PAC Football Notebook: Washington and Jefferson remains the team to beat
· Yahoo Sports
The Presidents’ Athletic Conference football season officially started Thursday and Friday – with both Westminster and Case Western Reserve losing their season openers – but today marks the first Saturday we’ll have a full slate of DIII football.
The local Gators, picked sixth in the preseason poll last month, get their start on the road against Anderson (Indiana) today at 1:30 p.m. Meanwhile, PAC powerhouse Washington and Jefferson, the two-time reigning conference champions for the 28th time, kick off their season on the road in Utica, New York.
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With football weather starting to inch its way in (although what has been with these storms), here are some notes about each team in the PAC and who their players to watch are:
No. 1 Washington and Jefferson (2025 8-3, 8-0 PAC)
You read that right up above: the Presidents are coming off back-to-back conference championships. They finished with a winning record for the 42nd time, third best among active DIII participants, and have their eyes set on yet another NCAA berth.
They had 10 players named to the All-PAC team, five of which were named as players to watch this season.
On the defensive side of the ball, Washington and Jefferson returns two All-PAC First-Team members in Brock Sherman and Antoine Smith. Sherman finished with 97 total tackles and eight quarterback hits. Smith, meanwhile, had 40 tackles and eight quarterback hits himself.
Joining those two is All-PAC Second-Team defensive back Dante DeRubbo, who finished with 22 tackles (13 solo, nine assists), seven interceptions and five pass breakups.
On offense, the Presidents bring back linemen Grant Lefeld and Michael Roginsky.
In total, the Presidents have 13 returning starters combined on both sides of the ball.
First game: Today at Utica, noon
No. 2 Grove City (2025 8-3, 7-1 PAC)
The Wolverines enter 2026 seeking their fourth consecutive NCAA berth. Last season, they lost to Hanover in the first round.
Grove City is in a good position to achieve that goal, with 13 returning starters (seven offensive, five defensive, one special teams).
On offense, 2025 Honorable Mention Chase Ranking returns after rushing for 753 yards and six touchdowns. His path will be cleared by returning All-PAC First Team guard Gabe Hilty.
On defense, safety Noah Wheeler (All-PAC First Team) and corner back Ryan Montgomery (All-PAC Honorable Mention) return after combining for six interceptions.
Brady Lane was a first-team selection after going 36-for-37 on PAT and nailing four field goals.
Sophomore quarterback Mike Holloman will get the start for the Wolverines after completing nine of his 17 attempts a season ago.
First game: Today vs. Cortland, noon
No. 3 Westminster (2025 8-3, 6-2 PAC)
The Titans will be under new leadership this season, although not permanently, with EJ White.
White was the offensive coordinator and quarterback coach last season. He was elevated to interim head coach after Scott Benzel left to become Duke’s Senior Offensive Analyst.
Westminster earned an appearance in the Opendorse Bowl Series last season, in which it defeated Mount St. Joseph 40-21 to cap an 8-3 season.
Five players were named to the PAC Watch List, headlined by 2025 All-PAC First-Team selections Lamont Austin (DB) and Braden Mike (OL).
Austin finished his sophomore season with 32 tackles, four interceptions and four pass breakups.
The other three players named to the list were defensive back Aiden Fletcher and quarterbacks Quentin Goode and Sean O’Shea.
Fletcher recorded 37 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and two pass breakups. Goode threw for 1,557 yards with 15 touchdowns and three interceptions. O’Shea only appeared in three games last season.
Next game: Sept. 12 vs. Franklin and Marshall, 1 p.m.
No. 4 Case Western Reserve (2025 4-5-1, 4-4 PAC)
Last season ended nine straight winning years for the Spartans. A good way to get back on track is talent continuity, which is what the Spartans did this past offseason.
Quarterback Aaron Fillips returns for a graduate season under head coach Greg Debeljak. Fillips suffered a season-ending injury last season, but that was after throwing for 743 yards, nine touchdowns and one interception.
Andy Kavcic returns in the backfield for Case Western after rushing the ball 44 times for 214 yards and two touchdowns.
Defensive backs Yaw Gyamfi and Jake Kavcic (All-PAC Second Team) return for their junior seasons after combining for four interceptions and five pass breakups. On the line, Jack Tierney (All-PAC Honorable Mention) recorded 24 tackles and two quarterback hits.
Next game: Sept. 19 versus Shenandoah University, noon
No. 5 Geneva College (2025 6-5, 6-2 PAC)
The Golden Tornadoes are coming off their best season since 2009, winning six games and earning a berth to the ECAC Scotty Whitelaw Bowl.
But after such success, 33-year veteran head coach Geno DeMarco stepped down and took an assistant role for this season. Tom Contenta will now be calling the shots from the sidelines.
Four players were named to the PAC Watchlist: seniors Caleb Romano (QB) and Coltin Hill (DL), and juniors Noah Hutcherson (DB) and Cody Patterson (DB).
Romano had a historic season for Geneva as he eclipsed 3,000 yards passing (3,471) on his way to 33 touchdowns. That level of production earned him a spot on the conference’s second team.
Hill also made the second team after recording 76 tackles, one pass breakup and two quarterback hits. Hutcherson, meanwhile, was an honorable mention who finished his sophomore season with 81 tackles, one interception and seven pass breakups. Patterson also had a productive sophomore season, racking up 47 tackles, two interceptions and five pass breakups.
First game: Today vs. Widener University, 3:05 p.m.
No. 6 Allegheny College (2025 4-6, 4-4 PAC)
First game: Today at Anderson (Indiana), 1:30 p.m.
PAC Players to Watch
Carson Colucci (Jr., QB)
Coltin Colucci (5th, LB)
Drew Evans (Sr., DL)
Remington Rossow (So., WR)
Landon Wayne (Sr., DB)
No. 7 Waynesburg University (2025 4-6, 4-4 PAC)
First game: Today vs. Capital, 1 p.m.
PAC Players to Watch
Isshak Adam (Jr., DL)
Kory Ansell (Grad., OL)
Zayne Cawley (Sr., RB)
Joanes Polynice (Sr., DB)
Carson Shriver (Sr., RB)
No. 8 Saint Vincent College (2025 2-8, 1-4 PAC)
First game: Today vs. Hilbert College, 1 p.m.
PAC Players to Watch
Patrick Connolly (Jr., DB)
Chris Downs (Sr., WR)
Robbie Labuda (Sr., S)
Nathan Parker (Jr., LB)
Jake Phillips (Sr., QB)
No. 9 Hiram College (2025 3-7, 2-6 PAC)
First game: Today at Oberlin College, 2 p.m.
PAC Players to Watch
Darius Cofield-Washington (Jr., LB)
Kevin Dycks (Sr., WR)
RJ Johnson (Jr., RB)
Sean Tejeda (Sr., QB)
Devin Tufts (So., WR)
No. 10 Thiel College (2025 1-9, 1-7 PAC)
First game: Today at Alfred State, 4 p.m.
PAC Players to Watch
Mekhi Carroll (Sr., DL)
Mahkye Cortes (Jr., OL)
Na’Jier Howard (So., QB)
Drevon Newton (Jr., TE)
Dwayne Simpkins (Jr., LB)
No. 11 Bethany College (2025 1-9, 1-7 PAC)
First game: Today at Sewanee (Tennessee), 2 p.m.
PAC Players to Watch
Blaike Adams (Jr., DB)
Wyatt Conner (So, DL)
Caden Langley (Jr., P/K)
Stephen Naputi (So., OL/DL)
Nick Stuchell (So., OL)