Grove City fends off Yellow Jackets, 24-14
Grove City used touchdowns by its defense and special teams to fend off visiting Waynesburg University for a hard-earned 24-14 PAC victory at Robert E. Thorn Field on Saturday.
Ian Demeri rushed for 89 yards and Chase Rankin added 85 yards on the ground for the Wolverines (2-1, 3-2).
The Yellow Jackets’ Luke Hudson completed 19 of 32 passes for 252 yards but threw three interceptions including one that was brought back for a touchdown.
After a scoreless first quarter, Grove City got on the board first after Nick Clemens blocked a Waynesburg punt to set up Brady Lane’s 34-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead.
The Wolverines increased their lead to 10-0 four plays later when Dominic DiNinno intercepted a Hudson pass and returned it 48 yards for a touchdown.
The Yellow Jackets (2-2, 2-4) cut the margin to three with a 12-play, 99-yard drive that was capped by Carson Shriver’s 1-yard touchdown run with 1:05 left in the first half.
Waynesburg had a chance to tie the game midway through the third quarter but Drew Pinkerton’s 32-yard field goal attempt was blocked by Jack Jollie and Noah Wheeler picked up the ball and returned it 80 yards for a touchdown and a 17-7 advantage.
Late in the third quarter Waynesburg’s defense came up with a turnover and score when Joane Polynice forced a fumble as he sacked Grove City quarterback Sutton Ellis for a 6-yard loss, picked up the ball and ran it back 48 yards for a touchdown to make it 17-14.
The Wolverines pushed their lead back up to 10 points early in the fourth quarter when Ellis threw a 24-yard touchdown pass to Daniel Sullivan.
The Yellow Jackets answered with a nine-play, 65-yard drive but came up empty when Pinkerton missed a 27-yard field goal attempt, leaving the visitors still two scores down.
Waynesburg’s next drive ended on Keagan Fraser’s interception at the Grove City 26 with 1:43 left and the Wolverines ran the clock out from there.
The Yellow Jackets outgained Grove City, 318 yards to 242.
Polynice had nine tackles, including two sacks, and forced a pair of fumbles. Dacious Passmore recovered one of the fumbles. John Stewart also had nine tackles for Waynesburg.
Carmichaels graduate Tyler Richmond led the Yellow Jackets with eight receptions for 103 yards and Shriver had 19 carries for 50 yards.
Waynesburg hosts Geneva this Saturday with a 1 p.m. kickoff.