On Saturday afternoon, despite a 19-point comeback the Yellow Jackets fell to the Allegheny College Gators 39-36 in overtime. 

The game opened up with what would look to be a three-and-out for Waynesburg’s first offensive possession, but punter Ricco Sastoque would have a fake punt and he would rush for the first down. 

Unfortunately the drive would stall out, where Allegheny would get the ball and score on their opening possession, however missing the extra point.

The next drive Waynesburg would start with 1:40 remaining in the first quarter, but it would end 29 seconds later off a Thomas Burke III interception. 

The Gators would again capitalize and running back Tre Worship would run in a one-yard rushing TD. The two-point conversion would be no good and the game would be 12-0 in favor of the Gators. 

Then off that kickoff, freshman Xavier Nelson would run back a 99-yard kick return for a touchdown, to make the score 12-7. 

However the excitement wouldn’t last as Allegheny scored on that following drive and made the game 19-7. 

Waynesburg would punt on their last two possessions of the half and allow Allegheny to score once more to make it 26-7 going into the half. 

Coming out of the half, Allegheny would receive the kickoff and it would not last long as senior Joel Zellem would recover a fumble and run the ball back all the way to the three yardline, and Flack would get the touchdown to help Waynesburg get back within 12.

Allegheny their next possession for the first time all afternoon would punt the ball back to Waynesburg where Flack would finish off another productive drive with his second rushing touchdown.

Both teams their next offensive drives would punt the football back to each other, and then Allegheny would break the stalemate as Worship would get his third rushing touchdown of the day to extend the lead back to 12 with a score of 33-21.

The Yellow Jackets would continue the offensive progression with another Flack rushing touchdown and make the score 33-27. Sastoque on the extra-point attempt would miss allowing the Gators lead at 6.

Waynesburg would then get a fourth-down stop on Allegheny at the Waynesburg 31-yard line. And in just 42 seconds, new Waynesburg QB Sam Barber would find Dakota Romantino streaking down the sideline for a 39-yard touchdown. This tied the game up at 33-33.

The Yellow Jackets would get flagged after the play for unsportsmanlike conduct, pushing the extra point attempt back 15 yards, leading to a Sastoque miss and the game would be forced to overtime.  

The Jackets would win the coin toss and start with the ball first. Unfortunately, Waynesburg was held to a field goal, and on Allegheny’s possession on a third down and long would score the game winning touchdown, cutting the Waynesburg comeback just short. 

Allegheny QB Jack Johnson would throw for 305 yards and three touchdowns and Worship would rush for 134 yards and three touchdowns himself. 

Despite not starting the game for Waynesburg, division two transfer Sam Barber would play most of the game for Waynesburg passing the ball for 204 yards and touchdown and interception himself. Flack while only rushing for 65 yards also scored three touchdowns.

Flack spoke on how he feels towards it being his last season of playing football here at Waynesburg. 

“Definitely an emotional feeling knowing it was my last first game in my college career,” Flack said. “It was also an exciting feeling that football season is back and the opportunity for me to build and grow on that..”

Next week on September 9th, Allegheny College will head home to face the Geneva Golden Tornados and the Yellow Jackets will face the Grove City Wolverines for the first time since 2021 at John F Wiley Stadium with both games kicking off at 1 o’clock.