Oct 14, 2017 3 min read

It is the unofficial midpoint of the college football season and Washington & Jefferson is charging toward a postseason berth, California University has apparently crashed and burned and Waynesburg is still looking for its first win.

What lies ahead?

Well, let’s take a look at each of the three teams and predict what might happen by season’s end.

Where they are: The Presidents are 3-0 in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference and 5-0 overall. They face a Bethany team with a bad record at 0-4 in the conference and 0-5 overall. But these games are always high spirited in this series.

Where they are going: A showdown with Westminster (3-0, 4-1) is coming in two weeks. Interestingly, Case Western Reserve also is undefeated, but W&J won’t play the Spartans because of the unbalanced schedule. The PAC will use a complicated tiebreaking system to figure out the team that gets the automatic playoff berth because if both finish with 10-0 records. Both will make the playoffs.

Surprise player: Quarterback Alex Rowse is playing well but tailback Justin Vickless has been tremendous replacing the injured Jordan West. The senior is averaging eight yards per carry and has 315 yards rushing and three touchdowns.

Interesting statistic: Wide receiver Jesse Zubik has only 28 receptions after a 97-catch junior season but 10 of those have gone for touchdowns.

California University

Where they are: Back-to-back stinging losses – 47-44 to Slippery Rock in overtime and 26-10 to Indiana – have all but killed any chance to win the PSAC West Division title or make the NCAA Division II playoffs. The Vulcans are in a tie for fourth place in the division with a 1-2 record and are 4-2 overall. Cal has to win out, including Saturday’s 3 p.m. start against (Clarion 1-2, 1-5)

Where they are going: The loss to IUP means the fate of Cal’s team rests in the hands of others. That is never a good place to be. Cal will not make the playoffs.

Surprise player: With tailback Nick Grissom missing time, Jimmy Wheeler has established himself as a dependable starter. The diminutive Wheeler is averaging more than four yards per carry.

Interesting stat: Cal has gotten off to great starts this season, outscoring teams, 73-19, in the first quarter, but stink coming out at halftime. Opponents outscore the Vulcans, 69-32, in the third quarter.

Waynesburg University

Where they are: The Yellow Jackets are still looking for that first victory for interim head coach Chris Smithley. They have lost the first six games and are tied with Bethany (0-2, 0-6) for last place in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference and have arguably two chances over the final four weeks to win a game. Waynesburg travels to Thomas More Saturday then has games against Thiel and Saint Vincent before a season-ender with W&J.

Where they are going: The feeling here is the Yellow Jackets will win one of the four games.

Surprise player: Junior linebacker John-Glen Davis has blossomed on defense, sitting fourth in the PAC with 52 tackles after two lesser seasons after graduating from Waynesburg High School.

Interesting stat: Teams without wins normally have poor turnover ratios. But Waynesburg’s is only minus-4.

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