Box Score

WAYNESBURG, Pa. (Sept. 21) – Last year, the Waynesburg University defense led the Yellow Jackets to a 10-1 record, a share of the Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) title and a win in the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC) South West Bowl. That same defense had taken a back seat to an explosive offensive attack that pushed Waynesburg to a 2-0 overall record in 2013.
 
With heavy rains soaking everyone gathered at John F. Wiley Stadium during Saturday's PAC opener against Saint Vincent, the stage seemed set for the gritty, hard-hitting Jacket defense to regain its dominant form. The Waynesburg defenders did that, as they recovered two fumbles and intercepted their first pass of the year in a 23-6 win over the Bearcats.
 
Things didn't start well for the Yellow Jackets (3-0), as Saint Vincent (0-2) took the opening kickoff and used a 63-yard pass play to take a 6-0 lead just 1:31 into the first quarter. Those were the last points given up by the Jackets on the day, but the Bearcat defenders were able to maintain their team's slim advantage throughout the remainder of the first quarter.
 
Finally, halfway through the second period, the Waynesburg offense found the end zone and got on its way to victory. The Yellow Jackets started their second drive of the quarter at the Bearcat 46-yard line thanks to a shanked punt. The Jackets put together a well-balanced possession that featured three running plays and three passing play. The final snap of the drive featured junior quarterback Carter Hill delivering a 14-yard touchdown pass to junior wide receiver Andrew English. The duo's third scoring hookup of 2013, combined with a successful extra point try by senior Alex Henry, put the home team up 7-6 with 7:48 remaining in the first half.
 
The Jackets maintained their one-point advantage into the third quarter, when the defenses again took center stage for the first 10 minutes of the second half. After battling through the Green and Yellow defense, as well as the sloppy weather conditions, Waynesburg added to its lead just a few minutes before the start of the fourth.  Hill took center stage on the drive by completing all four of his pass attempts for 33 yards and rushing for nine more of the first play of the possession. After hooking up with English for 20 yards to drive the ball deep into Bearcat territory, Hill put the finishing touches on his second touchdown drive of the day by drilling a nine-yard scoring strike to senior tight end Mike Ferraro. Henry had a PAT blocked for the first time as a collegiate kicker, which kept the score at 13-6.
 
Waynesburg's defense forced Saint Vincent into a three-and-out situation deep into the opposition's side of the field. After taking the ensuing punt back to the Bearcat 40, the Jackets drove the ball to the 15-yard line, which set Henry up for a 33-yard field goal that pushed the home team's lead to 16-6 just five seconds into the fourth-and-final quarter.
 
The Jacket defense stifled the opposing offense yet again on the ensuing possession and after another Bearcat punt, this one being returned 18 yards by junior wide receiver Bernie Thompson, Waynesburg set up at the Saint Vincent 25-yard line with a chance to put the game away. Junior Jerry Lawman did the honors by taking a Hill handoff, slashing through defenders and racing 20 yards for the final score of the game. Henry's successful PAT try pushed the Orange and Black's advantage to 23-6 with just under 12 minutes left in the contest.
 
The Jacket defense didn't let up down the home stretch and Saint Vincent managed just a punt and a turnover on downs on its final two possessions. Waynesburg, meanwhile, was able to go deep into its bench to provide valuable offensive touches for players ranging in experience from senior Thomas Paulone to freshmen Connor Durko and Jared Becker.
 
A wide variety of Waynesburg defenders stood out on the dreary afternoon. Junior linebacker Danny Morgan and junior defensive lineman J.T. Thompson both recorded a team-high seven tackles in the victory. Senior defensive end Brandon Fedorka recorded his team-leading fourth sack in the win and recorded two fumbles early in the game, while senior linebacker Aaron D'Amore picked off his first interception as a Yellow Jacket.
 
The Jacket defense gave up a season-low 225 yards of total offense and improved its season turnover margin to a plus-six with two fumble recoveries and an interception. Saint Vincent was also held to just three successful third-down conversions in 15 tries.
 
Along with the defense's return to last year's form, the Waynesburg rushing attack looked more like the 2012 edition that averaged over 200 yards per game on the ground. Seven different Jacket running backs combined for 205 yards on 39 carries. Lawman led the charge with a game-high 67 yards and a score on 12 carries. Paulone added 56 yards on the ground, while junior Jake Forsythe chipped in 50 yards on 11 totes.
 
Hill was held to a season-low 131 yards passing, but was highly efficient in the win. The junior completed 20-of-29 attempts, tossed his seventh and eighth touchdown passes of 2013, and posted his third-straight interception-free game of the campaign. English and Ferraro both snagged a team-high four catches and a touchdown through the rain drops, while English piled up a team-high 57 yards.
 
With its defense rounding back into form, Waynesburg begins its preparations for its toughest test to date in 2013, which is a road trip to Thomas More on Saturday, Sept. 28. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.