ëƵ

close

McGuffey hands Waynesburg first loss of season

By Joe Tuscano, For The Greene County Messenger 3 min read
1 / 4

Waynesburg Central quarterback Jacob Stephenson (6) lines up behind the blocking of Layden Haynes (63) and sprints for the RaidersëƵ first score in the first quarter during Friday nightëƵs game at McGuffey. (Photo by Mark Marietta)

2 / 4

Mark Marietta

Waynesburg CentralëƵs Ross Tennant (26) and Colby Pauley (7) attempt to bring down McGuffey running back Charles Wagers during Friday nightëƵs game at McGuffey.

3 / 4

Waynesburg CentralëƵs Colby Pauley (7) zones in on McGuffey quarterback Connor Crowe (8) during Friday nightëƵs game at McGuffey. (Photo by Mark Marietta)

4 / 4

Mark Marietta

Waynesburg CentralëƵs Ross Tennant (26) returns a kickoff during Friday nightëƵs game at McGuffey.

CLAYSVILLE ëƵ Knute Rockne would have been proud of the way McGuffeyëƵs football team played Friday night.

The Highlanders scored three second-half touchdowns to take a 26-7 victory from previously undefeated Waynesburg Central in a Class 2A Century Conference game on the gray artificial turf of McGuffey.

The Highlanders are 2-0 in the conference and 3-2 overall. Waynesburg falls to 1-1 in the conference and 4-1 overall.

McGuffey takes on Sto-Rox next week on the road and Waynesburg hosts Washington.

Dylan Drobol scored on two short runs in the second half and quarterback Connor Crowe scored on a four-yard plunge for the Highlanders to account for the second-half points.

ëƵIt was a different mindset that we had in the second half,ëƵ said Crowe. ëƵWe played together as a team.ëƵ

Crowe thought blocking the Dalton Taylor field goal attempt as the first half expired was a huge play.

ëƵWhen we blocked that field goal, the energy changed,ëƵ said Crowe. ëƵAbsolutely, it was the turning point in the game.ëƵ

McGuffey head coach Ed Dalton said it is either the system or the players that make a team successful.

ëƵThey are a player team,ëƵ Dalton said of Waynesburg. ëƵThey want to get the ball to this guy and that guy. We are a system team. We just think our style of play leads us to be consistent.

ëƵThere were a massive amount of plays. We blocked the kick before halftime. I think we could have been up by 14 or 21 points at halftime. We had some self-inflicted wounds, but I guess they could say the same thing.ëƵ

Droboj was one of five players who ran the ball out of McGuffeyëƵs flexbone backfield. He gained 37 yards on 10 carries.

ëƵItëƵs amazing to play in this offense,ëƵ said Droboj. ëƵItëƵs physical but IëƵm ready for it. The line pushed open the holes for me.ëƵ

Crowe ran for 93 yards on nine carries and Charles Wagers gained 45 on eight attempts.

ëƵConnor is like a magician,ëƵ Dalton said. ëƵHeëƵs as good an option quarterback as we ever had. He was 11 for 12 on his reads. If heëƵs 11 for 12, then weëƵre going to be pretty good.ëƵ

Waynesburg head coach Aaron Giorgi was not available for comment after the game.

Waynesburg quarterback Jake Stephenson completed 9 of 18 pass attempts for 62 yards. He also ran for 70 yards on 11 attempts.

The first half ended in a 7-7 tie but Waynesburg had to feel frustrated.

The Raiders opened the game with an 11-play, 68-yard drive that was capped by a six-yard touchdown run by Stephenson. McGuffey answered on its next possession, driving 56 yards on 15 plays and tying the score when Wagers bulled over from three yards out. Dylan StewartëƵs extra point tied the score at 7-7.

McGuffey then turned the ball over as running back Droboj fumbled and Waynesburg recovered at the 37-yard line.

Stephenson launched a beautiful pass that hit Zach Jiblits in stride for an apparent touchdown. But Waynesburg was called for a holding penalty, negating the touchdown. McGuffeyëƵs defense then forced a punt on fourth down.

Near the end of the half, Waynesburg drove to the McGuffey 3-yard line. But an incomplete pass brought a fourth down and Dalton TaylorëƵs 23-yard field goal attempt was blocked, which seemed to pump life into McGuffey.

CUSTOMER LOGIN

If you have an account and are registered for online access, sign in with your email address and password below.

NEW CUSTOMERS/UNREGISTERED ACCOUNTS

Never been a subscriber and want to subscribe, click the Subscribe button below.

Starting at /week.