Some Yellow Jackets could only watch, with no opportunity to contribute, as Waynesburg University lost to Grove City for the first time since 2009 this past weekend.

Midway through the season, Waynesburg University’s football team is not at full strength, missing a few key athletes due to injury – one of which is season-ending.

Junior running back Ben Ciero started the season on the sidelines after an injury during fall training camp. After missing the opening two games of the season, Ciero saw game action for the first time against Carnegie Mellon University in Week Three.

Against CMU, Ciero contributed with 15 carries for 41 yards. With an offense pivoting around a successful run game, Ciero was one of the few running backs who brought experience to the position this year. Now, Ciero will only be able to contribute from the sidelines, as according to interim head coach Chris Smithley, he has suffered a season ending injury.

“[Ciero] has a Lisfranc [injury],” Smithley said. “[Ciero] is going to have surgery Thursday and is going to be out of the season.”

The injury involves displacement of the metatarsal bones from the tarsus and, according to Smithley, Ciero will be able to return to football in the spring and will serve as a coach throughout the remainder of the fall schedule.

“He’ll be back for spring [ball], but [the injury] is something that will definitely take some time to recover just because he needs surgery,” Smithley said. “We’ll look to do the right thing by him and look and see what we can do with a medical red shirt and try and save him a year.”

Another running back who has missed game time is sophomore Jarves Crews. Since Week Four against Case Western Reserve University, Crews has been dormant – seeing no game time. However, according to Smithley, Crews should return to full operation this week after missing time with an ankle injury.

Junior safety Andrew Brncic has also missed multiple weeks due to an injury suffered earlier this season, though it isn’t season ending. During the game against CMU in Week Three, Brncic suffered a collapsed right lung and was pulled partway through the second half of the game.

Before the injury, Brncic had played in every game this season with six total tackles, four of which were solo, had a broken-up pass against Westminster and against CMU he also had a blocked punt.

After missing the past two games, Smithley said Brncic’s return to the field is right around the corner.

“[Brncic] should be back [this week],” said Smithley. “He’s not that far off – I know he [was] only a few weeks out with his [initial injury].”

With a defense that has given up 77 points across the past two games, Smithley said having Brncic back in the rotation will bring back another dimension.

“It adds some experience [when Brncic returns], a guy that’s played a little bit in some packages last year – a guy that has played really well this year,” said Smithley. “He tackled really well in the games that he played…he’s a guy that we’d love to have back sooner rather than later.”

Finally, another integral part of the defensive comes in the form of senior linebacker Brent Blacharczyk. Starting in Week Four against Case Western Reserve University, Blacharczyk has been limited in his playing time due to, according to Smithley, a combination of injuries.
“[Blacharczyk’s] got like a turf toe type of deal, and then on top of that he has a high ankle sprain on the same foot,” said Smithley. “He’s got a lot of things going on with that. He’s getting treatment and doing the best that he can do to keep it right.”

Midway through the season, Blacharczyk is second on the team with 43 total tackles, 22 of which were solo takedowns.