Waynesburg edged by Elizabeth Forward in conference opener
ELIZABETH – Those who may have questioned the credentials of the Waynesburg Raiders as they elevated to Class 3A this season should be educated to the fact they are for real.
Yes, Waynesburg (3-1) fell 38-33 in a thrilling Interstate Conference contest against Elizabeth Forward (4-0) at Warrior Stadium; but they were in no way intimidated by the environment or the opponent.
“I told my guys that I’d get into a foxhole with them anytime,” Raider coach Joe Kuhns said. “If they didn’t know who we are, they do now.”
Ky-mani Sumpter performed superbly for Waynesburg, rushing for 244 yards on 25 carries. Teagen Crouse provided some offensive balance, throwing for 123 yards.
Rocco Thompson rushed for 143 yards on 22 totes for the Warriors.
Elizabeth Forward put some space between them and the Raiders on their second drive of the third quarter when Kaden Allen raced 41 yards on third and long for a touchdown. The extra point was good, pushing their advantage to 26-14 at the 4:49 mark of the third.
As they did much of the night, Waynesburg responded with a scoring drive on their third possession of the second half. Kymani Sumpter ripped off a 28 yard touchdown run to cut the Warrior lead to 26-20 early in the fourth quarter.
It appeared the Raiders had assumed momentum at a critical moment in the ball game, but that lasted as long as the ensuing kickoff that was returned 78 yards for a touchdown by Elizabeth Forward’s Travis Dusi. The two-point pass however was no good, leaving the Warriors lead at 32-20 with 11:30 to go.
Waynesburg again though would not go away. On their very next offensive play, Sumpter ripped it up the middle of the Warrior defense for a stunning 90 yard touchdown run to slice the hosts lead to 32-27 at the 11:13 mark of the final frame.
“When I first saw him as a junior, he told me he was a receiver,” Kuhns said regarding Sumpter. “I told him no way, you’re now a running back. He was born to play that position.”
Knowing their defense was struggling to stop Elizabeth Forward, the Raiders executed an onside kick that Sumpter recovered, giving Waynesburg a chance to take the lead.
The Raiders did indeed retake the lead with 8:09 to go in the contest when Crouse; seemingly hemmed in; simply reversed field and outraced a stunned Elizabeth Forward defense for a 10 yard score. Sumpter’s two point run was stopped, leaving the Raiders lead at 33-32.
Unfazed, Elizabeth Forward roared back and jumped back into the lead thanks to a punishing 21 yard touchdown run with 3:19 left. Allen attempted to sprint around the left end to get the two-point try, but was stopped short by Jack Riccuiti, giving the Warriors a 38-33 lead with 3:19 remaining.
Waynesburg had a chance to win the game late as they faced a fourth and 9 from their own 40. Crouse threw a pass that was caught by Jack Riccuti, who was shoved out of bounds a yard short of the line to gain with less than a minute to go, giving the ball back to the Warriors, who ran to the clock to seal the contest.
“Timing on that whole play was off,” Kuhns said.
The Warriors began the smorgasbord of points with a 52 yard march on their initial drive. Allen climaxed the drive with a 5 yard run on fourth and goal. Luke Holdren’s kick was true as it gave the hosts a 7-0 lead a little more than four minutes into the contest.
Waynesburg responded in kind with a scoring drive of its own on their first chance to possess the ball as they drove 80 yards to the tying score. Crouse slithered in from the 1 to score his first touchdown of the evening. The senior signal-caller highlighted the drive with a 67 yard sprint down the sidelines to set up his short touchdown run.
Elizabeth-Forward then played leapfrog as they re-took the lead on their second possession of the game thanks to a tough 12 yard touchdown run by the bruising Thompson. An errant snap kept the Warriors lead at 13-7 early in the second frame.
The Raiders again got up off the mat and started swinging away again as they marched to their second score of the evening as Crouse did his best Josh Allen impersonation, scrambling right, pulling up the defense and flipping a four yard touchdown toss to Sumpter. Nate Riccuti knocked home the extra-point, giving Waynesburg a 14-13 lead at the 5:29 mark of the second quarter.
Thompson again made his presence known as he slammed in from the three with two plus minutes remaining in the half to push Elizabeth Forward back into the lead at 19-14. Allen’s two-point pass failed, leaving the Warriors lead at five.
Waynesburg threatened to retake the lead before the end of the half as they drove to the Warriors 11, where the march stalled. Riccuti’s 28-yard field goal attempt however was no good.