Complete Game Notes (.pdf)
 
#17 Washington & Jefferson (8-1, 7-1) at Waynesburg (4-5, 4-4)
 
When: Saturday, Nov. 10, 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
 
Live Video: http://vp.telvue.com/preview?id=T01595&video=148037
 
Live Stats: https://waynesburgsports.com/sidearmstats/football/summary
 
Series Breakdown
All-Time Series: Washington & Jefferson (41-4)
First Meeting: 1897 (Wash. & Jeff. 22-0)
Last Meeting: 2017 (Wash. & Jeff. 42-0)
 
Waynesburg and Washington & Jefferson meet in the "PAC Backyard Brawl." The game is part of the conference's annual Rivalry Week. Here is the entire Rivalry Week lineup:
1 p.m. – Westminster at Geneva in "The Game"
1 p.m. – Saint Vincent at Bethany in "The Green Game"
1:30 p.m. – Washington & Jefferson at Waynesburg in "The Backyard Brawl"
1:30 p.m. – Thiel at Grove City in "The Battle for the Mercer County Cup"
5:30 p.m. – Carnegie Mellon at Case Western Reserve in "The Academic Bowl"
 
The PAC regular season does not end on Saturday, however. The mass shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue caused a postponement of the Geneva at Carnegie Mellon game that was scheduled to be played on Saturday, Oct. 27. That contest will be played on Saturday, Nov. 17, at 1 p.m.
 
A win for Washington & Jefferson will secure at least a share of the 2018 PAC title for the Presidents. If Case Western Reserve also wins, it would tie for the top spot. However, W&J's 44-36 win over the Spartans on Oct. 6 gives it the head-to-head tiebreaker and the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III tournament.
 
Thomas Stone High School, which is located in Waldorf, Maryland, will be well represented in Saturday's game, particularly when it comes to running the football. Waynesburg junior Chad Walker (Waldorf, Md. / Thomas Stone) and W&J sophomore EJ Thompson both played for the Cougars before making their respective collegiate choices. Walker leads Waynesburg and ranks fourth in the PAC with 665 yards on 167 carries. Despite being the number-two back on his own team, Thompson is eighth in the league in rushing yardage (457) and has notched five touchdowns.
 
One year ago, W&J boasted one of the most fearsome quarterback-to-wide receiver combinations in Division III in Alex Rowse and All-American Jesse Zubik. The duo hooked up 84 times for 1,408 yards and 17 touchdowns and seemed to be impossible to replace. Flash ahead one year and the Presidents have done just that with junior Jacob Adams and sophomore Andrew Wolf. The pair have combined for 72 receptions that have yielded 1,210 yards and 19 scores with one regular season and likely at least one postseason game still on the schedule.
 
For everything W&J does well, it does appear to have one weakness: pass defense. The Presidents rank last in the conference by giving up 235.9 yards per game through the air. Waynesburg junior quarterback Tyler Perone (Venetia, Pa. / Seton LaSalle) will look to take advantage of that fact. Ironically, while the Red and Black struggles in giving up yards through the air, the secondary is the best in the PAC when it comes to forcing interception. The team's 16 picks are best in the league.
 
The Presidents have also been one of the best in the PAC when it comes to getting to the opposing quarterbacks. Washington & Jefferson's 30 total sacks are good for the number-two spots in the conference standings.
 
Saturday's game features a contrast of offensive styles. Waynesburg loves to wear down the clock, as well as opposing defenses. The Jackets possess the ball an average of 31:46 per game, which is the second-best mark in the league. W&J, on the other hand, features more of a quick strike attack, which has led to a 26:02 per game average, which ranks last in the PAC.