Waynesburg University Yellow Jackets (3-2)
vs.
Geneva College Golden Tornadoes (1-4)
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Reeves Field - Beaver Falls, PA
There are not a lot of positives to think about after Geneva′s 38-13 loss to Grove City last Saturday but the one thing the Golden Tornadoes can dwell on is that there are still five games left to be played. It is not too late to turn this ship around. However, the task does not get any easier this week when Geneva faces a formidable Waynesburg team. Waynesburg is coming off a 63-26 pounding victory of Westminster last Saturday for its third straight win after dropping the first two games of the season.
The Yellow Jacket offense is averaging 30 points a game. Sophomore quarterback Brad Dawson has emerged as the starter for the Waynesburg offense. He has split time with sophmore quarterback Kyle Kyper. They have passed for a combined 844 yards so far this season. Dawson and Kyper′s favorite target has been sophomore wide receiver Ray Hightower II, who leads the team with 19 receptions. The Yellow Jacket rushing attack is lead by sophomore running back Billy Becker. Becker has 445 rushing yards this season. A bright spot for the Geneva defense continues to be senior linebacker Zach Feltrop and his team leading 47 tackles this season. In the loss last Saturday The Golden Tornado defense also got a 13 tackle performance from sophomore saftey Matt Curry. Geneva also got a solid performance against Grove City from sophomore linebacker Dan Terracciano, who had an impressive interception and added 11 tackles. Despite those individual success, Geneva′s defensive unit must shore up some holes that has seen offenses put up almost 35 points per game.
On Saturday the Golden Tornadoes starting quarterback David Girardi found a new favorite target in the form of sophomore tight end Stuart Bell. Bell had seven catches against Grove City on Saturday for 77 yards and the only offensive touchdown of the game. Geneva′s sophomore running back Gerard Muschette also played well against the Wolverines. Muschette had 57 rushing yards on just nine carries. For the season Muschette continues to average over six yards per carry. If The Golden Tornadoes don′t want to get stung by the Yellow Jackets they may want to stick to the ground game today and the trio of Muschette, Matt Dean and Matt Barge. Reason being,the Yellow Jacket defense has accumulated 21 sacks and 11 interceptions this season. The Waynesburg defensive unit is led by junior linebacker Ryan Krull and his team leading 51 tackles. Senior defensive end D.J. DeWitt is also important to the Yellow Jacket defense. DeWitt has 26 tackles, 11 tackles for a loss, and six sacks this season. Junior cornerback Scott Cree leads Waynesburg with four interceptions.
Last season Geneva pulled out a thrilling 24-17 overtime victory against Waynesburg at Reeves Field. In that game the Golden Tornado defense was particually impressive in forcing the Yellow Jackets to commit four turnovers. Geneva also amassed 149 yards on the ground. Matt Dean led the way with 77 yards. Those turnovers helped stifle the Waynesburg ground game that gained 173 yards. Geneva is 28-38-4 in the all time series against Waynesburg. The series started back in 1908. The Golden Tornadoes last loss against Waynesburg came in 1986.
Geneva will go on the road again to Saint Vicent college next Saturday for a 1 pm kickoff. Waynesburg will travel to West Virginia next Saturday to face Bethany. The Golden Tornadoes will return to Reeves Field for the final two regular season games of the season against Thomas More (Nov. 8th) and Westminster (Nov. 15th).
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