Junior wide receiver Ray Hightower II was one of several Jackets who enjoyed productive days against Bethany on Saturday. He pulled in five catches for 103 yards and three touchdowns in the 52-13 win.
Box Score
WAYNESBURG, Pa. (Oct. 24) – The Waynesburg University football team ended a two-game losing streak in style by blowing out Bethany 52-13 at John F. Wiley Stadium on Saturday.
The win was the first in the Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) for the Yellow Jackets this season, as they move to 1-2 in the conference and 4-3 overall. The Bison fell to 2-5 on the year and 1-4 in conference play.
The Jackets enjoyed their best first-half performance of the season, which got started with a 21-0 first quarter. Less than two minutes in, junior quarterback Brad Dawson hooked up with fellow junior Ray Hightower II on a 20-yard scoring strike. The first of seven Jon Storck extra points put the home team up 7-0.
Less than five minutes later, junior running back Billy Becker got into the action with a seven-yard scoring run. Another Storck kick made it 14-0 Jackets. Waynesburg's last opening-period touchdown came on a spectacular diving catch from wide receiver Brent Heckel from 26 yards out that made it 20-0 before Storck's extra point.
Up 21-0 after 15 minutes, Waynesburg continued to pour it on in the second. With 13:39 to go before halftime, Storck nailed a 43-yard field goal, but it was negated by a Jacket penalty. The freshman from Smyrna, Del., responded by setting a new personal collegiate best with a 48-yard boot that put the home team ahead 24-0.
Two minutes later, Waynesburg's Matt Czulewicz blocked a Dan Pegg punt, and junior Eric Wisler recovered it at the Bethany 17-yard line. It only took the Jackets two plays to cash in, as Becker picked up a 10-yard touchdown run that increased his team's lead to 31-0 with 11:47 to go in the second.
The Jackets made it 38-0 on another Dawson to Hightower hookup, this one from 26 yards out.
Comfortably ahead as the second half got underway, head coach Rick Shepas started to sprinkle in his reserves, but still managed to increase his team's lead.
Dawson and Hightower stung the Bison one last time before calling it a day, as the junior connection struck from 19 yards out to end a seven-play, 65-yard drive with 10:29 to go in the third. Storck's kick made it 45-0.
After Bethany finally broke up the shutout on a long Pegg to Matt Cruse touchdown (45-6), sophomore running back Jamelle Bowers scampered in from 24 yards out to put the Jackets up 51-6 with just under five minutes to go in the third. Storck's PAT ended the scoring for the Jackets at 52-6.
As one would guess from the final score, Waynesburg dominated the game statistically. They out-gained Bethany 482 to 346, out-rushed their opponents 298 to 142 and won the turnover battle 3-0. The 298 yards on the ground was Jackets' top rushing effort of the season.
Though Dawson was afforded the luxury of a short day of work, he still filled up the stat sheet by completing 10-of-14 passes for 184 yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions. Hightower was his top target as he pulled in five balls for 103 yards and a season-high three touchdowns.
Becker led the ground attack with a game-high 129 yards on just 11 carries to go along with his two touchdowns.
The Bison were led by the trio of Pegg, Cruse and running back Eric Walker. Pegg connected on 22-of-40 attempts for199 yards and two touchdowns. Cruse caught a game-high six passes for 94 yards and a score, while Walker piled up 110 yards on 15 totes.
Junior linebacker Troy Cree led the Waynesburg defense with nine tackles, including eight solo hits. Safety Nelson Mitzen had a game-high 11 tackles, including six solo stops.
Waynesburg will look to start a conference winning streak next week, when they travel to Grove City to face the Wolverines.
