WAYNESBURG, Pa. (April 23) – The Waynesburg University football team hosted Geneva on Friday night for a Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) crossover game. The teams, who both finished fourth in their respective divisions, battled for 60 entertaining minutes. By the time the final whistle blew, it was the Golden Tornadoes who came away with a 21-14 win.
 
Though Waynesburg (0-5) just missed out on victory, the Yellow Jackets produced some truly impressive numbers. Sophomore running back Justin Flack (Derry, Pa. / Derry) racked up 202 yards and two touchdowns on 30 carries. That yardage total is a personal collegiate best for Flack, is the most yardage on the ground for a Waynesburg back since 2014 and the biggest rushing performance in the PAC this year.
 
Flack got his team on the board first when he ripped off a 24-yard touchdown run with just over five minutes remaining in the first quarter. Freshman kicker Keegan Raabe (Tyrone, Pa. / Tyrone) added the extra point, and Waynesburg held a 7-0 lead.
 
Geneva tied the game with a long touchdown run of its own with 1:39 showing on the second-quarter clock to tie the score at 7-7. The two teams went into the locker room with the score still tied up.
 
The Jackets didn't need much time to retake the advantage. After taking the opening kickoff back to the Waynesburg 24, Flack gained six yards on his team's first play from scrimmage. On the next snap, Flack broke a tackle near the line of scrimmage and took off on a 70-yard scoring sprint. Another Raabe extra point put the home team ahead 14-7 with just over 14 minutes left to play in the third.
 
Unfortunately, Geneva responded with a pair of third-quarter scores to take a 21-14 lead.
 
The final 19-plus minutes were dominated by the two defenses, who didn't yield a point for the remainder of the contest. Waynesburg had itself in position to tie the game or regain the lead late in the evening, before a big defensive play locked up the victory for the visitors.
 
After forcing a punt, Waynesburg took over at its own three-yard-line with just over eight minutes showing on the clock. Junior quarterback Tyler Raines (Columbia, Md. / Long Reach) got things going with a 17-yard completion to senior tight end T.J. Johnston (Houston, Pa. / Chartiers-Houston) that put the ball at the 20.
 
A few plays later, Raines hooked up with senior wide receiver Howard Metzger, Jr. (Connellsville, Pa. / Connellsville) for a first down pass to the 30. Three plays later, Waynesburg faced a fourth-and-eight at the Jacket 32. Unfortunately, Geneva came up with an interception that gave them the ball back at the Waynesburg 35.
 
The Jackets were able to force a punt and get the ball back at the 21 with two seconds left in the contest. One last pass attempt by Waynesburg came up empty and closed out the season for both squads.
 
While Flack was the featured piece of the offense, Raines threw for 110 yards on seven-of-16 passing. Johnston pulled in three of those completions for a team-high 45 yards.
 
Waynesburg's defense was paced by sophomore linebacker Brandon Ntankeu (Hyattsville, Md. / Montgomery Blair), who piled up a team-high and team season-high 15 tackles, 12 of which were solo stops. Freshman linebacker Alec Hendal (Canonsburg, Pa. / Canon-McMillan) wrapped up a solid first year with the Jackets by logging 14 tackles, 1.5 of which were for loss. He also blocked a field goal.
 
Sophomore defensive back Jesse Cain (Hedgesville, W.Va. / Hedgesville) added 10 tackles and picked up a tackle for loss.