Complete Game Notes (.pdf)
 
Waynesburg (2-3, 1-2) at Bethany (1-4, 0-3)
 
When: Saturday, Oct. 15, 1 p.m.
 
Where: Bethany, W.Va. (Don Ault Field at Bison Stadium)
 
Live Video: https://www.pacdigitalnetwork.com/bethanybison/?B=438949
 
Live Audio: http://us7.maindigitalstream.com/3943/
 
Live Stats: https://www.bethanybison.com/sports/fball/2022-23/boxscores/20221015_k7c5.xml
 
 
The Yellow Jackets and Bison will meet up for the 60^th time since their rivalry began in 1899. In recent years, the series has been dominated by win streaks. Prior to last year's 31-7 loss to Waynesburg, the Bison had won six-straight against the Orange and Black. From 2002 to 2007, the Jackets put together their own six-game winning streak against the Bison.
 
Waynesburg sophomore wide receiver Dakota Romantino (Charleroi, Pa. / Charleroi) was named to the D3football.com Team of the Week after an explosive performance against Carnegie Mellon on Saturday. Romantino set the mark for most receiving yards in a game by any player in the PAC this year during Waynesburg's near upset of the undefeated Tartans. He hauled in a game-high six catches for 213 yards and two scores against CMU during a 27-20 game that went right down to the wire.
 
Bethany is hoping a shot of energy from its home crowd will help it turn the 2022 season around. After beating Hiram 26-16 in the season opener, the Bison have fallen into a four-game losing streak. To Bethany's credit, that skid has coincided with one of the most brutal stretches that any team in the PAC has had to deal with. Bethany has faced off with Westminster, Washington & Jefferson, Thiel and Grove City. Westminster, W&J and Grove City are all coming off seasons in which they competed in the postseason.
 
The Bison may want to think twice before going to the air against Waynesburg, which currently boasts the number-three pass defense in the PAC. The Yellow Jackets are currently giving up just 174.2 yards per game to the opposition. On the other hand, the Bison rushing attack will face a Jacket rush defense that is still looking to gain its footing. Heading into Saturday, Waynesburg is yielding 258.2 yards per contest on the ground in 2022.
 
In terms of one-on-one showdowns, Saturday's matchup features the top two running backs in the PAC. Bethany senior Tre'Jour Owens and Waynesburg senior Justin Flack (Derry, Pa. / Derry) rank one-two in yards per game (108.8-93.6). There are two notable differences between the backs. Owens has tallied 435 total yards on 95 carries (4.6 yards per carry), while Flack has needed just 64 carries to pile up 468 yards (7.3 ypc). Flack's eight rushing touchdowns are tops in the league. Owens has broken the goal line three times.
 
Flack has been the model of consistency when it comes to scoring points. Prior to Saturday's game against Carnegie Mellon, the three-time All-PAC selection had scored exactly two touchdowns in each of his first four games.
 
Thanks to his breakout game against CMU, Romantino shot up the PAC receiving rankings. Heading into this weekend, the second-year star is second in the league in receiving yards per game (84.4 ypg). His 22.2 yards per catch is not only second in the conference, but 23^rd in all of Division III.
 
The combination of junior kickers Keegan Raabe (Tyrone, Pa. / Tyrone) and Ricco Sastoque (Concord, N.C. / Northwest Cabbarus) have combined to give the Jackets one of the most reliable kicking games in the PAC. Waynesburg has made all 19 of their PAT attempts, making it one of just three teams in the league to boast a 100% conversion rate. Raabe and Sastoque have also combined to convert four-of-five field goal tries.