Complete Game Notes (.pdf)

Washington & Jefferson (7-2, 6-1) at #13/18 Waynesburg (9-0, 7-0)

When: Saturday, Nov. 10, 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: Washington & Jefferson leads 36-3

First Meeting: 1897 – Washington & Jefferson 22-0

Last Meeting: 2011 – Washington & Jefferson 24-21

Things to Watch For
*- Saturday's clash between Waynesburg and Washington & Jefferson will determine who gets the Presidents' Athletic Conference's (PAC) automatic bid to the NCAA Division III national tournament. While the Yellow Jackets have already claimed a share of this year's conference title, a President win gives them an identical 7-1 PAC record and the head-to-head tie-breaker over Waynesburg.
 
*- While the Jackets have lost their last eight meetings with the Presidents, three of the last five meetings have been decided by a touchdown or less, including last year's 24-21 setback in Washington. The 2010 contest was an even closer affair which ended in overtime. With the score tied 24-24 at the end of regulation, W&J scored to go up 31-24, before Waynesburg responded with a touchdown of its own. The Presidents pulled out the 31-30 victory after turning away the home team's two-point conversion try.
 
*- Saturday's two participants come into their annual meeting nearly identical in terms of offensive numbers. Waynesburg holds a slight edge in scoring offense (25.7 ppg to 25.0), while W&J has been a little more proficient in moving the football (366.4 ypg to 333.6). On the other side of the ball, the Jackets look to have the edge defensively. Waynesburg leads the PAC in scoring defense (16.0 ppg), while the W&J ranks fourth (20.3 ppg). The Orange and Black also possesses an edge in total defense (283.4 ypg to 332.8).
 
*- If the Jackets want to snap their nearly decade-long losing streak to their geographical rivals, they might want to lean on the PAC's top rushing attack, which averages 207.6 ypg and has scored 16 touchdowns. That ground game could be potentially potent against a W&J defense that is yielding 145.8 ypg, the fourth-highest total in the conference. On the other side of the offensive coin, W&J will try to do most of its damage through the air. The Presidents enter Saturday with the third-ranked passing attack in the PAC (201.9 ypg). Waynesburg's defense has given up an average of 183.4 yards per game through the air.
 
*- Speaking of the Waynesburg rushing game, W&J will have to stop two of the best running backs in the PAC. Junior Bertrand Ngampa comes into his team's 2012 regular season finale with the PAC's second-highest rushing total (739). Ngampa has been hot as of late, having recorded at least 100 yards rushing and a touchdown in each of his last three games. While the Fairfax, Va. native provides the speed out of the backfield, senior Dominic Moore has built a reputation of pounding out tough yards through the middle of opposing defenses. Moore ranks sixth in the PAC rushing (635 yards) and has piled the second-most carries in the conference with 165 totes.
 
*- When it comes to slowing down the W&J attack, junior Alex Baroffio ranks second in the PAC in catches (63) for 511 yards. However, Baroffio isn't the only dangerous target at the disposal of starting quarterback Matt Bliss. Senior Hunter Creel's 530 yards on 39 catches ranks him fifth in the PAC. The man throwing the ball to Baroffio and Creel is no slouch himself when it comes to putting up gaudy offensive numbers. The junior has attempted the second-most passes in the conference (296), completed the second-most tries (176) and racked up the third-most yards through the air (1,706).
 
*- Both teams are also among the best in the PAC when it comes to special teams play. W&J boasts arguably the best kicker in the conference in junior Eric Eberle, who is the reigning PAC Special Teams Player of the Week. Eberle leads the team in field goals made (nine) and attempted (12). His 26 made extra points put him in a tie for second place in the conference and Eberle has missed just one try on the season. Waynesburg counters with perhaps the top punter in the PAC as senior Zack Rogers leads the conference in punting average (38.8 yards per punt). Eberle doubles as his team's punter and averages a very respectable 37.0 yards per attempt.
 
*- When it comes to the return game, the Jackets boast senior wide receiver Christian Jackson, who averages a PAC-best 32.1 yards per kickoff return. Jackson is also ranked second in punt return average (8.5). The Presidents are certainly not afraid to use their best talent in special teams either, as Baroffio and starting running back Dion Wiegand have both spent time in the return game.