WAYNESBURG, Pa. (Nov. 6) – Saturday at John F. Wiley Stadium was a picture-perfect setting for the Waynesburg University football team as it hosted Bethany for senior day. The Yellow Jackets used the cool, sunny afternoon to put on a show for their fans in the final home game of the 2021 season. Waynesburg leaned on its defense and its running game to roll past the visiting Bison by the final score of 31-7.
 
Things started slowly for the Jackets (2-7, 2-6) and the Bison (1-8, 1-7) as neither team was able to put points on the board during the first quarter. However, 2:31 into the second quarter, senior running back Nick Hall (Fayette City, Pa. / Belle Vernon) broke up the 0-0 tie with a 13-yard touchdown run that capped a brief five-play, 47-yard scoring drive. Sophomore kicker Keegan Raabe (Tyrone, Pa. / Tyrone) connected on the first of four successful PAT tries to make the score 7-0.
 
The Yellow Jackets doubled their advantage on their next drive, which covered 65 yards in eight plays. Again, it was Hall who broke the goal line, this time from four yards out, with just under three minutes left to play before halftime. Hall logged six carries on the possession for 40 yards.
 
Bethany managed to drive the ball to the Waynesburg 34 on the ensuing possession, but senior Luke Menges (Bethesda, Ohio / Union Local) reeled in an interception to halt the Bison offense. From there, the Jackets were able to run out the final 57 seconds of the half.
 
The third quarter got started with a bang thanks to sophomore Monroe Mohler (Union, W.Va. / James Monroe), who took the opening kickoff of the half and ran it all the way back to the Bethany 35. A 17-yard run by junior running back Justin Flack (Derry, Pa. / Derry) and an 18-yard completion to from sophomore quarterback Trevor Miller (Bellwood, Pa. / Bellwood-Antis) to senior wide receiver Trenton Kerns (Falling Waters, W.Va. / Spring Mills) were all the home team needed to return to the endzone and extend its lead to 21-0.
 
Just about nine minutes later, Waynesburg struck pay dirt for a fourth time in the afternoon. Hall dominated a seven-play, 85-yard possession by running the ball six times for 73 yards behind an offensive line that had its best game of the season. After Hall drove his team deep into Bethany territory, Flack capped off the drive with a 12-yard touchdown run that made the score 28-0 with 5:46 left to play in the third.
 
Waynesburg took its 28-0 lead into the fourth, before the Bison posted their only seven points of the game 1:30 into the final period. The Waynesburg defense set up the game's final score when it forced a turnover-on-downs at the Bethany 18. Three plays later, Raabe knocked down his fifth kick of the day, this one a 30-yard field goal, to bring about the final score of 31-7.
 
The Waynesburg defense closed out the contest by keeping the opposition out of the end zone on the final play from scrimmage. The penultimate play of the afternoon featured a sack by junior linebacker Tom Hanick (Windber, Pa. / Windber).
 
With the Jacket offensive line plowing the way in front of him, Hall put together his best day as a collegiate player. The veteran turned 21 carries into 165 yards and a pair of scores. Flack helped out with 91 yards and a score on 14 totes.
 
A potent mix of veterans and newcomers paced Waynesburg's defensive efforts. Senior linebacker Bret Hicks (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Chartiers Valley) tied for the game lead with 12 total tackles. Freshman Brandon Tyson (Upper Marlboro, Md. / Frederick Douglass) chipped in 11 total stops that included a contest-best seven solo hits.
 
Senior Tom Hanik (Windber, Pa. / Windber) piled up nine tackles (five solo), two tackles for loss and a sack. Freshman James Davis (Kersey, Pa. / Saint Mary's) added seven tackles and a pass breakup.
 
Waynesburg out-rushed Bethany 265-42 and held the Bison to just 295 yards of total offense. Those numbers helped the Jackets end a seven-game losing streak to Bethany that stretched back to 2012. The seven points allowed were the fewest by a Waynesburg defense since a 10-7 win over Geneva in 2018.
 
The Jackets wrap up the 2021 campaign on Saturday with a road game at Washington & Jefferson. Kickoff for the renewal of the PAC Backyard Brawl is set for 1 p.m.