WAYNESBORO – And just like that another high school varsity football season has ended.
What began as a promising 2024 campaign ended on a sour note, as the Waynesboro Indians lost on Senior Night, 35-31 against Hershey at Buchanan Automotive Stadium on Friday, Oct. 25.
Waynesboro, 4-1 after a 47-14 win over Palmyra on Sept. 20, lost its final five games to finish 4-6. The skid began with a 30-27 loss to Northern York on Homecoming, followed by losses against Mifflin County (20-14), Mechanicsburg (35-13), and Lower Dauphin (31-0).
The game couldn’t have gotten off to a better start for the Tribe. Senior Tank Benedict received the opening kickoff and ran down the Waynesboro sideline 90 yards for the touchdown, setting off a wild celebration in an enthusiastic and creatively dressed student section. Most students wore pink in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. That group has been vocal in its support of Waynesboro win or lose.
Benedict had a memorable night. The two-way player (he also plays linebacker) scored three touchdowns in the game, one that featured nine lead changes.
Benedict’s second score was a three-yard run around the left end that gave the Indians a 19-15 lead with 3:31 left in the second quarter. Junior quarterback Rayshawn Frazer-Hewitt threw a 29-yard pass to senior back Hayden Nolan that moved the ball to the Hershey 3-yard line.
With Waynesboro trailing 21-19 in the third quarter, the Indians marched 60 yards on seven plays. Benedict punctuated the drive with an 8-yard touchdown run. But the extra point was no good, and it was points after touchdowns that hurt the Tribe. Waynesboro missed four extra points and a field goal.
Hershey responded to every Waynesboro touchdown with its own. The Trojans took an 8-7 lead right after Benedict’s kickoff return.
The Indians regained the lead when Hayden Nolan made a nice catch in the end zone on a pass that was tipped. Nolan was falling back during the catch but managed to hold on. The missed extra point made the score 13-8.
Hershey took the lead back after a 6-play, 57-yard drive.
However, as was the case the entire game, Waynesboro came right back to take a 19-15 lead thanks to the feet of Benedict. Frazer-Hewitt used his feet to convert a third down. Hayden Nolan’s 29-yard reception came on fourth down.
Hershey led at the half, 25-21 after scoring on a 2-yard run with 59.8 seconds remaining in the first half.
Waynesboro’s Steven Howard intercepted a pass to set up his team’s fourth touchdown of the contest. The Trojans thought they had a takeaway after intercepting a pass. But Hershey was called for defensive holding. An unsportsmanlike conduct penalty added insult to injury. Hayden Nolan
carried the ball for nine yards to the Trojans’ 7. Two plays later, Benedict crossed the goal line to give the Indians a 25-21 lead.
It was Hershey’s turn to take the lead, and it took the Trojans nine plays to cover 48 yards and a 28-25 advantage that was destined to be short-lived.
Starting at its 35-yard line, the Tribe was bolstered by a 47-yard run by Nathan Nolan to give Waynesboro a first down at the Hershey 3. Frazer-Hewitt scored easily from a yard out, and the Indians led 31-28 with 11:56 left in the fourth quarter.
Waynesboro recovered a fumble on the ensuing kickoff and was getting close to the end zone. Frazer-Hewitt gained 23 yards on third down, and the Tribe was in business at the Trojans’ 17-yard line. Waynesboro got as close as the four but a fourth-down play resulted in a loss of one yard to give the ball back to Hershey.
This time, the Trojans were successful in moving the ball down the field and punching it in for a touchdown with 3:17 remaining.
Waynesboro turned the ball over on downs, and the Trojans ran out the clock.
After the game, parents of Waynesboro players met their sons on the track for pictures and conversations.
Nathan Nolan ran for 106 yards on 20 carries. He also caught three passes for 27 yards. Hayden Nolan caught two passes for 39 yards. Keyan Mobley picked up 35 yards on one of his receptions.
