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Despite a strong showing by the defense, the Bearcat football team lost by a score of 21-3 to visiting Washington & Jefferson College, a team ranked 16th in the nation.

Adam Indof, making his first start of the season in the secondary, led the Bearcats with 14 tackles, helping to keep the high-powered Presidents' offense to their lowest point total of the season.

With the win, Washington & Jefferson is now 8-0, 5-0 in the Presidents' Athletic Conference, while the Bearcats drop to 2-6, with a conference record of 1-5.

W&J's Omar Whiting returned the opening kickoff 42 yards near midfield, but the SVC defense forced a three-and-out.  After the W&J defense returned the favor, the visitors took over at the Bearcat 41 and drove to the end zone in five plays, capped by a Justin Vickless 4-yard scoring run.  The point after made it 7-0 with 10:16 left in the first quarter.

On the second play of the next drive, Aaron Austin completed a pass to Damon Black Jr for 23 yards, and later connected again with Black for 12 yards to move the ball to the Presidents' 41.  Jhanard Dorsett then broke free down the sideline for a 25 yard run, but the drive stalled at the 18.  Sam Elliott came on and hit a 35-yard field goal to make it a 7-3 game.

The visitors answered right back, covering 75 yards in 9 plays, as Jacob Adams threw a 34-yard strike to Jesse Zubik in the end zone, increasing the lead to 14-3 late in the first quarter.

The second quarter was a defensive battle on both sides, as neither team was able to score.  Near the end of the second, W&J had the best scoring opportunity of the quarter, getting a first-and-goal at the SVC 3-yard line after an 11-yard rush by Jordan West.  The Bearcat defense held on three straight plays, forcing a field goal attempt that hit the upright, leaving the score at 14-3 at the half.

On their second drive of the third quarter, the visitors drove 44 yards in 9 plays for their third touchdown of the game, this one a Matt Heslin run from two yards out, to take a 21-3 lead.

The Bearcats were unable to move the ball on their next drive, but Christian Witchey backed up W&J with a 67-yard punt, all the way to the Presidents' 9-yard line.  The drive, which carried over into the fourth quarter, eventually moved to the Bearcat 27, but Indof forced a fumble that the Bearcats recovered, ending the threat.

From there, it was again a defensive battle, as neither team was able to score, ending the contest at 21-3.

Saint Vincent was led offensively by Austin, who completed 14 of 26 passes for 69 yards.  Black caught 8 for 47 yards.  Dorsett carried the ball 13 time for 43.

Adams was 15-22 through the air for W&J for 172 yards, with Zubik catching 8 passes for 104.  On the ground, West carried the ball 26 times for 90 yards, while EJ Thompson had 13 carries for 75.

Defensively, after Indof's 13 tackles, Cameron Mack was next on the scoresheet with 10, while Jean Cherilus had 9.  Luke Merhaut led the Presidents with 10. 

Overall, W&J had 349 yards of total offense while Saint Vincent had 163.

Saint Vincent will be on the road on Saturday, November 4, facing Waynesburg University at 1PM.