ZANESVILLE, Ohio (Sept. 4) – The Waynesburg University football team kicked off the 2021 season on Saturday with a road game against Muskingum that was played at Zanesville High School. Some early turnover and special teams issues put the Yellow Jackets in a hole they were unable to climb out of as the Muskies scored a 49-6 win.
Muskingum (1-0) struck early with a blocked punt that was converted into a touchdown following Waynesburg's (0-1) opening possession. The Muskies doubled their advantage to 14-0 after a Yellow Jacket turnover set up a touchdown-scoring drive. A second-straight lost fumble led to another Muskingum score and put the home team up 21-0, which was the score at the end of the opening quarter.
By the time halftime rolled around, Muskingum's lead had grown to 42-0. Trailing 49-0 in the fourth, Waynesburg tallied the final six points of the day on a pair of field goals by sophomore
Keegan Raabe (Tyrone, Pa. / Tyrone).
Though it was not reflected in the final score, there were some highlights for the Jackets in the season-opening defeat. Along with Raabe's two field goals, junior linebacker
William Simpson (Eighty Four, Pa. / Bentworth) recovered a pair of fumbles on the defensive side of the ball.
Several newcomers on the defense also made an impact. Sophomore linebacker
Chase Nicomatti (McKeesport, Pa. / South Allegheny), who is in his first year at Waynesburg as a transfer, finished second on the team behind senior defensive back
Luke Menges (Bethesda, Ohio / Union Local) with seven tackles. Menges paced his squad with eight total stops.
Freshmen
Ron Brown (Washington, Pa. / Washington) and Javionne Smith (Warren, Ohio / Sharon) each posted three tackles and a forced fumble. Brown also picked up a tackle for loss.
First-year wide receiver
Dakota Romantino logged two catches for 10 yards in his Yellow Jacket debut.
Waynesburg opens Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) play on Saturday, Sept. 11, when it hosts Case Western Reserve at John F. Wiley Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.
