Box Score The Washington-St. Louis defense came up with a critical stop on 4th and 2 from its own 33-yard line with one minute remaining. The result was an 18-13 win over the host, Denison Big Red, from Deeds Field-Piper Stadium in Granville.
After a 29-yard field goal from Matt Puracchio with 5:31 left in the fourth quarter trimmed the Bears lead to five, the Denison defense took over needing a quick stop to give the DU offense a chance.
Washington managed a quick first down, but on 3rd and 4 from their own 47-yard line, junior defensive tackle Winters Heafey burst through the line and sacked Bears quarterback Eric Daginella for a 5-yard loss, forcing a punt.
Denison took over on its own 39-yard line and came out guns blazing. On first down wide receiver Braden Layer got the ball off a reverse and passed to freshman wide receiver DuShawn Brown for a 20-yard gain down to the Wash U. 41-yard line.
Two rushes by Max Paulus and an incompletion on third down had the Big Red faced with a 4th and 2 situation. Big Red workhorse Sam Fioroni got the carry and lunged for the first down. It forced a measurement and when the chain pulled tight the Big Red were two links short. Wash U. regained possession and took a knee to run out the clock.
Denison's offense was led all afternoon by the trio of Layer, Fioroni and Paulus. Layer hauled in a career-high 11 passes for a career-high 117 yards. This marked the second 100-yard receiving game for Layer.
Fioroni toted the ball 25 times for 131 yards. It was the fifth 100-yard rushing game of the season for the senior and the 12th 100-yard rushing game of his career. In 36 games Fioroni has rushed for 2,468 yards.
Paulus attempted 35 passes and completed 22 for 168 yards and one touchdown. The scoring strike came on a 34-yard TD pass to Layer in the third quarter that cut the Bears lead to 15-10. Purrachio accounted for Denison's remaining six points off field goals from 21-yards and 29-yards out.
Denison's defense was led by Alex Sycher, Eric Conrad and Joel Elliott who all posted eight tackles.
For Wash U. Daginella threw for 197 yards and two touchdowns while Chris Castelluccio carried the ball 18 times for 59 yards. On defense, Peter Lowery led the way with 13 tackles. Andrew Skalman provided the big play of the first half when he intercepted Paulus in the end zone late in the second quarter.
Washington improves to 2-5 while Denison's record drops to 2-5. The Big Red will host Wittenberg University next Saturday (Oct. 27) at 7 p.m.
