Game Notes
 
Waynesburg (2-7, 2-7) at Washington & Jefferson (7-2, 7-2)
 
When: Saturday, Nov. 11, 1 p.m.
 
Where: Washington, Pa. (Cameron Stadium)
 
Live Video: https://www.cbsnews.com/pittsburgh/kdkaplus/
 
Live Audio: https://us7.maindigitalstream.com/3943/
 
Live Stats: https://gopresidents.com/sidearmstats/football/summary
 
LAST TIME OUT
Waynesburg ended a two-game losing streak this past Saturday by downing Bethany 35-26. The unquestioned highlight of the win was the performance put on by sophomore running back Zayne Cawley (Huntingtown, Md. / Huntingtown), who set a new school single-game rushing record with 336 yards on 41 carries. He also logged touchdown runs of 43, 2, 21 and 9 yards. Cawley's four touchdown runs are the most for a Yellow Jacket since Justin Falcon tallied a quartet of scoring sprints in 2008 against Thiel. Washington & Jefferson is in the midst of a two-game winning streak that includes an impressive 38-33 win over Case Western Reserve on Saturday, Oct. 28. This past Saturday, the Presidents defeated Geneva 45-7. The game was tied 7-7 after one quarter, but W&J scored the final 38 points of the game to lock down the victory. Junior quarterback Jacob Pugh went 14-for-19 with 210 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions in the victory.
 
LAST TIME THEY MET
Unfortunately, the 2022 meeting between Waynesburg and W&J continued the trend of the Presidents dominating the PAC Backyard Brawl rivalry. The Presidents rolled to a 56-0 win, which was the third-straight shutout win for the Red and Black over their rivals to the south. Over those three victories, W&J outscored Waynesburg 177-0. The Presidents have scored at least 50 points against the Jackets in four-straight contests. Waynesburg's last win over W&J came in 2014, when it won a thrilling 31-28 victory with a field goal in overtime.
 
KEEP AN EYE ON
Waynesburg is hoping to have junior quarterback Samuel Barber (Johnstown, Pa. / Greater Johnstown) back under center. The Yellow Jackets' starting signal caller was injured in the second half of his team's senior day game against Geneva on Oct. 28. Barber has completed 112-of-189 passes for 1,312 yards (164 yards per contest), nine touchdowns and seven interceptions. Without Barber, the Jackets are averaging just 39.1 yards passing per game with two passing touchdowns and four interceptions.
 
NEWS AND NOTES
This will be the final time for the foreseeable future that Waynesburg and W&J will wrap up their respective schedules against each other. Dubbed the PAC Backyard Brawl, Saturday's contest is part of PAC Rivalry Week. This slate of annual season-ending contests will no longer be recognized starting next year. In 2024, the two teams will meet up in week three before the Jackets face Geneva for its final game of the season.
 
Despite inconsistencies in Waynesburg's passing game, the Jackets are currently a respectable fourth in the league in total offense (329 yards per game). W&J boasts the most potent offense in the league (455.0 ypg).
 
In one record-setting week, Cawley vaulted not only into the PAC's top 10 in rushing average, but all the way to number three at 78.6 yards per game. His seven touchdown runs currently have in fourth place.
 
Half of the top 10 receivers in the PAC will be in action in Washington this weekend. W&J's John Peduzzi, Jacob Macosko and Anthony Rosati are currently ranked third, fifth and seventh in the league in receiving yards per game, while Waynesburg's Dakota Romantino (Charleroi, Pa. / Charleroi) and Isaac Trout (Ruffs Dale, Pa. / Southmoreland) currently hold the number six and number nine positions, respectively.
 
Waynesburg's Ricco Sastoque (Concord, N.C. / Northwest Cabbarus) has a chance to achieve the unique achievement of finishing the season as the top punter and kicker in the PAC. He enters Saturday ranked number one in the league in punting average (40.6) with a school record long of 78 yards. Sastoque has also made the second-most field goals in the PAC 96) this season and his successful 45-yard attempt against Saint Vincent is the longest made attempt of 2023.