This year’s coaching staff for Waynesburg University’s football program looks a little different compared to last season. Under head coach Chris Smithley, a pair of new graduate assistants join the coaching staff for the first time this year along with a new running backs coach. With a history in coaching which spans nearly 40 years, … Continue reading
Despite starting the season with back-to-back losses, Waynesburg University football have dominated time of possession and outscored opponents in the first half. One of the biggest issues of the better part of last year and this year, according to head coach Chris Smithley, is the team’s struggles in the second half—particularly the third quarter. Since … Continue reading
During the 2017 football campaign, head football coach Chris Smithley started then-sophomore quarterback Tyler Perone for the first seven games of the season. The team went 0-7. In the final game of that stretch, a 59-7 loss to Thomas More, Smithley switched to then-junior quarterback Jake Dougherty late in the game and he led the … Continue reading
Despite the seemingly impossible odds of making the National Football League from a Divison III team, linebacker Brent Blacharczyk has more potential to do so than anyone else. According to head coach Chris Smithley, he wouldn’t be surprised if Blacharczyk becomes one of those players. “I think that it’s got to match up with his … Continue reading
Football has always been more than just four quarters to John Sikora. After joining the program in 2011 as a recruited linebacker, Sikora will always remember what then-head coach Rick Shepas told him. “[He told] us after our first practice—this game really does matter,” Sikora said. “When guys see each other 30 and 40 years … Continue reading
When Jake Dougherty became the starting quarterback at Waynesburg University as a true freshman in 2015, he knew who he was succeeding. For the previous two seasons, the Yellow Jackets were led by Carter Hill, who became arguably one of the best field generals in school history. Although Dougherty was concerned at first about following … Continue reading
A little over a year ago, John F. Wiley Stadium sat under nearly eight feet of water due to local flooding. On Jan. 12, the flood waters returned. With a mixture of forecasted rain and melting snow, Purman Run, a tributary that runs directly east of Waynesburg University’s football field, spilled over its banks and … Continue reading
Following the retirement of Rick Shepas from the head coaching position for the Waynesburg University football team, Chris Smithley stepped in for the 2017 season as the interim head coach. Now, after a recent change, Smithley has been named as the next head coach for the football team, dropping the interim title. Following the conclusion … Continue reading
The Waynesburg University football team saw nine of its players receive Presidents’ Athletic Conference All-Conference laurels from the PAC for their play during the 2017 season. Five defensive players garnered accolades, while two offensive and two special team’s players picked up recognition from the PAC. Junior defensive back Justin Willkow was the team’s lone recipient … Continue reading
With a 42-0 loss to Presidents’ Athletic Conference rival Washington & Jefferson this past Saturday, the Waynesburg University football team wrapped up a season that left a lot to be desired for. The Yellow Jackets finished the year with a 2-8 overall record, including a 2-6 conference mark that put them tied for eighth place … Continue reading
