GROVE CITY, Pa. (Oct. 1) – The Waynesburg University football team traveled to Grove City on Saturday in search of its first win of 2016. As Saturday's Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) game wore on to its conclusion, one thing became abundantly clear: the Yellow Jacket defense was going to do everything possible to secure that first victory. Powered by its front seven, Waynesburg dominated the GCC offensive line to the tune of a 14-10 triumph.
 
The Jackets (1-4, 1-2) assaulted the Wolverine (0-5, 0-3) backfield with 11.0 tackles for loss and a season-high 8.0 sacks. Saturday marked the third time this year that Waynesburg has piled up at least 11 tackles for loss. The last time the Orange and Black went for eight sacks was back on Sept. 22, 2007. Ironically the opponent that day was Grove City.
 
After receiving the opening kickoff, Waynesburg's offense turned the ball over on downs. The Jacket defense set the tone for its day by recording its first tackle for loss en route to forcing the Wolverines into a punting situation.
 
Freshman Mike Krenn, one of several rookies making an impact in their first year with the Waynesburg special teams, took the kick and returned it 30 yards. That play, combined with a 10-yard illegal block penalty, gave the Jackets possession at the GCC 20-yard-line.
 
It took six plays to accomplish, but the visiting team struck pay dirt when sophomore quarterback Tyler Perone hooked up with senior wide receiver Kevin Barnes, Jr., from nine yards out for the touchdown. Freshman Mike Ryhal connected on his first extra point attempt of the day to make the score 7-0.
 
The Jackets maintained their advantage for the remainder of the first half, but Grove City was able to get its own offense moving for 10 points in the third quarter. Trailing 10-7 and struggling to move the football, head coach Rick Shepas and offensive coordinator Chris Smithley turned to the bench for a spark.
 
Waynesburg's final drive of the third quarter started at its own 30-yard-line with freshman quarterback Aaron Jenkins at the controls of the offense. Jenkins took over the position to start the second half, but was unable to produce any points in the period.
 
That all changed early in the fourth, when Jenkins guided his team on a 10-play, 70-yard drive that yielded the game's final points. Jenkins completed both of his pass attempts, as well as a third that was nullified by a penalty, for 55 yards, one of which traveled 43 yards to Barnes.
 
Jenkins also ran the ball three times for 10 yards. The last of those carries came from one yard out for the eventual game-winning score. Ryhal's second PAT brought about the eventual final score of 14-10 early in the fourth quarter.
 
Waynesburg looked poised to add to its advantage, when senior defensive back Zach Sniadach intercepted a pass and ran it all the way back to the Wolverine nine. Unfortunately, the Jacket offense was kept out of the end zone and an eventual Ryhal field goal attempt was blocked by the home team.
 
As the final period wore down to its conclusion, Grove City possessed the football at its own 12-yard-line with 1:47 left in the game. The home team got as far down field as the Waynesburg 40, but sophomore John-Glen Davis was able to knock down a last-gasp effort at victory in the end zone to preserve the Jacket win.
 
Junior linebackers Tristan Sandrosky and Brent Blacharczyk paced the Jacket defense with 13 and 10 tackles, respectively. Those were the top two tackle totals on the day. Sandrosky notched 2.0 tackles for loss on the afternoon.
 
Davis's knock down in the end zone was the capper of a fine effort by the Waynesburg native that included eight tackles, five of which were solo stops. Senior Aniellio DeStefano and junior Brad Grinnen, both on the defensive line, notched seven total tackles each. Grinnen recorded three sacks on the day, while DeStefano worked for 2.5 quarterback hits.
 
Perone got the start at quarterback and completed 10-of-18 passes for 102 yards, a touchdown and no interceptions. Jenkins combined 55 yards passing on two completions with a team-high 61 yards rushing and a score on eight totes. Barnes pulled in four catches for 73 yards, while freshman wide receiver Freshman wide receiver Ta'Vaughn Johnson combined three receptions for 48 yards with two kick returns for 57 yards.
 
Saturday's win not only gave Waynesburg its first of 2016, but also ended a six-game losing streak that stretches back to the 2015 campaign. It also snapped a seven-game road skid that began back on Sept. 12, 2015.
 
The Jackets return to John F. Wiley Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 8, for homecoming. Waynesburg will go for its first two-game winning streak since October of 2014. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.