CRESTVIEW HILLS, Ky. (Sept. 28) – Saturday’s showdown between a pair of Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC) powerhouses got off to a great start for Waynesburg University. The Yellow Jackets became the first team to score on Thomas More’s vaunted defense in 2013 and jumped out to an early 7-0 lead
Unfortunately, that touchdown was the highlight of Waynesburg’s day, as Thomas More responded by scoring the next 28 points on its way to a 49-28 victory at Bank of Kentucky Field. The win improved the Saints to 3-0 overall and 2-0 in PAC play. Waynesburg’s first loss of 2013 dropped it to 3-1 overall and 1-1 in conference action
Out of all of Waynesburg’s highly accomplished offensive weapons, it was a bit of a surprise to see freshman fullback Jake DiGuilio be the first man to break the goal line against Thomas More. The burly back caught a short pass from junior quarterback Carter Hill and turned it into a 16-yard catch-and-run that capped a nine-play, 58-yard possession. After senior kicker Alex Henry knocked in his first extra point try of the day, the Yellow Jackets led 7-0 with 8:47 to go in the opening quarter
Unfortunately, that was the last time the Jackets added to its point total until the final seconds of the first half. That drought wouldn’t have been an issue for the visiting team, if not for the four unanswered touchdowns posted by the Saints that gave them a 28-7 lead with 1:20 left to play in the second quarter. The most painful of the four scores given up by Waynesburg was a 75-yard return that came off Hill’s first interception of the season
To their credit, the Jackets kept fighting until the end of the half and were able to grab one more touchdown before halftime. Junior Willie Leavell got Waynesburg back into the end zone when he grabbed a five-yard touchdown pass from Hill with just 16 seconds showing on the second-quarter clock. The score was set up by a 44-yard completion from Hill to junior wide receiver Bernie Thompson. The late tally pulled the Jackets to within 14 points (28-14) of their hosts as the first half came to a close
Waynesburg received the opening kickoff of the second half and was set up to pull to within a single score of Thomas More. Unfortunately, the vaunted Saint defense forced its opposition to punt the ball away after just 23 yards of forward progress and one first down. The home team found much more success with the ball and increased its lead to 35-14. Another Jacket punt led a two-play Saint scoring driv,e and with 7:17 remaining in the third quarter, the home team led 42-14
Leavell picked up his second touchdown of the game on a 28-yard run that made the score 42-21 late in the period. Thomas More scored its final touchdown of the game later in the third, and Waynesburg closed up the scoring when Hill got the ball to sophomore tight end Jordan Voitus for his first collegiate touchdown on a four-yard pass play
Despite throwing his first interception of the season, Hill still put together some very solid numbers. The junior standout completed 34-of-52 passes for 334 yards, three touchdowns and the pick. Thompson was Hill’s favorite target on the day. The third-year receiver pulled in a game-high six catches for 97 yards. Leavell and junior Andrew English added five catches each in defeat. Leavell was also Waynesburg’s top rusher. He picked up 64 yards on five carries
The Jacket defense was paced by senior defensive end Brandon Fedorka, who racked up a team-high seven tackles. He added half a sack to his stat sheet. Junior linebacker John Sikora, senior safety Bryan Gary and junior defensive lineman J.T. Thompson added six tackles each on the day
Waynesburg will look to get back on the winning track when they welcome Thiel College to John F. Wiley Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 5, for Homecoming. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.
