Complete Game Notes (.pdf)
 
Thiel (1-6, 1-4) at Waynesburg (0-7, 0-5)
 
When: Saturday, Oct. 28, 2017, 1:30 p.m.
 
Where: Waynesburg, Pa. (John F. Wiley Stadium)
 
Radio: WCYJ-FM - 99.5, Webcast can be heard at http://vp.telvue.com/player?id=T01595&video=23812
 
TV: WUSN, Webcast can be viewed at http://myconnect.waynesburg.edu/web/wctv

Live Stats: http://www.sidearmstats.com/waynesburg/football/
 
Series Breakdown
All-Time Series: Waynesburg leads 29-9-1
First Meeting: 1913 (Thiel won 20-0)
Last Meeting: 2016 (Thiel won 50-42)
 
Both Waynesburg and Thiel are looking to end long losing streaks. The Yellow Jackets, who are coming off their bye week, are not only looking to pick up their first victory of the season, but snap a 10-game skid that stretches back to 2016. The Tomcats have come up short of a win in their last four outings.
 
One area that both of Saturday's competitors have excelled in this year typically comes on fourth down. Led by senior R.J. Leon (Waynesburg) and sophomore Dylan Kleckner (Thiel) the Yellow Jackets and Tomcats rank second and third, respectively in the PAC in terms of average per punt. Leon, who has attempted every kick for the Jackets, has posted a mark of 39.8 yards per boot. Thanks in large part to Kleckner's 36.9 average, Thiel boasts an average of 37.1 yard per attempt.
 
Last year's Waynesburg vs. Thiel clash in Greenville turned into a wild 50-42 overtime victory for the home team that ended a 10-game Yellow Jacket win streak over the Blue and Gold. The last time the Jackets dropped two in a row to the Tomcats came all the way back in 2004 and 2005. The latter of those two victories came as part of Thiel's historic undefeated run to a PAC championship.
 
For the most part, Waynesburg and Thiel's statistical numbers are very similar to each other. However, two areas in which they differ greatly are in running the ball and stopping the pass. The Tomcats rank fourth in the PAC with 188.4 yards per game on the ground, while Waynesburg has managed to crank out 87.3 per contest. On the other side of the ball, Thiel has yielded 225.1 yards per game through the air, while the Jackets' fourth-ranked pass defense is averaging 162.7 given up per contest.
 
Both defenses have had their struggles when it comes to making impact plays. Waynesburg and Thiel have recorded just eight and six, sacks respectively, as well as three and two interceptions, respectively.
 
Despite its shortcomings, the Thiel offense is among the PAC's best in fourth down conversions. It's eight successful tries and a 61.5 percent conversion rate are both the number-two values in the league.
 
For a third-straight game, Waynesburg will face a top-three running back from the PAC. Thiel junior Nick Barca is putting up the second-best per-game average in the league at 140.7 yards. His 172.7 total yards per contest is also good for number two spot.
 
Waynesburg junior middle linebacker John-Glen Davis looks to continue his outstanding first year as an everyday starter this week. He is averaging 9.4 tackles per game, which is good for second in the PAC.