Six games into the season and the Waynesburg University Yellow Jackets have just one win on the season. This upcoming Saturday the Yellow Jackets play host to the Grove City College Wolverines. 

“When I look at Grove City, they’re an established program,” head coach Larry Wilson said. “They recruit kids that fit their schemes, they are just so sound and very good at what they do. To beat Grove City, you have to earn it.”

Coming off the bye week, the Yellow Jackets traveled to Cleveland, Ohio, to take on the Case Western Reserve University Spartans. The Yellow Jackets ended their trip with a 41-6 loss. 

The offensive struggles have plagued this team so far this season. Averaging just over 13 points a game combined with just 263 offensive yards per game. No where near the mark of what Wilson was used to with Pennsylvania Western University Clarion.

With the Golden Eagles, Wilson led the offense to more than 400 yards per game. The Yellow Jackets have just one game with this sort of production when the team fell short in a 21-20 loss to the Westminster College Titans.

Freshman quarterback Dominic Hickman is in line to make his first collegiate start against the Wolverines with other freshman quarterback Jaylen Bester being the backup. Hickman has appeared in every game so far this season accompanied with 500 passing yards and three total touchdowns. However, the problem Hickman has is giving the ball to the defense.

Hickman is tied for second in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC) with eight interceptions. 

“For what we’re trying to do, nobody really yet has stepped forth and has consistently had great tape to say they’re the guy,” Wilson said. “We’re still trying to figure out who that guy is going to be.”

The defense of the Yellow Jackets this season has been hot under coordinator Matt Tobey. Seven total interceptions on the season and 41 tackles for loss are both higher than the numbers from last season, along with 16 sacks which is just one shy of the total from last year. The Wolverines will statistically be the Yellow Jackets’ toughest conference opponent so far this season.

“Going into this Grove City game, simply playing physical and reading keys is a big part of this game, but the big piece for both sides of the ball is execution in all aspects of the game,” sophomore defensive back Jeremiah Hall said. 

Grove City:

Led by 11th – year head coach Andrew DiDonato, the Wolverines are 4-2 on the season and sit undefeated in PAC play. The Wolverines look to return to the Division III playoffs for the fourth straight season and win the PAC title since their back-to-back performances in 2023 and 2024.

The Wolverines’ offense is led by sophomore quarterback Mike Hollomon who has just over 1,200 passing yards this season combined with 14 passing touchdowns. Hollomon’s favorite target is senior receiver Darviae Gray who has 26 receptions for 369 yards and five scores. 

Sophomore defensive back Cameron Epps has been the standout player of the Wolverines’ defense. A PAC-leading five interceptions and 15 pass breakups just hints to the kind of player that Epps is. Sophomore linebacker Nick Clemens leads the team with two sacks. 

The Wolverines look to extend their win streak to five games as they travel to John F. Wiley Stadium to take on the Yellow Jackets in a noon kickoff. The game will be produced by the Waynesburg University Sports Network and JRM Sports with KDKA+.