CHAMBERSBURG – In a game that featured spectacular individual plays and a gutsy defensive performance by the Waynesboro Indians, it was mistakes at bad times that ended up costing Waynesboro.
Ethan Alldredge pulled in a pass from quarterback Rayshawn Frazer-Hewitt on the opposite sideline that drew the Tribe to within 27-20 and a real shot at coming from behind.
The belief was there, and the corresponding effort backed up the team’s confidence – something that was probably tested after Waynesboro lost to Hershey 35-14 a week after defeating Spring Grove 21-3 in the season opener.
But the Chambersburg Trojans made big plays and stopped Waynesboro’s running game in its tracks on their way to a 40-20 Mid-Penn Conference crossover game on a muggy Friday night.
Playing in one of the best stadiums in the conference (arguably among the top two or three along with Cumberland Valley), the Indians embraced the challenge.
Waynesboro fell behind 13-0 and it looked as though it might be a runaway. But a huge gainer by fullback Bryan Benedict highlighted a 3-play, 71-yard drive culminating in a bizarre ending to a touchdown. Frazer-Hewitt tossed a short pass to Nathan Nolan. Nolan coughed up the ball just outside the five yard line, but Gunnar Shifflett was in the right place at the right time and recovered the loose ball in the end zone.
Andrew Soffe booted the extra point to make it a 13-7 game.
The challenge for the Indians was to minimize the damage that Chambersburg’s offense – led by the arm of quarterback Riley Harmon – could do.
In the meantime, Waynesboro’s offense is a work in progress. It’s Frazer-Hewitt’s first season as the starting quarterback, and the pressure was on his right arm to get it done as the Trojans neutralized the Tribe’s rushing attack. Frazer-Hewitt completed 17 passes for 200 yards. He also threw an interception that led to Chambersburg’s final touchdown of the game.
Waynesboro’s defense held Chambersburg on downs on the Trojans next possession. However, the Tribe was forced to punt after three plays yielded no yards.
Waynesboro got the ball back again, this time on a fumble that was recovered by Hayden Nolan at the Chambersburg 23. The Indians squandered a golden opportunity to score points though. A fourth-down pass was incomplete, and the Trojans proceeded to march 77 yards to paydirt and a 20-7 lead with 2:18 left in the first half.
Plenty of time for some fireworks and a renewed sense of possibilities for a young Waynesboro team. Six seconds remained in the first half when Chambersburg lined up for a field goal attempt. But Waynesboro’s Andrew Florek broke through the line and blocked the field goal. A Waynesboro and Chambersburg player struggled to control the loose ball. Then, Shifflett scooped up the rolling ball and scampered around 50 yards for the touchdown that made it 20-13 at the half.
It was a case of so close, yet so far.
Harmon, who completed 19 passes for 294 yards, exploited seams in the Waynesboro defense. He connected with Jermere Jones for 23 yards during a scoring drive that brought the lead back to double digits, 27-13.
The Indians fought back on their next offensive series, driving 69 yards on 12 plays punctuated by Alldredge’s impressive catch while hugging the sideline. Frazer-Hewitt did a fantastic job of avoiding a sack and having the presence of mind to get the ball to an open (barely open) receiver. Frazer-Hewitt launched the ball at the last possible moment and the outcome was what Waynesboro desperately needed.
Chambersburg answered again, scoring on a six-play, 65-yard drive that ended with a 22-yard strike from Harmon to Jones. Jones had two defenders right on him, but he somehow not only got a hand on the ball but came down with it and broke loose the rest of the way to complete the touchdown play.
Chambersburg, which finished the game with 469 total yards, scored a touchdown with 4:14 left to play in the game to end the scoring.
Waynesboro will host Greencastle-Antrim on Friday, Sept. 15. Kickoff is 7 p.m.
