Swallow excels for W & amp;J

The former West Branch High quartrback has impressive passing numbers.
By JOHN KOVACH
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
Although only a sophomore, Bobby Swallow of Salem is enjoying a banner season as a quarterback for the Washington & amp; Jefferson College football team that has lifted him into the national spotlight.
Swallow, a graduate of West Branch High, ranks No. 1 in the nation in NCAA Division III in passing efficiency with 185.74, ahead of Mike Jorris of Mount Union with 178.1.
And Swallow, who has completed 129 of 175 passes (73.78 percent) for 1,722 yards and 18 touchdowns with only four interceptions, also ranks No. 2 in the nation in all four NCAA divisions in passing efficiency -- just 3.26 behind No. 1 Colt Brennan of Div. I Hawaii (189.0).
Brennan is 275-for-380 (72.37 percent) for 3,753 yards. Jorris is 94-for-153 (61.4 percent) for 1,434 yards, 20 TDs and four interceptions.
In addition, Swallow's 73.78 completion percentage probably ranks No. 1 in the nation in all divisions.
It definitely is No. 1 in Div. I and Div. I-AA because the NCAA lists those percentages on its statistical charts, and the numbers can be compared.
And it probably also is at the top in Div. II and Div. III, although that cannot be confirmed because, for some unknown reason, the NCAA does not list completion percentages for those two divisions.
Leads W & amp;J into playoffs
And to cap Swallow's individual success, he has led W & amp;J of Washington, Pa., to a 9-1 record and into an NCAA Division III first-round playoff game today against Christopher Newport (Va.) (8-2) at noon at Pomoco Stadium in Newport News, Va.
W & amp;J, which won the Presidents' Athletic Conference championship, received an at-large bid into the playoffs.
The Presidents will be meeting Christopher Newport for the third time in the past five years in the playoffs, and hold a 2-0 lead in the series.
The Captains, meanwhile, earned the USA South Athletic Conference's automatic bid with a 6-1 league mark.
The winner will advance to play a second-round game on Nov. 25 against the Hardin Simmons-Mary Hardin-Baylor first-round winner.
W & amp;J wins 21st PAC title
Swallow, who also has rushed for 145 yards in 37 attempts and three TDs, led W & amp;J to its 21st PAC title on Nov. 11 in a 54-0 win over Bethany at the Bison's field for a perfect 6-0 record. He completed eight of 10 passes for 176 yards and two TDs.
W & amp;J, coached by Mike Sirianni, has won 19 of the last 23 PAC titles. Sirianni, a Mount Union College graduate, is in his fourth year at the helm. He is a former Mount Union player and assistant coach.
John Klein, a Cardinal Mooney High and Youngstown State graduate, is W & amp;J's defensive coordinator also in his fourth season. He formerly was an assistant coach at Westminster College.
Swallow had a lot of help in the win over Bethany. Senior running back Ryan Mendel rushed for 160 yards and scored four first-half TDs, while sophomore running back Kevin Mathews rushed for a career-high 91 yards.
And sophomore running back Josh Linton (Laurel High) scored his first career TD.
On defense, senior free safety Nick Cherish had two interceptions to move into first place on the school's all-time list with 14. And senior linebacker Aaron Bane led the defense for the third consecutive week with eight stops.
McKee helps on defense
W & amp;J has 12 Youngstown-area players in all on the roster this year, also including senior defensive back Gabe McKee (Hubbard) who ranks No. 8 on the team in tackles with 26 (13 solo stops and 26 assists).
Sophomore linebacker John Fahey (Boardman) has 8.5 tackles (seven solo stops and three assists), while freshman linebacker Thad Sollick (Beaver Local) has five (two solo stops and six assists).
Also on the W & amp;J roster are Steve Mort, junior offensive lineman from Hubbard; and Tyler Wilson, sophomore offensive lineman from Wilmington Area and freshmen Pat Holland, offensive lineman from Howland; Dave Castronova, linebacker from Austintown Fitch; Dan Kernich, linebacker from Beaver Local; Matt Srnec, running back-defensive back from Poland; and Mike Wamsley, defensive lineman from East Liverpool.
kovach@vindycom