WAYNESBURG, Pa. (Sept. 11) – The Waynesburg University football team hosted Case Western Reserve University on Saturday for its 2021 home opener and the Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) opener for both squads. Both teams had little problem moving the football, as Case picked up a 66-33 win.
 
For Waynesburg (0-2, 0-1), the day belonged to freshman wide receiver Dakota Romantino (Charleroi, Pa. / Charleroi), who pulled in nine catches for 260 yards and his first collegiate touchdown. That effort featured the second-most receiving yards in a game in program history. Former Waynesburg great and NFL wide receiver Don Hermann holds the mark with 328, which was set in 1968.
 
Case (2-0, 1-0) opened the scoring 4:40 into the first quarter to take a 7-0 lead, which it maintained until early in the second, when junior quarterback Tyler Raines (Columbia, Md. / Long Reach) found senior wide receiver Trenton Kerns (Falling Waters, W.Va. / Spring Mills) for an 18-yard touchdown pass. Unfortunately, the extra point attempt was blocked, and the Spartans held on to a 7-6 edge.
 
Back-to-back scores by the visitors built their lead up to 21-6, but the Jackets got right back into the contest when senior running back Nick Hall (Fayette City, Pa. / Belle Vernon) sprinted into the endzone from two yards out with eight minutes remaining in the second quarter. A successful PAT from sophomore kicker Keegan Raabe (Tyrone, Pa. / Tyrone) cut Case's lead down to 21-13.
 
However, the Spartans were able to punch in two more touchdowns before halftime to take a 35-13 advantage into the break. They added another score on the opening possession of the third quarter and extended their lead to 42-13.
 
The shootout continued in the ensuing possession, as junior running back Justin Flack (Derry, Pa. / Derry) found the endzone on three-yard scoring run that capped a nine-play, 75-yard drive. Another Raabe extra point cut Waynesburg's deficit to 42-20.
 
After Case returned to the end zone to go ahead 49-20, Raines hooked up with senior wide out Matt Craig (Avella, Pa. / Avella) on a 13-yard touchdown pass with 3:07 showing on the third quarter clock that made the score 49-27. Following a Spartan scoring drive, Raines found Romantino, who weaved through the opposing defense to the tune of a 64-yard touchdown catch-and-run with 13:52 remaining in the contest.
 
Case closed out the game with a pair of unanswered touchdowns to finish out the scoring.
 
Romantino's historic day made up the bulk of Raines' 345 yards passing, which came on 17 completions in 28 attempts. It was easily his best performance since transferring to Waynesburg prior to the 2020-21 campaign. He also threw three touchdowns with no interceptions.
 
Flack led all ball carriers with 112 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries.
 
Freshman defensive back Brandon Tyson (Upper Marlboro, Md. / Frederick Douglass) put up some impressive numbers to pace Waynesburg's defense. He led the Yellow Jackets in total tackles (11), solo tackles (8) and pass breakups (4). He also returned a pair of kickoffs for 34 yards.
 
Sophomore transfer linebacker Chase Nicomatti (McKeesport, Pa. / South Allegheny) chipped in nine tackles, while junior defensive back Jonathan Ruffing (Bentleyville, Pa. / Bishop Canevin) helped out with eight stops, including one for loss.
 
The Jackets will play their second-straight home game on Saturday, Sept. 18, when they host Thiel. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.