Sep 14, 2017 4 min read

When they gather on the field at Cameron Stadium, there will not be any tears shed, or exchange of swag bags, or even bear hugs.

Washington & Jefferson and Thomas More will play for the final time as members of the Presidents’ Athletic Conference, ending a rivalry that was sometimes bitter but always entertaining.

The Saints will move on to another conference after this season, ending a 12-year run that dominated the football ranks. Since Thomas More came into the PAC, a team that wanted to win a conference title had to beat one of these two teams or both.

W&J head coach Mike Sirianni said this is just the next game on the schedule, but these events seem anything but just the next game.

“We could meet again in the playoffs,” said Sirianni. “That kind of stuff doesn’t cross my mind. They won the last two years. We won the previous two. Every conference championship since 2005 has been decided by this game. It’s only one game and there is still a lot of football left to play.”

W&J, ranked 18th in the latest d3football.com Top 25 poll, won its first two games, battling St. John Fisher, 37-27, and routing Grove City, 47-7. Thomas More fell out of the poll after a stunning 25-23 loss to unranked Bridgewater. The Saints trailed by as much as 15 points but battled back to within two. The Saints’ Cole Mathias missed a 52-yard field goal attempt as time expired that could have won the game.

“We had our opportunities,” Thomas More coach Regis Scafe said. “All due respect to Bridgewater, we had eight, 10 plays that could have changed (the outcome). We lost by two. In a game like that, we mad too many mistakes. We have a huge game Saturday and we have to eliminate the mistakes.”

Thomas More has only five conference losses in the last nine seasons and two were to W&J. Two others came against Waynesburg.

“They and Westminster are the most talented teams in the conference,” said Sirianni. “Their loss was (unusual). They gave up a fake punt and had other things happen. They were picked to win the conference. We’re going to put a game plan down and try to win it in the fourth quarter.”

Quarterback Brenan Kuntz was sluggish against Bridgewater, completing 16 of 35 pass attempts for 178 yards, a TD and two interceptions. Tailback Hjavier Pitts rushed for 176 yards on 17 carries that included a 73-yard touchdown run. Pitts is averaging eight yards a carry and has scored four touchdowns.

W&J first-year starts quarterback Alex Rowse and tailback Jordan West took big steps forward after the seaosn opener, albeit against a lesser opponent. Rowse competed 22 of 29 attempts for 316 yards and four touchdowns. West rushed only 12 times in the lopsided game but scored three touchdowns, one by pass.

“Their quarterback is doing a tremendous job,” said Scafe. “Coach (Sirianni) was really high on him going into the season. He reads the defense well and can deliver the ball. West gives the team another dimension. He can break one any time.”

California at Millersville

Kickoff: noon

California will try for a 3-0 start with a PSAC crossover game at Millersville. The Crusaders are 1-1, coming off a 45-38 win over Seton Hill. Cal routed Cheyney, 54-14. Cal is ranked No. 5 in NCAA Division II and is 13-1 since Gary Dunn took over as head coach last year. The Marauders are a passing offense, led by Colin Shank, who has a 52 percent completion rate, 569 yards, four TDs, and one interception.

Carnegie Mellon at Waynesburg

Kickoff: 1:30 p.m.

Waynesburg is looking for its first win of the season. Carnegie Mellon is 2-0. Sophomore running back Jarves Crews got his first collegiate start for Waynesburg and rushed for a game-high 77 yards on 17 carries in a loss to Westminster last week. CMU tailback Sam Benger has rushed for 260 yard total in two games.