Case Western Reserve (0-0, 0-0 PAC) at Waynesburg (0-0, 0-0 PAC)

When: Saturday, Sept. 7, 1 p.m.

Where: Waynesburg, Pa. (John F. Wiley Stadium)

GAME NOTES | SEASON PREVIEW | LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO

ON WAYNESBURG
Waynesburg enters its third season under the direction of Dr. Cornelius Coleman. The Jackets had their winningest season since 2018 in his debut season, but a 1-5 record in games that were within one score in the fourth quarter had the Jackets settle for a 2-8 mark in 2023. Waynesburg returns both of its coordinators with Gabe Luvara handling the offensive playcalling for the third-straight year while Dave Arnold enters his second season as the defensive coordinator. The Jackets return a trio of all-conference performers in 2024.

ON CASE WESTERN
Case Western jumped out to a 6-1 start to the 2023 season before a pair of late road losses at Washington & Jefferson and Carnegie Mellon had the Spartans finish 7-3, fourth in the PAC standings. Seven wins were the most for the Spartans since the team last won the PAC and reached the NCAA Playoffs in 2019. Case Western returns a slew of returners on both sides of the ball, including nine graduate or fifth-year seniors. Noah Coyne returns as one of the top receivers in NCAA Division III, while the Spartan defense returns eight starters from one of the top units in the PAC.

THE SERIES (CASE WESTERN LEADS 8-1)
Waynesburg's lone win in the series came in CWRU's first year as an associate member of the PAC in 2014. The Spartans have averaged 43.8 points per game in the last eight meetings. This is the earliest meeting between the Jackets and Case Western after previously squaring off in week two in 2021 and 2022. Last season, CWRU downed the Jackets 35-0 and held WU to season-lows in points, rushing (56) and total offense (187). Case Western scored a touchdown in the waning seconds of the first half to lead 14-0 at halftime before scoring three more touchdowns in the third quarter.

KEEP AN EYE ON
Junior running back Zayne Cawley (Huntingtown, Md. / Huntingtown) looks to establish himself as Waynesburg's number one back this season after finishing second in the PAC in rushing yards (865) as well as rushing touchdowns with nine. Cawley also set Waynesburg's single game rushing record against Bethany with 336 yards and four touchdowns. Senior running back Hunter Cameron (Armagh, Pa. / United) is set to return after an injury early in the 2023 season. As a sophomore, Cameron earned the number two spot and boasted a successful campaign with 623 rushing yards as well as five touchdowns.