Box Score

BETHANY, W.Va. (Sept. 27) – After falling behind 19-0 in the first half, the Waynesburg University football team clawed its way back into Saturday's Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) game at Bethany over the final two quarters of the contest. Unfortunately, the Yellow Jacket comeback try came up just short as a last-second touchdown try was intercepted in the end zone by the Bison defense and the Yellow Jackets suffered a gut wrenching 33-27 loss.
 
Bethany (3-1, 2-0) controlled the vast majority of the first half, but an interception by Waynesburg (3-1, 1-1) junior safety Mike Lopuchovsky at the end of quarter number two saved his team from further damage. That play seemed to spark the visiting team, who received the second-half kickoff and was finally able to break through the Bison defense.
 
A 44-yard run by senior running back Jake Forsythe moved the ball to the Bison 33-yard-line. A pair of Bethany penalties pushed the ball to the nine, where senior Carter Hill was able to break up the shutout with a nine-yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Andrew English. Unfortunately, the extra-point attempt was no good, but the comeback try was officially on for Jackets, who trailed 19-6.
 
Waynesburg's defense responded to the efforts of their offensive counterparts by forcing the Bison to go three-and-out and punt the ball away. The Jackets regained possession at their own 13-yard-line.
 
Despite less-than-optimal field position, Waynesburg was able to strike pay dirt for a second-straight possession. The Jackets traversed 87 yards in 12 plays, the last of which was a two-yard touchdown pass from Hill to sophomore fullback Jake DiGuilio with just under 6:30 left to play in the third. Junior kicker Scott Lewis tacked on the extra point to cut the Bison advantage to 19-13.
 
Bethany slowed down the Orange and Black momentum with a touchdown on the ensuing drive, but the Jackets were able to answer with a third-straight touchdown possession and this one was their shortest of the game. After taking the ball at the Bethany 30, Hill misfired on a pass to English. On the next play, Forsythe broke through the line of scrimmage and showed his speed by racing 70 yards for a score. Another Lewis extra point brought the Jacket deficit back to a single touchdown at 26-20.
 
The Bison defense was finally able to slow down the resurgent Waynesburg offense and the home team went to the game's final period with a one-score lead. The home team doubled that advantage to 33-20 with a score on its first possession of the fourth quarter. However, the Yellow Jackets were able to respond yet again to the Bison challenge.
 
Waynesburg traversed 71 yards over 10 plays during its first drive of the fourth quarter. The Jackets were aided by a pair of Bison penalties, one on third down that gave the visiting team a first down and the other on fourth-and-long that gave Waynesburg a second chance to keep the drive rolling. Senior running back Willie Leavell nearly scored on a 17-yard run from the Bethany 19-yard-line, before Forsythe picked up the final two yards on his second scoring run of the day. That touchdown brought about the eventual final score of 33-27, but the action was far from over.
 
Bethany drove the ball on its next possession all the way to the Waynesburg 26-yard-line, but the Jacket defense came up with back-to-back tackles for loss before the Bison decided to punt and pin the visiting team back at its own 18.
 
The Jackets worked the ball down to the Bethany 19-yard-line, where the drive seemed to stall. However, the home team was hit with a personal foul penalty that gave Waynesburg new life with a first down at the Bison 10. Unfortunately, Hill was intercepted in the end zone with no time left on the clock and the Green and White could celebrate the victory.
 
Though it came in a loss, Forsythe put together a third-straight 100-plus-yard, multi-touchdown performance. He did it in dominant fashion by piling up 23 carries for 183 yards and two touchdowns. His efforts accounted for almost all of Waynesburg's 200 rushing yards on the day.
 
Hill threw for 235 yards and two touchdowns in the loss, with English pulling in six grabs for 80 yards. Senior Bernie Thompson led all Jackets with seven receptions for 48 yards.
 
 Lopuchovsky led the Waynesburg defense with a game-high 12 tackles and an interception. Eight other Jacket defenders notched at least six tackles each.
 
The Jackets suffered the loss despite a sizeable advantage in time of possession (33:30 to 26:30). They also got a major boost from 12 Bethany penalties that awarded the visiting team an extra 109 yards.
 
Waynesburg will try to shake off the disappointment of Saturday's loss as it prepares for a road game at Bethany on Saturday, Oct. 4. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m.