Complete Games Notes (.pdf)
 
Waynesburg University (2-5, 2-3) at Thiel College (2-5, 1-4)
 
When: Saturday, Oct. 29, 2016, 7 p.m.
 
Where: Greenville, Pa. (Alumni Stadium at Stoeber Field)
 
Radio: WCYJ-FM - 99.5, Webcast can be heard at http://vp.telvue.com/player?id=T01595&video=23812
 
Live Video: https://boxcast.tv/view/football---thiel-vs-waynesburg-931176

Live Stats: http://sidearmstats.com/thiel/football/xlive.htm
 
Series Breakdown
All-Time Series: Waynesburg leads 29-8-1
First Meeting: 1913 (Thiel won 20-0)
Last Meeting: 2015 (Waynesburg won 28-15)
 
This will be the first time in four years that Waynesburg will not face Washington & Jefferson following a bye week. The Yellow Jackets have not had a ton of success in recent memory after getting an extra week to prepare for an opponent. Waynesburg is 1-5 in its last six games following a bye week.
 
Waynesburg freshman Ta'Vaughn Johnson received plenty of praise for what was arguably his best game as a collegiate player. After returning a kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown and pulling in four catches for 58 yards against Thomas More on Saturday, Oct. 15, Johnson was named Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) Rookie of the Week and D3 Football Defensive/Special Teams HERO of the Week.
 
Speaking of Johnson, the dangerous speedster's 30.5 yards per kick return average currently ranks him ninth in the country.
 
The Waynesburg defensive line continues to dominate several PAC statistical categories. Senior Zach Machuga, junior Brad Grinnen and senior Aniellio DeStefano rank first, second and eighth, respectively, in tackles for defensive linemen. Grinnen and DeStefano hold down the number-two and number-six spots in terms of sacks, while Machuga, DeStefano and Grinnen rank fifth, seventh and eighth in tackles for loss.
 
The Jackets will need the full effort of their defensive front to slow down Thiel senior quarterback Ryan Radke, who currently ranks third in the PAC in total yardage at 298.0 per game (202 passing, 96 rushing). Radke has also played a role in 19 touchdowns (13 passing, six rushing).
 
The Yellow Jackets are hoping they can jumpstart their offense, which currently ranks 11^th in the PAC in scoring (12.0 points per game) and 10^th in yardage (277.7 yards per game), against a seemingly vulnerable Thiel defense. The Tomcats have given up the second most points (42.0) and yards (482.1) per game in the conference.
 
Both teams come into Saturday having trouble slowing opposing running attacks. Waynesburg currently ranks 10^th in in rush defense (211.6 ypg), while Thiel features the ninth-ranked rush defense (209.9 ypg).
 
One area that Waynesburg appears to have a clear advantage in, when it comes to the defensive side of the ball is in the passing game. The Jackets boast the top pass defense in the PAC (161.6 ypg), while the Tomcats have yielded the second-most yards through the air this season (272.3). Surprisingly, the Waynesburg secondary holds that lofty spot despite intercepting a league-low two passes.
 
In what looks like a tight contest on paper, the Tomcats have performed better in one area that can swing a game to a team's advantage. Thiel's plus-five turnover margin is good enough for fifth in the PAC. On the other side, Waynesburg goes into Greenville with a minus-four margin.
 
Bolstered by Johnson's touchdown against Thomas More, Waynesburg's kick return unit has taken over the top spot in the PAC with a 24.9 ypr average.