WAYNESBURG, Pa. (Oct. 5) – Senior linebacker Tyler Smith (Poland, Ohio / Poland) was featured on the cover of Saturday's game day program when the Yellow Jackets hosted Thiel for homecoming. He more than validated the attention, as he came up with the biggest special teams play of the season to secure Waynesburg's 14-13 victory over the Tomcats.
 
After Thiel (0-5, 0-4) scored its second touchdown of the game on a fumble return, the Tomcats lined up for the game-tying extra point. That's when Smith darted through the middle of the line and managed to swat the attempt away to preserve a one-point advantage.
 
The Jacket (1-4, 1-3) special teams came up big again on the ensuing kickoff, which was of the onside variety. Senior wide receiver Bobby Grishaber (Charleston, W.Va. / George Washington) hit the ground to scoop up the kick and all but ensure his team's first win of the season. The offense ran three plays to kill off the final two-plus minutes of the game.
 
Smith led what turned out to be perhaps Waynesburg's top defensive effort of the season. Both Tomcat touchdowns came directly off Yellow Jacket turnovers. The Jacket defense allowed just 189 yards of total offense and forced three turnovers. Most of those yards came on a seven-play, 72-yard possession that ended at the Waynesburg 17 when the home team forced a turnover-on-downs. Another 32 yards came on a fake put on the first possession of the day.
 
Waynesburg looked like it was going to cruise to a homecoming win after taking a 14-0 first-half lead. The Jackets opened the scoring late in the first quarter thanks to a 14-play, 54-yard drive. Junior quarterback Mason Schrenker (Robinson, Pa. / Montour), who picked up his first collegiate win as a starter, punched in a one-yard dive to cap the marathon possession. Senior kicker Mike Ryhal (Fredonia, Pa. / Reynolds) tacked on the extra point to make the score 7-0.
 
The Jackets' second touchdown of the day came midway through the second period. After Waynesburg punted the ball away on its first drive of the period, junior defensive back James Jackson (Farrell, Pa. / Farrell) forced a fumble on the return that was recovered by Grishaber and gave the ball back to the offense at the Thiel 38.
 
Once again, the Jackets slowly worked their way down a shortened field to the tune of a nine-play, 38-yard possession. The final play of the drive saw Schrenker run around the left end for his second score of the day. Ryhal drilled a second PAT to make the score 14-0 with 4:12 remaining in the half.
 
Waynesburg had the football before the end of the quarter and managed to advance the line of scrimmage to the Thiel 35. Ryhal tried a school record-setting 52-yard field goal to grow the Orange and Black lead to three scores, but the attempt was blocked.
 
After neither team scored in the third quarter, Thiel posted all 13 of its points in the fourth quarter, creating more drama than the homecoming crowd had anticipated after their team's strong start. Thankfully, Smith and Grishaber came up with their important special teams plays to seal the win.
 
Freshman running back Justin Flack (Derry, Pa. / Derry) led the Waynesburg offense by rushing for a game-high 82 yards on 26 carries. Senior wide receiver Nick Morett (Washington, Pa. / Trinity) posted a contest-best three catches for a game-high 47 yards.
 
Schrenker completed 11-of-27 attempts for 104 yards.
 
The Waynesburg defense featured several outstanding performances, including Smith, who tallied a team-high eight tackles, five of which were solo stops. He also intercepted his first pass of the season.
 
Senior defensive lineman Cody Edwards (Bairford, Pa. / Deer Lakes) saw 2.5 of his five total tackles go for loss. He totaled 1.5 of Waynesburg's five total sacks.
 
Jackson chipped in five total tackles, a pass breakup, a sack and a forced fumble.
 
Waynesburg will look to build off its first win of the year with a road trip to Carnegie Mellon for its first night game of the season on Saturday, Oct. 12. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.