WAYNESBURG, Pa. (Sept. 9) – The Waynesburg University Yellow Jackets score 27 points in loss to the Grove City College Wolverines, beginning its 2023 campaign 0-2. 

Waynesburg started the scoring in historic fashion, on the second play of the game senior running back Justin Flack went 81 yards for a touchdown to not just give Waynesburg a 6-0 lead, but, become third all-time in career rushing yards in Waynesburg’s football program history. 

Waynesburg University head football coach Dr. Cornelius Coleman said this when told about the new career accolade. 

“That statistical stuff doesn’t matter to me because I know that he’s such an outstanding player but an outstanding man in this program, it doesn’t surprise me when I hear stuff like that.”  

The Yellow Jackets went with sophomore quarterback Samuel Barber to start game two and when asked about the decision of Barber or sophomore quarterback Thomas Burke III coach Coleman stated. 

“Coming in the second half of the game week one versus Allegheny, you could see Barber’s older mentality, his composure, his ability to get the ball out and his confidence in the huddle.”  

But coach Coleman made it very clear “Week by week they are fighting to see who can get the nod as the number one quarterback.” 

It is no secret that penalties have been an early struggle for the Yellow Jackets, 30 penalties for 278 total yards is the most in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference (P.A.C). Nine more penalties than Thiel College (21) and 112 more penalty yards than Allegheny College (166). 

Waynesburg had one drive defensively that two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties were called, one on the first play of the Grove City drive, and another after a third and six stop. That drive for the Wolverines ended in a touchdown and the Waynesburg lead was cut to one. 

Both coach Coleman and Waynesburg University defensive coordinator Dave Arnold simply put that the team is “shooting themselves in the foot.”  

Coach Arnold then went on to elaborate and say “We have to play smarter; we have to keep our composure… If you get beat on a play, the play is over, get them back on the next play.” 

Flashing back to the 2022 season Waynesburg allowed the most rushing yards per game in the P.A.C (230.9) and Grove City ran for the most yards per game (235.9). “We did a good job stopping the run… they only gained 159 yards rushing,” said Arnold. “It was just one of those deals where we wanted to go into that game stopping the run… and they had a great day throwing the ball.” 

Waynesburg’s football program will travel to Carnegie Mellon University to take on the Tartans Sept. 16, and coach Coleman simply put “We’re not worried about who it’s against, who we’re playing, what they’re doing, we’re more concerned about how our young men go out and execute.” 

You can listen to the game on WCYJ-FM, 99.5 The Hive. Waynesburg university students Darrion Allensworth and Tyler Zeman will give you play-by-play coverage from Carnegie Mellon, while Anthony DiFilippo and Logan Lepiscopo bring you pregame, halftime, and postgame coverage.