The Waynesburg University Yellow Jackets football team fell to No. 25 John Carroll, 48-14, in their opening contest. This is the third straight season that the Yellow Jackets have lost in the season opener.

John Carroll came out quickly with a quick nine play, 70-yard opening drive touchdown and after a missed extra point, they led 6-0. The Blue Streaks continued the offensive pressure with touchdowns on each one of their first half possessions. They also added two first half safeties to establish a commanding 38-0 first half lead. Quarterback Nick Semptimphelter finished the first half a perfect 21-of-21 passing. 

Waynesburg started the game with senior Thomas Burke at quarterback for the first two drives of the game, before sophomore quarterback Luke Hudson took the reins for the remaining drives in the first half of play.

“What I take from our team compared to their team is the grit, the grind and the notion to understand that we are becoming one of the older seasoned teams,” Waynesburg head coach Dr. Cornelius Coleman said. “I loved the fact that there was no quit, no give up, there was a resilience from our young men that competed.”

Waynesburg started the second half hot with junior linebacker Ewing Jamison forcing a fumble and sophomore Isshak Adam recovering it. Burke came back in the game and he connected with junior wide receiver Tyler Richmond for a massive 61-yard touchdown. After the Drew Pinkerton extra point, the score was 38-7, John Carroll. 

“My biggest takeaway from the game Saturday is that when we are playing our best brand of football, we can play with anyone,” Richmond said.  “Yes, the score didn’t indicate that but at times there were some really good things happening through all facets of the game.”

The Blue Streaks added a third quarter touchdown and a fourth quarter field goal to make the score 48-7. Semptimphelter was pulled from the game, finishing 25 for 26 for 301 yards and two touchdowns, setting an NCAA Division III record for highest completion percentage in a game, minimum 20 attempts.  

The Yellow Jackets got the ball back when freshman defensive lineman Dailon Curry recovered a poor John Carroll snap. Hudson returned to the game to lead a five play, 45-yard drive where sophomore running back Mutwali Stewart took the ball in for a 2-yard touchdown run. Hudson finished 8 for 16 for 52 yards while Burke completed 6 of 11 passes, good for 108 yards, one touchdown and one interception.

Coach Coleman added that both quarterbacks will still be involved in the offense in the coming weeks. 

“They both give us a chance to be successful each and every drive. They both are going to have an opportunity to play,” Coleman said.

The Yellow Jackets will look to rebound next week when they travel to Dickinson for their last non-conference game before Presidents’ Athletic Conference play begins.