WAYNESBURG, Pa. (Oct. 4) – It was a picture-perfect day at John F. Wiley Stadium, as Waynesburg University celebrated Homecoming by hosting Allegheny in a Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) matchup. Unfortunately, the Gators spoiled the festivities by downing the host Yellow Jackets 21-11.
 
Waynesburg (2-3, 2-1) suffered the loss despite out-performing Allegheny (2-3, 2-1) in multiple significant offensive categories. The Jackets outgained the Gators both in passing yards (243-178) and total offensive yards (343-287), and logged two more first downs than the visitors (22-20).
 
Allegheny held a slight 30:35 to 29:25 edge in time of possession, but ultimately earned its most recent win by winning the turnover battle 2-0.
 
The Gators won the toss and elected to receive the opening kickoff. The visitors put together a marathon 17-play, 64-yard drive that ultimately stalled out at the Waynesburg 11 after 8:55 on the field. The Orange and Black special teams made their presence known when senior Alexander Paulsen (Harmony, Pa. / Seneca Valley) blocked the field goal try and kept the game scoreless.
 
After the Jackets' first possession ended in a punt, Allegheny's started at the home 47. A handful of plays later, the Gators broke up the shutout with the day's first touchdown. It was a lead they never relinquished over the afternoon.
 
Waynesburg got on the board late in the second thanks to a 20-yard field goal by junior kicker Drew Pinkerton (Fayetteville, Pa. / Chambersburg) with just over two minutes remaining until halftime.
 
The Jacket defense got the ball back for the offense after forcing a punt, but an interception gave possession back to the Gators. One play later, Allegheny struck for a 30-yard touchdown pass that made the score 14-3, which was also the halftime tally.
 
Waynesburg received the second-half kickoff, but was forced to punt. The defense got possession back for the offense, which drove the football down to the Allegheny 10. The Jackets had a chance to cut into the 11-point deficit, but a botched field goal attempt gave the ball back to the visitors.
 
The home team finally struck pay dirt on the final possession of the third quarter, which stretched into the fourth. Junior running back Carson Shriver (Fairview, W.Va. / Clay-Battelle) capped an 11-play, 67-yard possession with one-yard touchdown run. Sophomore quarterback Luke Hudson (Morgantown, W.Va. / University) ran in the ensuing two-point conversion to make the score 14-11.
 
Unfortunately, Allegheny was quick to respond with the game's final points, which came by way of a touchdown drive that covered 80 yards in 10 plays and chewed up 4:32. Waynesburg's ensuing possessions ended with a turnover-on-downs and an interception that allowed the Gators to kneel on the football and leave town with the win.
 
Hudson had a busy day behind center that saw him complete 27-of-37 passes for 243 yards. Junior Tyler Richmond (Carmichaels, Pa. / Carmichaels) was his favorite target on the day. He pulled in a game-high nine catches for a contest-best 109 yards.
 
Shriver powered the running game to the tune of a game-high 95 yards and a score on 18 carries.
 
Junior Joanes Polynice (Winter Garden, Fla. / West Orange) paced the Waynesburg defense with nine tackles, four of which were solo stops. Sophomore Isshak Adam (Carnegie, Pa. / Chartiers Valley) and junior Tyler Curry (Mannington, W.Va. / North Marion) chipped in eight tackles each on the afternoon.
 
Waynesburg is back in action on Saturday, Oct. 11, when it makes a road trip to PAC rival Grove City. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m.

*Full statistics from the game will be made available in the near future.