Grove City College Athletics

WAYNESBURG, Pa. -- The Grove City College football team rolled up 29 first downs and over 200 yards both rushing and receiving Saturday afternoon as the Wolverines (5-2, 4-0) earned a 47-7 win at Waynesburg University in Presidents' Athletic Conference play at John F. Wiley Stadium. It is the Wolverines' fifth consecutive victory.

While Grove City's offense featured balance, the Grove City defense held Waynesburg (1-6, 1-4) to 180 yards on 51 plays. The Wolverines recorded three sacks and forced two turnovers. Sophomore defensive end Cole Savage (Greensburg, Pa./Greensburg Salem), sophomore linebacker Andrew Moberg (Lancaster, N.Y./Lancaster) and sophomore defensive end Jack Hricovec (Avon, Ohio/Avon) all had sacks. 

Meanwhile, graduate student safety Ryan Montgomery (Harrisville, Pa./Slippery Rock) intercepted a pass and senior safety Johnny Ruggles (Austintown, Ohio/Fitch) recovered a fumble.

Sophomore quarterback Mike Hollomon (Princeton, N.J./The Pingry School) completed 17 of 23 attempts for 173 yards and three touchdowns. Senior wide receiver Darviae Gray (Buffalo, N.Y./Amherst Central) caught seven passes for 86 yards and two scores while sophomore wide receiver Kaden Spencer (Cabot, Pa./Knoch) also caught a touchdown pass. 

Waynesburg drove to the Grove City 19 on the opening possession of the game but Montgomery intercepted Dominic Hickman's pass at the 2. He returned the interception -- his second of the season -- to the Wolverines' 28. 

Ten plays later, Hollomon fired an 11-yard touchdown pass to Gray, giving Grove City a 7-0 lead with 6:13 left in the first quarter. 

The lead grew to 14-0 with 23 seconds left in the period on Hollomon's 12-yard touchdown pass to Gray. 

Waynesburg cut the lead to 14-7 on a Landon Cawley one-yard touchdown run five minutes into the second quarter. Grove City answered with a nine-play, 63-yard drive that culminated in Spencer's five-yard touchdown reception from Hollomon with 4:55 left in the first half. 

Senior running back Sutton Ellis (Brunswick, Ga./Frederica Academy) pushed Grove City's lead to 26-7 at halftime when he scored on a two-yard run with 19 seconds left. Ellis then opened the second-half scoring with a four-yard touchdown run 4:31 into the third quarter. 

Freshman Nico Casciato (Irwin, Pa./Penn-Trafford) scored on a 12-yard run in the final minute of the third quarter. Sophomore running back Zier Williams (Russelton, Pa./Deer Lakes) scored on a two-yard plunge with 7:11 remaining in the game. 

Casciato led Grove City with 98 yards on 15 carries. Ellis had 58 yards on a dozen attempts. Grove City finished with 209 rushing yards and 424 total offensive yards. 

Grove City converted its first 11 third-down opportunities and went 11 for 12 on third down. The Wolverines did not punt for the second straight week. Grove City owned a 36:26-23:34 edge in time of possession.

Freshman linebacker Brayden Gerst (New Stanton, Pa./Hempfield) led Grove City with six tackles. Hricovec and senior end Mason Kraeer (Washington, Pa./Trinity) both had two tackles for loss. 

Hickman completed 11 of 26 passes for 107 yards. Zayne Cawley led Waynesburg with 56 rushing yards. 

Grove City will conclude its regular season road schedule next Saturday night at Washington & Jefferson (6-1, 5-0). Kickoff will be 6 p.m. at Cameron Stadium.