• Box Score

BEAVER FALLS, Pa. (Oct. 18) – Last year, Waynesburg's 24-17 overtime loss to Geneva was one of the most thrilling games on the Yellow Jackets' schedule.

This year's rematch in Beaver Falls was even more than a worthy sequel..

The 2008 edition of the Waynesburg vs. Geneva contest included three lead changes, a kick return for a touchdown, and a third different Yellow Jacket running back going over 100 yards rushing, all during a 34-28 Jacket win.

The win was Waynesburg's third in a row and improved their overall record to 4-2. Geneva fell to 1-4.

The Golden Tornadoes won the coin toss and marched down the field on an 11-play, 59-yard drive to get the game started. However, kick Nick DiPietro could not connect on a 23-yard field goal following the drive that took 5:41.

After taking possession of the ball, the Jackets responded with an 11-play, 67-yard drive that culminated in a Bryan Arbes field goal from 30 yards away that put the Jackets up 3-0 with 6:27 left in the first quarter.

On the ensuing Geneva drive, the Waynesburg defense forced a turnover on downs deep in Tornado territory. From there, the Jackets put together a three-play, seven-yard drive that culminated in a one-yard touchdown run by sophomore running back Billy Becker.

After the first quarter came to a close, Geneva trimmed the Waynesburg lead to 10-7 on a four-yard touchdown run by Gerard Muschett.

The Jackets extended their lead back to 10 points (17-7) when the team's most exciting player, junior defensive back and return specialist Scott Cree, took the ensuing kickoff and returned it 74 yards for a touchdown. It was the second kick return for a touchdown on the season by Cree. 

The Waynesburg native also has two punt returns for touchdowns and an interception return for a score.

Trailing by ten, Geneva brought the game back into reach just before halftime as quarterback David Girardi hooked up with A.J. Delmonico on a two-yard touchdown pass to cap a nine-play, 48-yard drive.

The home team took their one-and-only lead of the game early in the third quarter when Luke Duriancik hauled in a 25-yard touchdown pass from Girardi to put the Tornadoes ahead 20-17. DiPietro's extra point extended the lead to 21-17.

After a 42-yard field goal by Arbes trimmed Geneva's lead to 21-20 with 8:05 left in the third quarter, Waynesburg regained the lead in the fourth quarter.

On the team's first drive of the period, starting quarterback Brad Dawson hit junior receiver Josh Fisher with a 46-yard touchdown pass to put Waynesburg back on top 26-21. Another Arbes extra point extended the Jacket lead to 27-21.

The Jackets put the game away for good at the 3:13 mark when Dawson ran in his first rushing touchdown of the season from 38 yards out, putting the Yellow Jackets up 33-21. Arbes' final extra point of the night ran the score to 34-21.

Geneva was able to cut the lead down to a single score at the 1:33 mark of the fourth when Girardi picked up his third touchdown pass of the game by hooking up with Delmonico on a 25-yard scoring strike.

The Golden Tornadoes needed to recover the ensuing onside kick, but the ball was recovered by the visitors, who were able to run out the rest of the clock.

Though he didn't find the end zone, freshman running back Justin Falcon recorded his first collegiate 100-yard rushing game by picking up a game-high 118 yards on 22 carries. Falcon, a graduate of nearby Jefferson-Morgan High School, is the third different Waynesburg running back to go over 100 yards on the season.

Though he threw a pair of interceptions, his first picks in three weeks, and only completed five-of-17 passes, Dawson picked his play up when it mattered most, scoring both of his two touchdowns in the fourth quarter.

On the night, the Pittsburgh native threw for 95 yards, and rushed for another 47.

Senior defensive lineman DJ DeWitt led the Jacket defense with eight total tackles on the day, including six solo stops. Three different Waynesburg defenders recorded sacks in the game, and seven different players had tackles for loss.

The victors held a huge advantage on the ground, out-rushing their hosts 191-48. However, the home team made up for it in the air, where they out-gained Waynesburg 271-95.

Geneva quarterback David Girardi completed 21-of-30 pass attempts for 271 yards, three touchdowns and one interception.

The Yellow Jackets will try to extend their winning streak to four games next week when they hit the road for a Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) contest at Bethany.