Oct 11, 2018 5 min read

We have reached the unofficial midway point of the small college football season and there have been some surprising circumstances to the season.

Waynesburg University, which entered the season with question marks at the skill positions, is on a three-game winning streak and sitting in the middle of the Presidents’ Athletic Conference standings.

California head coach Gary Dunn put his trust in a true freshman quarterback, Noah Mitchell, a risky proposition at any level of college football. After two close non-conference losses, the Vulcans seemed to find their way, knocking off No. 2 Indiana – that’s No. 2 in the NCAA Division II ranks – and holding the top spot in the PSAC West Division.

Washington & Jefferson, also breaking in a relatively new quarterback in Jake Adams, has actually gotten surprisingly strong play from a defense filled with new starters.

So what does the future hold for these teams?

Here’s one writer’s prognostication.

Waynesburg

Record: The Yellow Jackets are 3-3 overall, 3-2 and tied for third place in the PAC.

Where they’ve been: Losses to Muskingum, Westminster and Bethany had the Yellow Jackets wondering if the season was going to collapse. But wins over Geneva, Thiel and Carnegie Mellon by a combined nine points might have given head coach Chris Smithley an ulcer, but the run has completely changed the atmosphere on campus.

Where they are going: Wins over Grove City Saturday and Saint Vincent would assure a .500 season, unthinkable when the Yellow Jackets were winless nearly a month into the season. Case Western Reserve and W&J wait in Weeks 9 and 10 and it’s unrealistic to think a win could be had here. But it’s looking more and more like Smithley has Waynesburg headed in the right direction.

Up-and-comer: Brennan Sefick, a junior defensive back, has had his best games in the winning streak: an interception against CMU and Geneva and four pass breakups against Thiel.

Washington & Jefferson

Record: The Presidents are 6-0 overall, 5-0 and in first place in the PAC.

Where they’ve been: The Presidents were picked to win the PAC at the preseason media day and haven’t disappointed. Outside of a closer-than-expected, seven-point win over Bethany, W&J has displayed the firepower on offense to win the conference and receive the automatic bid to the NCAA Division III playoffs. What is surprising is the play of the defense. Six new starters seem to have injected an enthusiasm that produces big plays. Getting Case Western to turn the ball over four times was a key to the 44-36 victory.

Where they are going: Only injuries can stop this team. Four winnable games await, including Waynesburg in the regular-season finale. That would give W&J a 26th instance of either winning or sharing the PAC title. The second round of the playoffs have been a road block for the Presidents recently and as long as Mount Union is in the same pod, it will stay that way.

Up-and-comer: Sophomore wide receiver Andrew Wolf picked up where Jesse Zubik left off. Wolf has 43 receptions for 893 yards and 14 touchdowns. He has a chance to set school records in each of those three categories.

California

Record: The Vulcans are 4-2 overall but 3-0 and tied with Slippery Rock for first place in the PSAC West standings.

Where they’ve been: The Vulcans are two pass plays away from an undefeated record. One was a drop in the final seconds of a loss to Ohio Dominican in the opener and the second was an interception late against Kutztown in Week 2. But Mitchell has looked anything but a true freshman at quarterback as Cal rides a four-game winning streak into Saturday’s game against Gannon.

Where they are going: As it seems to be recently, winning the PSAC West comes down to beating IUP and Slippery Rock. Circle Oct. 27 on the calendar. That’s when the two teams meet and the feeling here is Cal will prevail, especially since it’s a home game.

Up-and-comer: Junior safety Lamont McPhatter has been one of the best secondary players in NCAA Division II. The transfer from Ball State has 30 tackles, five interceptions, an interception return of 100 yards for a touchdown that clinched the Indiana game, and two fumble recoveries.

Assistant sports editor Joe Tuscano can be reached at jtuscano@observer-reporter.com