Muskingum rallies to knock off Waynesburg
Waynesburg’s Cole Booth runs past Muskingum defender Jakob Yost.
Waynesburg’s Zach Baughman tries to avoid Muskingum’s Brian Brown.
Holly Tonini/ Observer-Reporter
Holly Tonini/Observer-Reporter
Holly Tonini/For the Observer-Reporter
Waynesburg and head coach Chris Smithley will try to end the season with two consecutive wins.
Holly Tonini/Observer-Reporter
Waynesburg’s Jake Dougherty rolls into the end zone for a touchdown against Muskingum.
Umbrellas were out at Waynesburg, not for rain, but to beat the heat during the first game of the season.
Waynesburg’s Tyler Srbinovich throws a pass around Tim Ousley in the first quarter.
WAYNESBURG – Little went as expected on a stifling hot Saturday afternoon at John F. Wiley Stadium.
Waynesburg University didn’t really have a quarterback problem, even though the Yellow Jackets used three of them.
The offense, which was a concern last year and had many new faces in the starting lineup when camp broke this month, amassed a respectable amount of yards and enough points to produce a victory over nonconference opponent Muskingum.
And the Yellow Jackets’ defense, especially against the run, was very good.
No, the turning point in Waynesburg’s 31-24 loss to Muskingum came on two crucial plays, one a giant mistake and the other a great play by Granger Long, the Muskies’ sticky-fingered tight end.
JaWuan Jones, Waynesburg’s kickoff returner, made a bad decision to return a kickoff after a Muskingum field goal tied the game, 17-17, with 2:25 left in the third quarter.
Jones was hit by Warren Wilson, fumbled, and Jayvon Brown fell on it in the end zone for a touchdown that gave Muskingum a touchdown and 10 points in the span of just seven seconds.
“It was a critical error that changed the momentum and so many things in the game,” said Waynesburg head coach Chris Smithley. “That’s on me. I take the (responsibility) for that.”
The play gave Muskingum a 24-17 lead and capped a 17-0 run in the third quarter. More important, it allowed the Muskies to withstand a charge by the Yellow Jackets that tied the game, 24-24, with 9:20 to play when Jake Dougherty bulled over from three yards out to tie the game.
The second play was when Long outwrestled a Waynesburg defender on a lofted pass from Muskingum quarterback Brody Hahn for the game-winning touchdown with 1:59 remaining in the fourth quarter.
“I told them at halftime that we were going to win the game,” said Muskingum first-year head coach Erik Ieuter. “We didn’t play as well as we could and that’s a credit to Waynesburg. The key turning point was recovering the fumble in the end zone.”
Waynesburg mounted one final drive and got the crowd to its feet when Dougherty hit Bobby Grishaber with a 30-yard completion to the Muskingum 32. But a fourth-down pass near the Muskingum 25-yard line was dislodged on a wicked high-low hit on Dorian Hardy.
Dougherty appeared to be the most effective of the three quarterbacks Waynesburg used against the Muskies. Freshman Tyler Srbinovich got the start but exited after completing 1 of 3 passes for 6 yards.
Dougherty went 6 of 11 for 70 yards with no TDs or interceptions. He rushed for Waynesburg’s first and last touchdowns. Tyler Perone completed 7 of 15 passes for 151 yards and a pretty 72-yard touchdown to wide receiver Cole Booth.
It was one of two nice catches for Booth, who finished with four receptions for 139 yards. Perone made an accurate through on a quick slant pattern and Booth went all the way to give Waynesburg a 14-7 lead in the second quarter.
“I don’t know if I played the best but we were all going to play,” said Dougherty. “We knew we were going to rotate. I just know that when my number was called, I left it all out on the field.”
Waynesburg’s defense bottled up Muskingum’s running game, allowing 71 yards on 20 carries. Hahn did hurt the Yellow Jackets secondary, completing 14 of 28 passes for 237 yards and three touchdowns.
Chad Walker had a strong game for Waynesburg, rushing for 72 yards on 17 carries.
Notes
Waynesburg had trouble with the center snaps as three went over the head of the quarterbacks. … Both teams had a turnover.