The Allegheny Gators football team took home a 39-36 overtime victory last Saturday versus the Waynesburg Yellow Jackets at John F. Wiley Stadium. The Gators thrashed the Yellow Jackets defense and combined for 498 total yards of offense en route to the season opening win.
For the men in blue, it was all smiles when they took a 26-7 lead into the locker room at halftime. But Allegheny had more work to do when Waynesburg’s late attempt at a comeback was successful during the fourth quarter — scoring 12 unanswered points in the last six minutes and 45 seconds to force additional play. The Yellow Jackets opened overtime with a field goal, but the
Gators connected on a touchdown the next series to seal the deal.
While a team cannot start better than 1-0, and it was Allegheny’s first debut win since returning to the Presidents’ Athletic Conference, the team is keeping a cool head and staying level for what’s to come the rest of the way.
“After a day like Saturday, we view it as a glass half full,” Head Coach Braden Layer said. “Which means there is a lot to be excited about — 1-0 is the ultimate goal — but, implying glass half full for our guys means there is still room. There’s still room for growth, there’s still room for improvement.”
While the offense performed at an efficient level, they also registered 111 yards on 14 yellow flags. They fumbled three times and lost the ball once. Defensively, the Gators surrendered three 35-plus yard plays including a 99-yard kickoff return.
The future is bright with Layer at the helm, despite the week one hiccups. This is his first year as a head coach, but he is well traveled and has already made one pit stop at Allegheny, during the 2017 and 2018 seasons.
Layer also comes in with experience from Austin Peay University after working as the defensive coordinator and Denison University while performing as their quarterbacks coach. He got his first bid as an offensive coordinator with Sewanee University before getting the call from B.J. Hammer and the Gators. He followed Hammer up to Bowdoin College before receiving his latest job opportunity from Division I University of Dayton, where he was again the quarterbacks coach.
Layer expressed his desire to stay in one spot and said he was sick and tired of moving. He plans to be at Allegheny for the foreseeable future, but also has big plans in regards to revamping a program that has gone 10-20 since his last stint here.
“I view this as an opportunity to reestablish Allegheny as a winner,” Layer said. “I was very lucky to be a part of that turnaround from 2-38 the four years before we got here as a staff to 6-4 by the end of our second season, so I think more than anything to take it because I know it can be done. I was really excited when I got the call and had the opportunity now to do it as the head coach. We got a ways to go, but it can be done.”
The pressure does not solely fall on Layer to get this team back to a respectable marker. While he has exposure to working on both sides of the football and takes the brunt of being the face of the coaching staff, there is a lot of trust that is put into the rest of the group. Layer hammered home the belief he has in his fellow staff stating that he does not want to micromanage other groups, and each assistant is the “head coach” of their own position.
There seems to be good chemistry between the leaders up front. Associate Head Coach Matt Cochran and Layer have already spent years working together at multiple different schools.
Another player that Layer will have to put a lot of trust in this year is Jack Johnson, ’24, who is into his third year at the starting quarterback for the Gators. The role of “QB one” plays into more than just his own position — but Johnson has to know what the assignments for his teammates are for every play on the offensive side.
He had good rhythm on Saturday, as Johnson connected for 305 yards through the air with a trio of touchdowns. It was his fourth time throwing for at least 300 yards in his career and first since November of 2021. He completed just under 75% of his passes, and looked as though he had not missed a beat during the offseason. Even with his personal success, Johnson keeps his mind focused on the bigger goals.
“Coming out with a win is always a good feeling,” Johnson said.
Similar to Layer, Johnson conveyed the team’s goal of staying level-headed. While there were plenty of small victories that led to the ultimate win in the box score, Johnson realizes there is still work that needs to be done. To achieve their maximum potential, he discussed how the team is trying to stay away from a potential emotional rollercoaster. For the Gators, it is about taking the results for what they are, and not letting the highs get too high or the lows get too low.
Allegheny has an edge in bringing back as many players as it has with meaningful experience. There are 39 upperclassmen — including 19 seniors — which can help in maintaining a professional locker room while still getting an enjoyable experience. Many of these guys have seen collegiate action for at least a full season.
Of the veterans there is plenty of star talent, including Declan O’Brien, ’24, who has become a favorite target of Johnson. Last season O’Brien was an All-PAC Honorable Mention and averaged just under 70 yards per game. During the opener, he had 14 catches for 169 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
“We have to take our matchups and put our weapons in the best place to win,” Johnson said. “Knowing where your playmakers are; you think of Declan, Austin White, ’27, in first college game made some plays, Ian Durci, ’25, on a slant, caught a touchdown. It has to do with them as much as anybody. (I) had a great time with the line up front — when it all comes together it’s easy for me to stand back there and throw it.”
Tre Worship, ’24, got the call for 34 carries on Saturday which resulted in 134 yards and three touchdowns. Worship came in as a fifth year senior during camp this summer, and was third on the depth chart despite starting all ten games the last two seasons. While Worship was able to lift with the team last spring, he was not able to practice when the new coaching staff arrived, which meant he had to shake some of the rust off.
According to Layer, he did not complain about being lower on the totem pole, and instead put his head down and got to work. He was able to impress the eyes of Layer, which earned him the right to start on opening day.
“He has emerged as a really good leader,” Layer said. “As a guy that the team really respects — when he talks, they listen.”
The Gators are implementing a new offensive scheme this year. Layer has given Johnson more freedom to throw the ball, while still keeping a good mix of the ground game in the equation. With new formations and new plays, typically comes more hiccups. But, Allegheny was able to limit that because they spend time in the huddle this year making sure they are ready for the next play.
Although it seems like a minor adjustment, it can make the world’s difference. Last year, Allegheny went no huddle, receiving their plays from the sidelines. With Johnson relaying the plays to the entire group, it gives the rest of the guys a chance to ask any last second questions to make sure everyone is on the same page.
It was not until the first week of August that this team could run plays together as a full group. Tempo and timing has been an emphasis for Johnson and company, and it paid off in week one resulting in a lot of enthusiasm for the team.
“Coach Layer always stresses that you have to have fun out there,” Johnson said. “That’s what keeps the energy alive and ultimately sparks big plays.”
Allegheny will be looking for more big plays this Saturday as they take on the Geneva Golden Tornadoes. It is the Gators home opener for the 2023 season, which has everyone fired up as they look to move to 2-0 on the year for the first time since 2010. The opening kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. at Frank B. Fuhrer Field at the Robertson Athletic Complex.
“We’re ready to get going,” Johnson said. “It’s been a long time coming and last year we didn’t have the season we wanted and we knew we were a lot better. With that whole year of preparation, conditions, workouts, we were all chomping at the bit to get out on our home field and we’re even more excited to do it again.”
