BETHANY, W.Va. (Nov. 1) – The Waynesburg University football team broke out of its four-game losing streak in a big way during Saturday's road Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) matchup at Bethany. The Yellow Jackets leaned on its power running game and some big plays from the passing game to down the Bison 48-28.
 
Waynesburg's (3-6, 3-4) 48 points eclipses the 45 combined points it scored over the team's four previous games. It is also the squad's highest scoring output since tallying 52 points in a week one win over Gallaudet in 2022.
 
The Jackets' 355 net yards rushing represent the second-highest total recorded by a PAC team this year. Junior Carson Shriver (Fairview, W.Va. / Clay-Battelle) powered the ground assault with 228 yards rushing, which is the second-highest single-game effort in the PAC this season. Senior Zayne Cawley (Huntingtown, Md. / Huntingtown) has the top mark with 230 yards in a win against Hiram.
 
Things started slowly for both offenses and the game was scoreless heading into the second quarter. Bethany (0-8, 0-6) broke up the shutout with a 31-yard field goal.
 
The lead didn't last long, however, as senior Isaac Trout (Ruffs Dale, Pa. / Southmoreland) logged Waynesburg's first special teams touchdown of the year, when he took the ensuing kickoff 91 yards for the game's first touchdown. Junior kicker Drew Pinkerton (Fayetteville, Pa. / Chambersburg) tacked on the extra point and Waynesburg led 7-0 with 11:14 remaining in the first half.
 
That score opened the flood gates for the Waynesburg offense, which tallied its first score of the day on a 10-play, 81-yard marathon march down the field. Sophomore Mutwali Stewart (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Central Catholic) capped the drive with a two-yard touchdown run. Another Pinkerton PAT ran Waynesburg's lead to 14-3 with 3:32 showing on the clock.
 
Bethany trimmed into its 11-point deficit with its second field goal of the day as time expired in the first half.
 
It didn't take the Jacket ground game long to re-establish itself in the third quarter. Waynesburg put together a five-play possession, all of which came on the ground, that covered 66 yards and ended with a 34-yard touchdown sprint by sophomore wide receiver Elija Jackson (Morgantown, W.Va. / University). Shriver gained the first 32 yards of drive on four carries.
 
After the Jacket defense forced Bethany to fumble the ball away on its next possession, Shriver followed a 13-yard run with a 64-yard scamper to daylight for another Waynesburg touchdown.
 
The Jacket defense set up yet another Orange and Black scoring drive after forcing a turnover-on-downs at the Bethany 42. Senior quarterback Thomas Burke III (West Leechburg, Pa. / Leechburg) got in on the fun when he hooked up with junior Tyler Richmond (Carmichaels, Pa. / Carmichaels) on a 42-yard touchdown pass that upped the Waynesburg lead to 35-6 midway through the third quarter.
 
Bethany posted its first touchdown on its final drive of the period, before the Jackets posted a touchdown of their own on a fifth-straight possession. Stewart secured his first multi-touchdown performance as a collegiate player when he powered in from six yards out.
 
Speaking of multi-touchdown performances, Burke tossed touchdown number two on the afternoon to complete the scoring for the Jackets. This one found sophomore wide receiver Isaiah Fields from 19 yards out with 10:17 remaining in the ball game.
 
The Bison scored the final two touchdowns of the game, but it was too little, too late as their comeback try ended 20 points shy of fruition.
 
Along with a rushing attack that saw six different ball carriers, Burke added some balance to the offense with 167 yards and two scores with no interceptions on 10-of-15 passing. Richmond paced the Jackets with 86 yards receiving on three catches. Fields logged a team-high four grabs for 36 yards.
 
Junior Kevin Willis (Donora, Pa. / Ringgold) led the Waynesburg defense with his best game in a Yellow Jacket jersey. He piled up a game-high 13 tackles, including a contest-best nine solo stops. Junior Ewing Jamison (Jefferson, Pa. / Jefferson-Morgan) added seven tackles, five of which were solo hits, and a fumble recovery.
 
Waynesburg wraps up the 2025 season on Saturday, Nov. 8, when it hosts Saint Vincent for senior day. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.