Waynesburg rallies past Saint Vincent for 1st win of season
Waynesburg University scored on back-to-back possessions in the third quarter and its defense held down Saint Vincent in a 13-7 victory on Saturday in Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC) play at John F. Wiley Stadium in Waynesburg.
The Yellow Jackets (1-4, 1-2 PAC) earned their first win of the year, as Waynesburg was celebrating Homecoming.
Larry Wilson also won his first game as head coach of the Yellow Jackets.
Waynesburg trailed 7-0 at halftime, but it tied the game with 9:25 left in the third quarter when Dominic Hickman threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Isaiah Fields to cap off an 11-play, 83-yard drive that took 5:35. Drew Pinkerton kicked the extra point.
Fields caught seven passes for 113 yards. Teammate Chase Whysong had five receptions for 75 yards.
Carmichaels graduate Tyler Richmond caught two passes for 19 yards.
Hickman was 17 of 26 for 246 yards with a touchdown and four interceptions.
The Yellow Jackets forced a three-and-out and Marcus Crum Jr. set the home team up in great field position when he returned Jarrett Garn’s punt 37 yards to the Bearcats’ 33.
Carson Shriver’s 26-yard run into the end zone put Waynesburg ahead, 13-7, with 5:54 remaining in the third period.
Shriver gained 36 yards on five carries. Teammate Landon Cawley led the Yellow Jackets in rushing with 45 yards on 13 attempts.
The Yellow Jackets forced a punt and turnover on downs on consecutive drives before Waynesburg’s Antonio Cipoletti intercepted Jake Phillips on Saint Vincent’s final drive that allowed the home team to run out the clock.
The Bearcats (1-2, 0-2 PAC) struck first with 3:21 left in the second quarter when Tristan Doy pulled in a seven-yard touchdown reception from Phillips and Cole Heckathorn connected on the extra point for a 7-0 lead. The seven-play, 100-yard drive lasted 3:55.
The Yellow Jackets’ Joanes Polynice intercepted his third pass of the season and shared the team lead in tackles with five.
Waynesburg dedicated its locker room to Carl DePasqua, the head coach of the undefeated 1966 NAIA championship team during a pregame ceremony.
Mia Henkins was crowned Homecoming Queen and Tyler Gordon was Homecoming King.
The Yellow Jackets are on a bye next week before they travel to Cleveland on Oct. 17 to face Case Western Reserve (3-1, 1-1 PAC) at 7 p.m.