• Box Score

BETHANY, W.Va. (Oct. 13) – Behind a tough defensive attack on Saturday, the Yellow Jackets are off to their first 6-0 start of a season since the 1967 campaign after a 45-7 victory over Bethany College on Saturday afternoon at Bethany Field in Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) action.

The Waynesburg University defense limited the Bison offense to only five first downs and 113 yards of total offense. The Yellow Jackets virtually eliminated the nationally-ranked Bethany rushing game, allowing the Bison only 24 yards on the ground. Bethany entered the game ranked in top 25 of the country with an average of 237.4 yards/game.

The Yellow Jackets boasted a balanced scoring attack as three players each scored two touchdowns: freshman wide receiver Ray Hightower II, freshman running back Robert Heller and senior running back Jamelle Price.

Waynesburg took an early 7-0 lead with 10:22 left in the opening quarter with a 20-yard touchdown scamper by Heller, who finished the game with 130 yards on 29 attempts. The drive was set up by an interception by senior linebacker Brendon Steele at the Bethany 31-yard line.

Price expanded the lead to 14-0 with a 1-yard touchdown plunge for his first career score with 12:55 remaining until halftime. Heller gave the Yellow Jackets a 21-0 lead in the final minute of the second period when he scored from the Bison 8-yard line.

The Waynesburg defense opened the second half with a turnover on the first play of the Bethany drive, as senior cornerback Jacques Newberry intercepted a Milton Joyner pass near midfield and returned it back to the Bethany 33-yard line. The Yellow Jackets converted the interception into points on a 24-yard touchdown pass from freshman quarterback Kyle Kyper to Hightower, 28-0, with 13:38 left in the third quarter.

Kyper and Hightower connected for another score, a 24-yard strike, on the following Waynesburg possession, 35-0.

Kyper completed 8-of-13 attempts for 132 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions, while Hightower finished with three receptions for 51 yards and two scores.

The Yellow Jackets increased their lead at the 5:09-mark when sophomore kicker Kyle McBride nailed a 35-yard field goal, a career long.

Bethany avoided the shutout with a 31-yard touchdown pass from Joyner to sophomore receiver Matt Cruse with 2:30 left in the third quarter.

Waynesburg scored its final touchdown of the game early in the fourth quarter with a 4-yard touchdown run by Price.

The Yellow Jacket defense was paced by nine tackles (eight solo) from sophomore safety Ryan Krull. Senior defensive end Mike Czerwien, who entered the game leading the country in sacks, finished with six stops (five solo), 3.5 TFL and two sacks.

Waynesburg returns home to John F. Wiley Stadium next Saturday, Oct. 20, with a 1:30 p.m. kickoff against Thiel College. The Yellow Jackets hold a 14-3 lead in the series against the Tomcats since joining the PAC in 1990.