WAYNESBURG, Pa. (Nov. 4) – The Waynesburg University football team hosted Saint Vincent on Saturday for its final home game of the season. The Yellow Jackets made it a home finale to remember by mixing some big plays with another impressive rushing performance to down the Bearcats 31-21.
 
It was the second-straight victory for the Jackets (2-7, 2-5), who ran for 170 yards on 43 carries. Waynesburg has now cranked out at least 170 yards on the ground in three of the last four games. Running back Austin Wilson, who was one of 17 players honored prior to kick-off as part of the 2017 senior day festivities, led the charge with 102 yards and a touchdown on 23 touches.
 
After winning the coin toss, the Jackets deferred possession to the second half, Saint Vincent (2-7, 1-6) took the opening kickoff and marched down field to score the opening touchdown and take a 7-0 lead with just over 12 minutes remaining in the first quarter.
 
Waynesburg wasted little time in answering the Bearcat challenge. The Yellow Jackets ran nine plays, the first of which was a 34-yard carry for Wilson, to travel 69 yards and tie the game. Junior quarterback Jake Dougherty capped the possession with a one-yard touchdown dive and junior Garret Guthrie knocked in the extra point to make the score 7-7 midway through the period.
 
SVC fired back with its second touchdown drive in as many attempts to regain a seven-point lead. However, the Waynesburg offense continued a strong start to the afternoon and knotted the score at 14-14 before the end of the opening period.
 
After relying almost completely on the run game during the its first time with the football, Dougherty came up with the longest pass play of the season, which covered 53 yards to freshman wide receiver Cole Booth and moved the line of scrimmage to the SVC four-yard-line. Wilson took care of the rest, rushing for the final four yards to pay dirt with less than 30 seconds showing on the first-quarter clock.
 
The Jacket defense found its footing on the Bearcats' third drive of the afternoon, forcing the visiting team to punt following a three-and-out. Freshman wide receiver JaWuan Jones took the boot and raced 43 yards to the visiting 15-yard-line. Though the Jackets were unable to convert the big special teams play to a third touchdown, Guthrie gave his team its first lead of the day by drilling a 34-yard field goal.
 
After the two teams traded possessions with no points produced, the Bearcats took the football at their own 14. Junior cornerback Justin Willkow produced Waynesburg's first defensive touchdown since 2014 when he jumped a pass and sprinted 44 yards for the eventual game-winning points. Guthrie's third successful PAT of the day extended the Jacket advantage to 24-14 with 1:55 showing on the second-quarter clock.
 
The Waynesburg defense forced another Saint Vincent punt to preserve its 10-point lead as the two teams broke for halftime.
 
Both teams' offenses slowed down in the second half, with the scoreboard still showing 24-14 as the fourth quarter got underway. However, the Bearcats pulled back to within a single score (24-21) with 14:09 left to play in the contest following their third touchdown of the day.
 
With momentum seemingly behind Saint Vincent, the Jacket offense was able to put together a slow, grinding possession to wear down the visiting team and ultimately close out the victory.
 
The Jackets took the ensuing kickoff and set up shop at their own 36. Waynesburg ran the ball on seven-of-its first eight plays and covered 37 yards. Facing a second-and-six, Dougherty completed his first of two-consecutive first down passes on the drive, this one going to senior tight end Alec Watts to the 16.
 
Two plays later, on third-and-six, the junior hooked up with sophomore Bobby Grishaber for 11 yards and a first-and-goal at the one-yard-line. Freshman fullback Hayden Belcher picked a great time to run in his collegiate touchdown, doing so with 7:30 remaining in the contest. Guthrie's final PAT of the day brought about the final score of 31-21.
 
The Waynesburg defense took care of the rest, forcing Saint Vincent in a punt followed by a turnover-on-downs during tis final two possessions. The Jackets allowed just 14 yards to the Green and Gold over the visiting teams final eight plays of the day.
 
Along with Wilson's 100-plus-yard effort, Dougherty added 45 yards on 13 carries. The starting signal-caller was also efficient in the passing game, connecting on nine-of-13 attempts for 98 yards and no interceptions.
 
The Waynesburg defense was led by its veteran linebacker corps, which posted the top-three tackle totals on the team. Senior Brent Blacharczyk and junior John-Glen Davis posted eight tackles each, with Davis totaling 2.0 tackles for loss. Senior Tristan Sandrosky added seven tackles, with 3.0 of them going for loss and one sack.
 
Speaking of sacks, senior defensive linemen James Roundtree twice drug down the Saint Vincent quarterback. Willkow added five tackles, four of which were solo stops, to his interception return for a touchdown.
 
After winning back-to-back games at home, Waynesburg will wrap up the 2017 season on Saturday, Nov. 11, with a road game at Washington & Jefferson. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.