After coming off of another come-from-behind victory, this time over the Carnegie Mellon University Tartans, optimism is high for the Yellow Jackets heading into the rest of the season.

“It finally seems like we’ve got some guys stepping up and we’re finally starting to click together,” said junior quarterback Tyler Perone. “Over the past couple of years when the team falls behind, everybody seems down. But recently, especially over these past three games, we’ve continued to barrel forward and continue to fight.”

Continuing to fight is something Perone has done throughout his college career. A transfer from Seton Hill University, he ignited a quarterback mix up following the 2016 season which saw him move into the starting role after Jake Dougherty broke his collarbone. After going 0-7 to begin the 2017 season and getting benched for the final three games, the change up rolled over into the 2018 campaign.

Perone responded by winning his first games in which he started in his collegiate career, posting a season-high 222 yards in the win against Carnegie Mellon. His performance was the third highest in his career, and the most since week seven of 2016.

“I needed those wins for my self-confidence,” said Perone. “It was something that has been plaguing me. I couldn’t seem to find myself on the winning end of things and that has finally seemed to change.”

The coaching staff has also taken notice in the improvements.

“[Perone] is not getting fazed because he’s feeling more comfortable with the routes, the different schemes, and getting comfortable in the pocket,” said head coach Chris Smithley. “We’ve been taking some different routes in practices to make him more comfortable and he has gotten a better understanding [of the defense]. We’ll do whatever it takes to win, and if he threw the ball 15 or 60 times I’d be confident in [Perone’s] ability.”

A team that Perone has historically struggled with has been the Grove City College Wolverines, which is Waynesburg’s opponent this coming week. Last year, Perone was intercepted three times by the Grove City defense in the fourth quarter, leading to an eventual Wolverine win.

“They have a little bit of a different scheme than last year,” Perone said. “They’re a good football team and they proved that by beating Carnegie Mellon and Westminster.”

Grove City has been a team on the rise and the Presidents’ Athletic Conference has taken notice. The Wolverines were picked to finish fifth in the preseason poll.

Despite starting 0-3 to begin conference play, Grove City picked up consecutive wins over Carnegie Mellon and Westminster as it was led by junior running back Wesley Schools. Schools is currently second in the PAC in rushing yards only behind Geneva’s Trewon Marshall.

“This rushing attack is a little different than Geneva’s,” said Smithley regarding a defense that held Geneva to just 208 yards rushing. “Grove City is a little more spread out, so they have more ability to throw the ball. This team makes it a little more difficult when it comes to stopping the run because they spread the ball and make you cover the whole field.”

The game can be heard on WCYJ-FM with Paul Zalakar, Chris Hulse and Nick Callas on the call and Sam Hixson and Chace Johnston in the studio. Coverage begins at 1:00 p.m. with kickoff set for 1:30 p.m.-