• Box Score

BEAVER FALLS, Pa. (Nov. 3) – Trailing 17 points at halftime, the Yellow Jackets rallied to even the score in the third quarter at 17-17 before losing to Geneva College in overtime, 24-17, at Reeves Field on Saturday afternoon.

With its second-straight loss, Waynesburg University falls to 7-2 on the season, while the Golden Tornadoes improve to 7-2 overall.

The Yellow Jackets evened the contest at 17-17 with 1:48 left in the third quarter on a 35-yard field goal by sophomore kicker Kyle McBride.

Geneva looked to end the game in regulation with the ball at Yellow Jackets' 30-yard line. However on third down, sophomore outside linebacker Matt Offutt registered the critical interception with 47 seconds remaining in regulation.

On the first play of overtime, senior quarterback Bobby Bondi scrambled 20 yards before the Golden Tornadoes took a 24-17 lead with a 5-yard touchdown run by senior Gabe Gordon.

The Yellow Jackets were faced with a fourth-and-five at the 20-yard line on their overtime possession before junior quarterback Andy Lauterbach connected with freshman wide receiver Ray Hightower II for a first down. Waynesburg later faced a fourth-and-one situation only to incur a false start penalty. On the ensuing play, the Yellow Jacket pass fell incomplete.

Lauterbach completed 10-of-31 attempts for 137 yards with an interception in the game with Hightower II posting four receptions for 59 yards.

The Yellow Jackets finished the game with 173 rushing yards against a Golden Tornadoes' defense that allowed only 70.9 rushing yards/game. Freshman running back Robert Heller finished the game with 113 yards and a touchdown on 36 carries, while Lauterbach added 52 rushing yards on 12 attempts.

Heller put Waynesburg on the scoreboard with a 20-yard score with 8:50 left in the third quarter, 17-7. The Yellow Jackets continued to cut into the deficit on their next possession with a 1-yard touchdown plunge by senior fullback Aaron Davis following a 41-yard completion from Lauterbach to Hightower II.

The Waynesburg defense forced five three-and-outs in the third-quarter comeback. Late in the third, the Yellow Jackets recorded a punt block by junior wide receiver Andy Hodanich with sophomore defensive back Dylan August recovering the loose ball at the Geneva 17-yard line. Waynesburg converted the punt block into points with the 35-yard field goal by McBride.

Senior defensive end and All-American candidate Mike Czerwien finished the game with 12 tackles (eight solo) with 3.5 tackles for loss (TFL) and two sacks. Senior linebacker Brendon Steele and sophomore safety Ryan Krull each posted 12 stops with Steele registering an interception and a pass break-up.

Waynesburg concludes its regular season on Saturday, Nov. 10, with a 1:30 p.m. kickoff against Westminster College at John F. Wiley Stadium. The game will mark the final home game for 18 Yellow Jacket seniors

Notes:
The game featured 23 total penalties accounting for 220 yards… The two teams also combined for 23 punts, including a career-long punt of 71 yards by sophomore Nate Feniello, one yard shy of the school record … Freshman wide receiver Kory Jackson left the game via ambulance in the first quarter with an injury.