WAYNESBURG, Pa. (Nov. 9) – No one would have blamed the Waynesburg University football team if it wasn't up to the task of taking on the 15^th-ranked team in the country during Saturday's home finale. The Yellow Jackets were heavy underdogs to undefeated and Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC)-leading Case Western Reserve and it looked like the game may turn into a blowout befitting a matchup between a one-win team and a squad that has yet to taste defeat in 2019.
 
However, Waynesburg wasn't about to simply roll over for the Spartans, even after falling behind 27-10 early in the third quarter. The Yellow Jackets pulled out all the stops in their attempt to pull off the PAC's biggest upset of the season. Unfortunately, Waynesburg ran out of time before it could complete the comeback and fell 27-24 to Case.
 
The win clinched the outright PAC title for Case (9-0, 8-0) and assured itself of a bid in the 2019 NCAA Division III national championship tournament. Waynesburg's (1-8, 1-7) 24-point performance tied for its largest single-game scoring output of the season. Saturday's three-point difference in score was the tightest of the two teams' brief six-game series that began in 2014.
 
The Yellow Jackets immediately found themselves behind the eight ball after Case returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown. Waynesburg was able to get three of those points back on its first drive of the game. Senior kicker Mike Ryhal (Fredonia, Pa. / Reynolds) knocked down a 31-yard field goal to cap a seven-play, 67-yard possession that included a 56-yard run by freshman Justin Flack (Derry, Pa. / Derry) that put the ball at the Case 10-yard-line. Unfortunately, the possession stalled short of a game-tying touchdown, but the Jackets were still able to get on the scoreboard.
 
The visiting team fired back with 10-straight points that gave it a 17-3 advantage early in the second quarter. The Jackets countered with just under six minutes showing on the second-quarter clock when Flack crossed the goal line for his team's first touchdown of the contest. The 20-yard run that came at the end of a 10-play, 70-yard possession gave the freshman standout at least one score for a third-straight game. Ryhal's first PAT of the game made the score 17-10.
 
Case managed to regain a multi-score advantage before halftime when it concluded an 11-play, 75-yard drive with a short field goal that came with just nine seconds showing on the scoreboard.
 
After Waynesburg failed to score on its first drive of the third quarter, Case appeared to take firm control of the contest with a short touchdown run 5:19 into the period. With less than 25 minutes left in the game, the Spartans held a 27-10 advantage that they took into the fourth quarter.
 
However, the fourth quarter belonged to the Jackets, who made an admirable run at victory over its final 15 minutes of play in front of their home crowd this season.
 
After taking possession of the football late in the third, Waynesburg covered 60 yards in a drive that included a 50-yard completion to sophomore wide receiver Dozhay Crumb (Ambridge, Pa. / Ambridge) that was followed by a fumble and a subsequent recovery by senior receiver Nick Moretti (Washington, Pa. / Trinity) at the Case 20-yard-line.
 
Six plays later, junior quarterback Mason Schrenker (Robinson, Pa. / Montour) struck pay dirt with a one-yard touchdown surge that came 25 seconds into the final quarter. Another Ryhal extra point cut Waynesburg's deficit to 27-17.
 
The Jackets decided to roll the dice on the ensuing kickoff and tried an onside kick. The attempt initially seemed to be successful when junior Brendyn Tvaroch (Warren, Ohio / Howland) recovered the kick. However, an offside penalty halted the team's celebration. Rather than give up on the play, Ryhal put his toe into a second-straight onside try. Amazingly, this try also wound up in the hands of the Jackets thanks to the efforts of junior James Jackson (Farrell, Pa. / Farrell).
 
The Jackets looked like they would convert the thrilling special teams effort into more points as they marched to the opposing 22. Waynesburg wound up facing a fourth-and-six at the 18 and were unable to convert on a 35-yard field goal attempt.
 
Case didn't produce any points on the ensuing drive, but erased 7:05 of game time before turning the ball over on downs at the Waynesburg 22. The Jackets continued its rally with an 11-play, 78-
yard drive that ended with the Schrenker finding junior wide receiver Cole Booth (Berlin, Pa. / Berlin Brothersvalley) 11 yards out to make the score 27-24 with just seconds left in the contest.
 
The Jackets tried one more onside kick, their fourth of the day, but this one wound up in the hands of the Spartans, who kneeled on the football to run out the last six seconds of the thrilling contest.
 
Along with scoring in a third-straight game, Flack also eclipsed the 100-yard mark on the ground for a third-straight contest, going for a game-high 126 yards on 21 carries. His production spearheaded a season-high 192-yard ground assault that easily bested Case's 125 yards on the ground. Flack is the first Yellow Jacket to eclipse the century mark on the ground in three-straight games since Jake Forsythe accomplished the feat in 2014.
 
Schrenker had a busy day, setting season highs in completions (22), passes (37) and yards (204). Booth, who was playing in his final game at John F. Wiley Stadium, was Schrenker's favorite target on the day. He pulled in a game-high eight passes for 59 yards and a touchdown. Crumb snared three receptions for a team-high 67 yards.
 
Waynesburg's PAC-leading pass defense did not wilt under the pressure of the league's number-two passing attack. The Jackets allowed 239 yards through the air.
 
Senior linebacker Tyler Smith (Poland, Ohio / Poland) put together one final strong performance in front of his home fans by going for 12 total tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss and half a sack. Junior Bret Hicks (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Chartiers Valley) added nine total stops.
 
Waynesburg outgained Case Western Reserve by a 396-to-364 margin in total offensive yardage. The home team also held the edge in time of possession (32:10 to 27:50).
 
Waynesburg wraps up the 2019 season on Saturday, Nov. 16, when it travels to Washington & Jefferson. The matchup is tabbed as the I-79 Backyard Brawl, which is part of PAC Rivalry Week. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.