WAYNESBURG, Pa. -- The Allegheny College football team earned a 21-11 victory over Waynesburg University in Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) action on Saturday afternoon at John F. Wiley Stadium.

Allegheny (2-3, 2-1 PAC) halted Waynesburg's (2-3, 2-1 PAC) two-game conference win streak with a bend-but-don't-break defensive effort and a solid performance by true freshman quarterback Nick Barker (Cleveland, Ohio/Padua Franciscan). After filling in for the injured Carson Colucci (Brewster, Ohio/Fairless) in the second half of last week's matchup against Geneva College, Barker threw three touchdown passes in his first collegiate start.

Barker connected with three different receivers on each of his touchdown passes. The Gators took a 7-0 lead at the end of the first quarter on an RPO, as Barker pulled the ball from the running back and slung it to Chris Gisewhite (Corpus Christi, Texas/Flour Bluff) on a backside slant route at the seven-yard line. Gisewhite broke one tackle and dragged another Waynesburg defensive back into the end zone for his first touchdown reception of the season.

The Gators took a 14-3 lead into the locker room at halftime, thanks in part to a Coltin Colucci (Brewster, Ohio/Fairless) interception. With the Yellow Jackets looking to piece together a two-minute offensive drive before the intermission, Javi Edwards (Youngstown, Ohio/Ursuline) popped a Waynesburg receiver attempting to make a play over the middle of the field, and Colucci grabbed the loose ball for the turnover. The next play from scrimmage was a 30-yard touchdown reception by Nick Burkey (Hollidaysburg, Pa./Hollidaysburg).

Waynesburg cut the deficit to 14-11 early in the fourth quarter with a touchdown and two-point conversion. The Gator offense responded and regained a two-possession lead, but not before shaving nearly seven minutes off the clock with a methodical drive. This time, Barker capped off the drive with a nine-yard pass in the flat to a wide-open Will Griffin (Hingham, Mass./Hingham) for the team's third score.

The Yellow Jackets marched downfield inside the final two minutes, but junior David Williams (Boca Raton, Fla./Boca Raton) picked off Waynesburg's Luke Hudson in the end zone to snap any hopes of a late comeback attempt.

Inside the Box Score

• Allegheny amassed 173 passing yards and 114 rushing yards for 287 yards of total offense.
• Waynesburg's offense recorded 345 yards, including 245 through the air.
• The Gators converted 6-of-12 (50.0%) of their third-down attempts, whereas the Yellow Jackets were successful on 2-of-8 (25.0%) third downs.
• Both special teams units blocked a field goal.
• Barker finished 15-of-23 (65.2%) with 173 passing yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions.
• Waynesburg's Hudson was 26-of-36 (72.2%) for 245 yards and two interceptions; he had a third interception overturned due to a defensive holding penalty against the Gators.
• Berarducci ran for team-high 96 yards and added one reception for six yards.
• Burkey made three catches for 51 yards, Griffin had three catches for 33 yards, and Gisewhite's 15-yard touchdown was his lone reception.
• Williams finished with eight tackles, including a half-tackle for a loss, and one interception.
• Colucci posted six tackles with one interception.
• Defensive end Aizik Campbell (Mobile, Ala./Mary G. Montgomery) blocked a Waynesburg 26-yard field goal attempt in the third quarter.

News and Notes

• Allegheny improved to 2-3 overall and 2-1 against PAC opponents.
• Since rejoining the PAC ahead of the 2022 season, the Gators are now 3-1 against Waynesburg.
• Barker is the first true freshman to start at quarterback for the Gators since Logan Lee '19 in 2015.
• Williams recorded his fourth career interception and has now picked off a pass in back-to-back weeks.
• Griffin's touchdown reception in the fourth quarter marked the first of his career.

Up Next
Allegheny will travel to Cleveland to face Case Western Reserve University in a PAC contest on Saturday, October 11, at 4:30 p.m.