WAYNESBURG, Pa. (Sept. 9) – The Waynesburg University football team hosted Grove City on Saturday for a Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) matchup against the Wolverines. For a second-straight week, the Yellow Jackets showcased how much they have improved since the 2022 campaign by giving the opposition a battle on the field. Unfortunately, Waynesburg also suffered defeat, this time falling 43-27.
 
The home team (0-2, 0-2) got off to a fast start thanks to graduate student running back Justin Flack (Derry, Pa. / Derry). On his first carry of the day, Flack took off on an 81-yard touchdown sprint that made the score 6-0 after just 41 seconds of play. Senior Rico Sastoque (Concord, N.C. / Northwest Cabbarus) connected on the extra point to extend the Jacket advantage to seven points.
 
Grove City (2-0, 2-0) responded with seven points of its own to tie the score. After both sides traded interceptions, including one by Waynesburg sophomore Zyaire Corteguera (Lancaster, Pa. / JP McCaskey), the Jackets set up shop at their own 45-yard-line.
 
Junior quarterback Samuel Barber (Johnstown, Pa. / Greater Johnstown) rebounded from the turnover by completing passes to junior Dakota Romantino (Charleroi, Pa. / Charleroi) and Flack for a combined 26 yards and added four yards on the ground in the possession. Facing a third-and-one at the Wolverine 15, Barber handed the ball to sophomore Zayne Cawley (Huntingtown, Md. / Huntingtown), who slashed his way through the visiting defense and into the endzone to make the score 14-7.
 
The Orange and Black carried its seven-point advantage into quarter number two. Unfortunately, a slew of mental mistakes took its toll on the home team, as Grove City outscored their hosts 16-0 to take a 23-14 advantage into halftime. Waynesburg committed five penalties for 32 yards in the quarter and turned the ball over during the forgettable 15 minutes.
 
The third quarter featured just a combined three possessions, all of which ended in touchdowns, and a fourth that didn't end until the final period. Barber hooked up with sophomore Isaac Trout (Ruffs Dale, Pa. / Southmoreland) for an eight-yard touchdown pass that cut Grove City's lead to 30-20. The Wolverines rebounded to build a 36-20 edge as the fourth quarter got underway.
 
Waynesburg had possession as the final 15 minutes got underway, but a miscommunication between Barber and his receiver resulted in an interception. The Jacket defense rose up to force a punt, but another turnover gave the visiting team the ball back at the home 24. Grove City took advantage of the short field and scored its final touchdown to go up 43-20.
 
With just over 10 minutes remaining in the game, the Jackets attempted a miraculous comeback. Another Barber to Trout touchdown pass cut Waynesburg's deficit down to two scores with 6:14 showing on the game clock. Unfortunately, the Wolverines were able to melt the remainder of the contest away with a 10-play drive.
 
Barber completed 22-of-30 passes for 203 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions in his first collegiate start. He added five yards on six carries.
 
Flack moved into third place on Waynesburg's all-time career rushing list after tallying 114 yards and a score on 11 carries. He added five catches for 28 yards to give him 142 total yards of offense.
 
Trout and Romantino tied for the team lead with seven catches each. Trout paced the Jackets with 81 receiving yards, while Romantino added 59.
 
Sophomores Jaheim Williams (Erie, Pa. / Cathedral Prep), Jemuel Cypress (Seat Pleasant, Md. / Charles Herbert Flowers) and Alex Paulsen (Harmony, Pa. / Seneca Valley), as well as freshman Quilik Wooten (Capitol Heights, Md. / Flowers), all tied for the Waynesburg lead with six total tackles.
 
Though Waynesburg has no interest in moral victories, Saturday saw the Yellow Jackets suffer a much smaller margin of defeat than during a previous meeting with an opponent for a second-straight week. Grove City defeated Waynesburg 38-0 in 2021.
 
After playing back-to-back games at John F. Wiley Stadium, the Yellow Jackets travel to Pittsburgh next week to face the two-time defending PAC champions from Carnegie Mellon. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.