rushing touchdown on his only carry of the afternoon.
- Lyerly led the Salisbury defense with 12 tackles, while Nana Eshun-Baidoo, Tyler Ohlmeyer and Caden Bradford each recorded seven tackles.
- Sheil recorded an interception and six total tackles. The Sea Gull defense also recorded seven tackles for loss.
- Salisbury held Washington and Lee scoreless in the second half after the Generals entered halftime trailing just 16-13.
- The Sea Gulls converted six of eight third downs and went 4-for-4 in the red zone.
- Salisbury scored touchdowns on four consecutive possessions spanning the third and fourth quarters, turning a 16-13 halftime advantage into a 43-13 victory.
- Ryan Quick finished 5-for-6 on extra-point attempts and totaled five points for the Sea Gulls.
Salisbury returns to Sea Gull Stadium next Saturday, Sept. 26, when the Sea Gulls host Catholic University at 1 p.m. for Youth Day and the 40th Anniversary of the 1986 Football Team.
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, 26 individual national championships, and 211 conference championships, and have produced 54 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.
