WAYNESBURG, Pa. (Sept. 22) – The Waynesburg University football team faced the daunting task of slowing down one of the most potent running games in Division III when Geneva and its triple-option offense came to John F. Wiley Stadium on Saturday. Fully healthy for the first time all season, the Yellow Jacket defense rose to the daunting challenge and led the way to a 10-7 upset victory over the Golden Tornadoes
 
Geneva (2-2, 2-1) came into the game averaging 328.0 yards per game on the ground, a mark that was ranked 12^th in all of Division III. Waynesburg (1-3, 1-2) used a true team effort to limit the Golden Tornadoes to 208 yards on 53 carries, an average of 3.9 yards per tote, more than a yard below their 5.07 ypc average coming into the game.
 
Both defenses played a stellar game, as the Jackets outgained the opposition by a 287 to 216 margin. Waynesburg also came up with some huge plays that ultimately led to the victory.
 
Neither team was able to produce a first down over the first three combined possessions of the ball game. Drives four and five also ended in punts, before Waynesburg drove to the Geneva 15 yards line with around 1:30 remaining in the first quarter. Unfortunately, the Jackets were unable to advance 10 more yards and turned the ball over on downs with time winding down in the opening quarter.
 
Geneva punted on the ensuing possession, but the home team gave the ball right back on an interception on its next play. The theme of even defensive play continued with junior defensive back Brennan Sefick picking off his first pass of the season on the next drive.
 
Another Waynesburg punt gave Geneva the ball back at its own 33-yard-line. For the first time on the day, the GT rush attack showed its potency by going 67 yards, 62 of which came on the ground with the other five coming on a Waynesburg penalty, to post the first touchdown of the day. A successful extra point try gave the visitors a 7-0 lead with 7:05 remaining in the half.
 
Control of the game swung back to the defenses as the final minutes of the second quarter featured a combined three punts, a fumble recovery by Waynesburg junior safety Dan Verhovsek and back-to-back Geneva sacks on the final two plays before halftime.
 
After Waynesburg was forced to punt on its first possession of the second half, Geneva looked ready to take control of the conference clash as it marched down to the Waynesburg six. However, the Jacket defense put together perhaps its most impressive showing on a day full of impressive showings by giving up just five yards on four Tornado running plays to take over on downs.
 
Two more punts drained off all but the final few seconds of the third quarter when the Jackets took control of the ball at the Geneva 42. Junior quarterback Tyler Perone and sophomore wide receiver Cole Booth were able to combine for a picture-perfect 27-yard strike into the end zone with around 13:25 showing on the fourth-quarter clock. Freshman kicker Garrett Horne knocked down his first-and-only PAT try of the day to tie the score at 7-7.
 
After the Jacket defense shut down Geneva on the ensuing kickoff, Sophomore wide receiver JuWuan Jones recorded a 40-yard punt return that again gave Waynesburg a short field with which to work. The home team looked poised to take the lead after Perone hooked up with Jones on fourth-and-15 for a 34-yard pass, but it was negated by a penalty. The Jackets were unable to recover from the mishap and turned the ball over on downs at the Geneva 16.
 
The Waynesburg defense did it once again, forcing a punt that gave the Jackets possession back at their own 20 with 3:19 remaining in the contest. Once again, Perone was able to captain the offense down the field, traversing 77 yards on 12 plays. With the ball resting at the Geneva three and just 14 seconds showing on the clock, Horne stepped up and coolly drilled a 20-yard field goal the proved to be the difference in the win.
 
Perone completed five-of-seven attempts on the game-deciding drive with three of those catches pulled in by junior running back Chad Walker. Walker also carried the ball four times for 23 yards.
 
After a short squib kick gave Geneva the ball at the Waynesburg 46, Geneva ran two plays before lining up for a 55-yard field goal that would have sent the game to overtime. The kick landed well short of the end zone, giving the Jackets the victory.
 
Three different Jackets recorded double-digit tackles in the win. Junior Tyler Smith led the charge with a game-high 12 tackles, seven of which were solo stops. He tallied 2.5 tackles for loss, a sack and forced a fumble.
 
Seniors John-Glen Davis and Garrett Hepner chipped in 10 tackles each to the winning effort. Four more Yellow Jackets recorded between five and seven tackles each on the day.
 
Perone paced the Waynesburg offense by completing 14-of-23 passes for 177 yards, a touchdown and an interception. His favorite target of the day was Jones, who pulled in a game-high five catches for 96 yards.
 
Walker paced the running game with 75 yards on 21 carries.
 
The Jackets are back in action on Saturday, Sept. 29, when they travel to Thiel to face the Tomcats. Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m.