Game Notes
 
Waynesburg (1-7, 1-7) at Bethany (0-8, 0-8)
 
When: Saturday, Nov. 4, 1 p.m.
 
Where: Bethany, W.Va. (Bison Stadium)
 
Live Video: https://www.pacstream.net/bethany-football/
 
Live Audio: https://us7.maindigitalstream.com/3943/
 
Live Stats: https://www.bethanybison.com/sports/fball/2023-24/boxscores/20231104_ovkr.xml
 
LAST TIME OUT
Bethany played right with 2023 Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) champion Grove City during the first half of their showdown on Saturday, Oct. 28. Trailing 21-7 at halftime, the Bison gave up 28 third-quarter points in a 56-14 loss to the 21^st-ranked Wolverines. Waynesburg's senior day showdown with Geneva progressed in a similar fashion. The Yellow Jackets looked poised to take down the Golden Tornadoes as the home team held a 26-14 advantage heading to the fourth quarter. However, a slew of negative and sometimes controversial miscues played a role in Geneva outscoring the Jackets 29-3 in the fourth quarter. The GT's escaped John F. Wiley Stadium with a 43-29 win.
 
LAST TIME THEY MET
Waynesburg doubled up Bethany in 2022, when it scored a 34-17 victory in West Virginia. The Yellow Jackets built a 20-10 halftime lead, thanks in large part to a 20-0 run following a Bison field goal. Unfortunately, the star of last year's win, junior running back Hunter Cameron (Armagh, Pa. / United), will miss Saturday's game with an injury. In 2022, Cameron ran around, over and through the Bethany defense to the tune of 191 yards and three touchdowns on just 19 carries. Senior running back Justin Flack (Derry, Pa. / Derry) added 108 yards on 19 totes, as the Jackets dashed for 291 yards on the day.
 
KEEP AN EYE ON
Who will start at quarterback for Waynesburg likely won't be known until gameday after junior starter Samuel Barber (Johnstown, Pa. / Greater Johnstown) left this past Saturday's game with an injury. Prior to his departure, Barber lit up Geneva to the tune of 221 yards and three touchdowns on 12-of-16 passing. If Barber can't go, sophomore Thomas Burke III (West Leechburg, Pa. / Leechburg) will likely get the nod.
 
NEWS AND NOTES
History was made at John F. Wiley Stadium this past Saturday as sophomore Ricco Sastoque (Concord, N.C. / Northwest Cabbarus) set a new Waynesburg record with a 78-yard punt at the end of the second quarter. The boot played a major role in Sastoque averaging a personal-best 50.5 yards per boot on four kicks. He currently leads the PAC with a 40.6 yard per punt average. The lefty is a special teams dual threat. He is second in the league in field goals made (6) and his successful attempt from 45 yards against Saint Vincent ranks first in the league.
 
After being ejected for targeting in the second half of this past Saturday's game, junior starting safety Brennan Boron (St. Mary's, W.Va. / St. Mary) had the call had the targeting call erased after it was reviewed by PAC officials. Thanks to that decision, Boron, who would have been forced to sit out the first half of Saturday's game, is cleared to be in the starting lineup. One of the hardest hitters on the Jacket defense, Boron currently ranks third in the league with three forced fumbles. He also ranks third on the team in total tackles per game (5.12) and has three pass breakups
 
Flack enters his penultimate college game with 3,241 rushing yards and 192 points scored. He needs just 57 yards to move past Mike Stout (1996-99) for second place in the Waynesburg record book. One more touchdown would tie him with Stout for fourth place all time in scoring (198 points).
 
Junior wide receiver Dakota Romantino (Charleroi, Pa. / Charleroi) needs 53 receiving yards to reach 2,000 for his Yellow Jacket career. The Waynesburg program record for career receiving yards is 2,439, which was set by Ivan Hawkins (2002-05).
 
Saturday's trip to Bethany will be a homecoming of sorts for first-year Waynesburg defensive coordinator Dave Arnold, who serve in the same position with the Bison for four years. Over that time, he coached 22 Bison defenders to All-PAC honors.
 
Senior linebacker Jaquaivis Valle-Smith (Orlando, Fla. / Winter Park) continues to have a fantastic first year with the Yellow Jackets after transferring to Waynesburg prior to this season. He is currently tied for second place in the PAC for total tackles (75) and tackles per game (9.4).