CLEVELAND, Ohio (Sept. 23) – The Waynesburg University football team traveled to Case Western Reserve on Saturday night to face the number-21 team in Division III. The Yellow Jackets dropped a 56-21 decision to their Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) rival.
 
Case (3-0, 2-0) controlled the first quarter, during which it forged a 14-0 lead. However, the second period of play got off to a solid start for the Jackets (0-4, 0-2), who cut their deficit in half when sophomore quarterback Tyler Perone hooked up with freshman wide receiver JaWuan Jones with 4:01 remaining in the second quarter to break up the shutout. Junior Garret Guthrie knocked down the extra point to make the score 14-7
 
Unfortunately for Waynesburg, The Spartans fired back with two quick touchdowns to take a 28-7 lead into halftime.
 
The Jackets wasted little time in getting back into contention for the win by capping a five-play, 79-yard touchdown drive with Perone's second scoring pass of the night. He hit sophomore Chad Walker just 2:29 into the third quarter. Junior running back Austin Wilson set up the score with a 54-yard run. It was Waynesburg's longest play from scrimmage in 2017.
 
Guthrie's second PAT of the day cut the deficit down to 28-14, but Case was once again ready with an answer. The home team closed out the third quarter with a pair of touchdowns to build a 42-14 advantage heading to the fourth. The Spartans kept their momentum going with a third-straight trip to the end zone that grew their lead to 49-14.
 
Perone posted a season-high third touchdown pass with just under six minutes left to play. Once again, he found Jones for six, this time doing so from five yards out. Guthrie recorded one last extra point to run the tally to 49-21.
 
CWRU proceeded to record the game's final score with 1:19 showing on the game clock.
 
Wilson recorded over 100 yards of total offense during arguably his best game as a college player. He rushed for a team-high 69 yards on 15 carries. The veteran back added a game-high six catches for 47 yards.
 
Perone completed 18-of-32 passes for 181 yards, three touchdowns and an interception.
 
The Jacket defense was led by sophomore safety VaShon Graham, who racked up a game-high 10 total tackles, six of which were solo stops. Sophomore defensive back Dan Verhovsek contributed nine tackles, while senior linebacker Brent Blacharczyk snared his first collegiate interception.
 
Waynesburg returns home to John F. Wiley Stadium on Sept. 30 for homecoming. The Yellow Jackets welcome Grove City for a 1:30 p.m. PAC showdown.