Complete Game Notes (.pdf)

Westminster (3-3, 2-3) at #25/23 Waynesburg (8-0, 6-0)

When: Saturday, Oct. 27, 2012

Where: Waynesburg, Pa. (John F. Wiley Stadium)

Radio: 99.5-FM WCYJ (Webcast can be heard at www.waynesburgsports.com)

Series Breakdown
All-Time Series: Westminster leads 37-30-3

First Meeting: 1910 – Westminster 17-0

Last Meeting: 2011 – Westminster 22-20

Things to Watch For
*- Saturday's clash between Waynesburg Westminster matches strength on strength both, offensively and defensively. The Titans and Yellow Jackets rank one-two in the Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) in rushing offense (204.2 ypg, 201.5 ypg, respectively), while the Jackets are first in rush defense (99.6 ypg) and Titans are third (115.8 ypg).
 
*- Conversely, both teams have struggled in passing the ball as Westminster ranks fifth in the PAC in yardage per game (158.2 ypg), while Waynesburg's 111.5 ypg ranks ninth in the conference. However, if there was a game for the Jackets to get their aerial attack going, it may be on Saturday. Westminster ranks last in the conference in pass defense (222.3 ypg). The Titans' passing attack could also be in for a good day, as Waynesburg ranks seventh against the pass (191.1 ypg).
 
*- Few teams in the PAC have been as hard to score against as Waynesburg and Westminster. Despite coming off back-to-back games against the top two scoring teams in the league (Bethany and Geneva), the Jackets have still given up the fewest points in the conference (16.0 ppg). The Titans are not far behind in third place (18.0 ppg).
 
*- The Yellow Jackets' experiences these past two weeks also featured defending the PAC's top two performers in terms of total offense in junior quarterbacks Matt Grimard of Bethany (one) and Zack Hayward of Geneva (two). Waynesburg's defense will have to prepare itself once again for a dynamic playmaker in Westminster junior quarterback Dak Britt. This year, the first-year transfer has rushed for 475 yards and passed for 902 yards, while scoring six total touchdowns. Britt is coming off his best showing of the year, going for 160 yards rushing and two touchdowns on the ground, while also throwing for 150 yards and two more scores. For his efforts, he was named PAC Offensive Player of the Week.
 
*- Waynesburg will do its best to pressure Britt when he goes to the air, as the Jackets come into this week ranked second in the PAC in sacks (20). Westminster has done a fine job of protecting its signal-caller, giving up just 13 sacks this year, which is good enough to put them in a tie for second in the PAC. However, no one in the conference, and very few teams in the country, have been as good at keeping a quarterback vertical as the Yellow Jackets, whose four sacks given up rank them seventh in Division III. Opposing defenses have also only gained 16 yards of field position off those sacks.
 
*- While the two teams seem almost identical when it comes to offense and defense, there are some differences when it comes to special teams. Led by senior Christian Jackson, who is on top of the PAC punt return and kick return average rankings, Waynesburg leads the conference in kick return average (26.3 ypg), while Westminster is listed in the seventh (17.6 ypg). The two teams are much more even in terms of punt return yardage (Waynesburg fourth at 10.1 ypg, Westminster fifth at 7.7 ypg).
 
*- Sticking with special teams, Waynesburg boast's the conference's top punter in Zack Rogers (39.6 yards per punt). The Jackets are also tops in net punt average (34.6 yards per punt). Westminster, on the other hand, comes into Saturday's game ranked seventh in the league (28.3 yards per punt). When it comes to the kickers, both teams feature first-year players in Westminster freshman Zach Baker and Waynesburg junior Alex Henry. Both kickers have made three field goals this year, with Baker taking six attempts and Henry posting eight tries. They have also been the two most reliable PAT performers in 2012, as both standouts are 20-for-20 on the year and are the only PAC kickers in the league rankings to not miss an extra-point try this fall.
 
*- The Waynesburg offense will need to keep an eye on Westminster senior linebacker Derrick Orloski, who leads all players in Saturday's game with an 8.7 tackle per game average.  Westminster, on the other hand, will need to keep tabs on the number 55 jersey that belongs to junior defensive end Brandon Fedorka. The two-sport start, he is also a national qualifier in wrestling, leads the team in ranks third in the PAC in sacks (7.0) and tackles for loss (11.0).
 
*- One major advantage that Westminster has, statistically, is in the turnover margin. The Titans are a plus-one in turnovers, while Waynesburg comes in with a less-than-admirable minus-six rating. However, turnover margin hasn't played a major role in determining this year's PAC champion favorites, as Waynesburg lead the PAC with its perfect 8-0 record (6-0 in league play) and number-two Washington & Jefferson is doing only slightly better than the Yellow Jackets (6-2, 5-1) at a minus-five.
 
*- This week's most interesting trivia fact has to do with the two expected starting quarterbacks. Waynesburg sophomore quarterback Carter Hill and Westminster's Dak Britt both wore the same uniform before winding up in the PAC. Both signal-callers spent time with the Division II Tiffin Dragons. Britt committed to Tiffin in 2009, but transferred and played two years at Notre Dame of Ohio in 2010 and 2011. He returned to Tiffin in the 2012 preseason before finally settling in at Westminster.  Hill's college football journey has had fewer twists and turns. He joined the Dragons in 2011 and played in eight games as a true freshman, before trading out the Green and Gold for the Orange and Black.