Jacob Macosko and John Peduzzi have built quite the reputation.
After all, the Washington & Jefferson senior wide receivers combined for 314 receptions for 5,269 yards and 65 touchdowns over the course of their previous three seasons together.
In 2024 alone, Macosko caught 83 passes for 1,230 yards and 14 touchdowns, while Peduzzi had 57 receptions for 1,059 yards and 13 scores. The pair became the first in program history to each amass more than 1,000 yards in a single season in which they emerged as one of the top pass-catching duos in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference and across all of NCAA Division III football.
“Coming in freshman year, he was kind of new, too, he only came in in the spring before my freshman year,” said Macosko, who is a Peters Township graduate. “We just started to get to know each other and working with the quarterbacks and everything. It was instant chemistry.”
Although W&J suffered a disappointing 49-31 loss against Utica to open its 2025 campaign Saturday afternoon at Cameron Stadium in Washington, it appears that chemistry is not going anywhere.
Peduzzi caught a game-high eight passes for 107 yards and two touchdowns, and Macosko made five receptions for 86 yards from newly installed Presidents quarterback Kellan Stahl, who made his first start in coach Mike Sirianni’s offense.
“They’ve got to keep positive,” said Sirianni, now in his 23rd season coaching the Presidents, of his top receiving threats. “They weren’t going to let us beat them deep. We tried a few things to get behind them, and they were really just bailing and getting out of there.
“We just kind of have to take what we get with them,” Sirianni added. “They were clouding sometimes, throwing some linebackers underneath of them on underneath routes, so we couldn’t throw the ball to them there.”
Peduzzi said the extra attention Utica paid to himself and Macosko was frustrating.
“They definitely planned to can us, basically,” Peduzzi said. “They doubled us. They played ‘Cover Three’ a lot. You can tell a lot of teams are going to be doing that. We’ll get past it. We showed signs there at the end that there’s nothing that can stop us.”
Facing a 42-17 deficit late in the third quarter, Peduzzi reeled in touchdown catches of 8 and 13 yards. His second touchdown grab pulled W&J’s deficit to within 11 points and put the score at 42-31 with 7:48 left in the contest.
“It took us a while to adjust to some of the things that they were doing to take some things away,” Sirianni said. “Our kids never stopped playing. I’ll give them credit, on offense, they kept playing.”
The play of the Presidents defense was much more problematic.
Utica quarterback Tyler Szalkowski completed 28 of 40 passes for 528 yards and four touchdowns. The 6-foot-3, 225-pound senior transferred from Robert Morris before the start of the 2025 season.
Wide receiver Tyshawn Taylor had four receptions for 151 yards and a touchdown to lead the Pioneers, while Antonio Cianfarani contributed five catches for 126 yards and a score, Bryce Palmer chipped in eight catches for 126 yards and a touchdown and Gabriel Zawolo added two catches for 28 yards and a scoring strike from Szalkowski.
“We have some new players in the secondary that haven’t played before,” Sirianni said. “That kid started games at Robert Morris. We knew that he was coming. I think we underestimated them a little bit in terms of how good he might’ve actually been, but he put the ball right on the money. I give them a lot of credit. They have really good receivers and a really good quarterback.
“Obviously, we had some missed assignments in the secondary,” he added. “We have to fix that.”
Despite absorbing a disappointing decision in its season opener, W&J’s offense showed plenty of reasons for optimism.
Stahl completed 26 of 41 passes for 330 yards in his first start since taking over for former standout quarterback Jake Pugh — a Thomas Jefferson product — who threw for 3,288 yards and 40 touchdowns over the course of his three seasons as a starter.
Sophomore running back Andrew Sharp, a Baldwin graduate, also carried the football 12 times for 32 yards and a 6-yard, second-quarter touchdown.
“We’ve got to move past this … and just do what we do,” Peduzzi said. “It can be way better, even from the team, we can still go out here, win nine straight, win the conference and make a run in the playoffs. There’s no doubt in my mind we can do that.”
And there’s no doubt in Macosko’s mind he and Peduzzi will continue their success.
“Him and I are pretty close friends,” Macosko said. “I went down this summer to visit him, down in Hilton Head, and we worked out together. I’ve got all the confidence in him, and I’m sure he does in me, too.”
Carnegie Mellon offense rolls in season-opening win in Chicago
Quarterback Joey McGinnis IV made his first start in place of former Carnegie Mellon standout quarterback Ben Mills Saturday afternoon and led the No. 18 Tartans to a dominating 20-0 victory against the University of Chicago at Stagg Field in Chicago.
McGinnis completed an efficient 28 of 36 passes for 243 yards and two touchdowns. His favorite targets were brothers and Peters Township products Brendan and Nick McCullough.
Nick McCullough — a freshman who garnered 12 NCAA Division I offers during a sensational career at Peters Township — caught a game-high nine passes for 93 yards. Brendan McCullough, a junior who emerged as CMU’s top receiving threat a season ago, caught six passes for 64 yards and a touchdown against Chicago.
Running back Willem Bouma also caught an 11-yard touchdown pass from McGinnis, while South Fayette product Justin Caputo wrapped up the game’s scoring by converting on a 38-yard field-goal attempt.
The Tartans defense held Chicago to just 64 yards of offense, 47 through the air and 17 on the ground. The Maroons offense was just 1 of 13 on third down.
No. 23 Grove City upsets No. 10 Cortland on the road
The last time No. 23 Grove City played at No. 10 Cortland’s SUNY Grady Field at SUNY Cortland Stadium Complex, the Wolverines absorbed a crushing loss in the second round of the 2023 NCAA Division III playoffs on a last-second missed field goal. The Red Dragons went on to win the national championship.
Grove City got a measure of revenge Saturday afternoon, as the Wolverines defense forced seven turnovers and their offense scored 17 unanswered points in the second half to emerge with a 31-14 upset victory against Cortland to open the 2025 season.
The Wolverines held Red Dragons quarterback Mike Rescigno to just 161 yards through the air and intercepted him five times while also recording an interception of a Cortland backup quarterback Craig Galea pass.
Defensive backs Noah Wheeler and Ryan Montgomery each had two interceptions for Grove City, while Kiski Area product Dominic DiNinno and Mason Clouse each added a pick.
Wheeler returned one of his interceptions 36 yards for a third-quarter touchdown.
Senior linebacker Caleb Brubaker contributed a team-high eight tackles and sack for the Wolverines and Moon product Ben Bladel added two tackles and a sack of his own.
Penn-Trafford graduate Ian Demeri paced the Grove City offense, carrying the football 24 times for 81 yards and two touchdowns.
Wolverines quarterback Ellis Sutton threw for 135 yards and a touchdown. His top target was Breck Peacock, who caught seven passes for 105 yards and a score.
Waynesburg dominated in season-opening loss to No. 25 John Carroll
No. 25 John Carroll ran out to a 38-point halftime lead, and Waynesburg never recovered before taking a 48-14 loss Saturday afternoon at John F. Wiley Stadium in Waynesburg.
Junior wide receiver Tyler Richmond, a Carmichaels product, paced the Yellow Jackets offense with two receptions for 77 yards and a touchdown. Sophomore running back Mutwali Stewart, a Central Catholic graduate, added a 2-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter for Waynesburg.
Seton Hills knocks off West Liberty for first win of the season
Seton Hill rebounded from a loss in its season opener last week with a dominant showing in a 42-21 road victory Saturday afternoon over West Liberty at Russek Field in Wheeling, W.Va.
Quarterback Boden St. Marie threw for 183 yards and three touchdowns. He completed three passes for 76 yards and touchdown to Clint Washington, while also finding Isaac Ashley for a 29-yard scoring strike and tight end Jermere Jones for a 6-yard score.
Senior running back Ky’Ron Craggette, a Connellsville native, rushed for a game-high 63 yards on 12 carries.
The Griffins dropped a tough 24-21 decision to Fairmont State at Offutt Field in Greensburg to open their season Aug. 28.
Duquesne runs over Division II Lincoln
A week after falling to Pitt at Acrisure Stadium to open its 2025 campaign, Duquesne rebounded by dominating NCAA Division II Lincoln, 55-14, Saturday afternoon at Arthur J. Rooney Athletic Field in Oakland.
The Dukes racked up 484 yards of offense, led by quarterback Tyler Riddell, who completed 15 of 20 passes for 239 yards and five touchdowns.
Riddell completed six passes for 46 yards and two touchdowns to wide receiver Joey Isabella, while B.J. Alexander, Bethel Park product Ryan Petras and Penn-Trafford graduate Daniel Tarabrella also added a touchdown reception apiece.
Running back Dazhuan Hopkins carried the ball nine times for 49 yards and a touchdown for Duquesne, while Shawn Solomon Jr. rushed for 41 yards and a score, and Petras added a 10-yard touchdown run.
Robert Morris’ struggles continue in loss at Youngstown State
Quarterback Zach Tanner threw for 192 yards and two touchdowns, but Robert Morris struggled again to the tune of a 56-17 loss to Youngstown State at Arnold D. Stambaugh Stadium Saturday afternoon for its second straight loss to open the 2025 season.
Senior wide receiver Thomas Lee caught five passes for a game-high 75 yards and a touchdown, while redshirt senior Kai Holloway contributed three catches for 35 yards and score for the Colonials.
Penguins quarterback Beau Brungard tormented Robert Morris, carrying the football 10 times for 264 yards and four touchdowns, while also throwing for 122 yards and an additional score.
Eli Holstein leads Pitt to rout of Central Michigan
Quarterback Eli Holstein completed 21 of 28 passes for 304 yards, four touchdowns and an interception, as Pitt dominated Mid-American Conference foe Central Michigan, 45-17, Saturday afternoon at Acrisure Stadium.
Wide receiver Raphael Williams Jr. caught five passes for 81 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Pitt passing attack.
Friday
No. 4 Slippery Rock asserts dominance on the ground against Franklin Pierce
No. 4 Slippery Rock looked every bit the national power in its season opener, rushing for 259 yards en route to upending Franklin Pierce, 24-13, Friday night at Sodexo Field in Rindge, N.H.
Junior running back JayJay Jordan carried the football 17 times for 148 yards and a touchdown to pace the Rock’s ground game. Quarterback Anthony Vespo threw for 160 yards and a score, while also adding another touchdown on the ground in his first Slippery Rock start.
Thursday
California hangs on to defeat nationally ranked Charleston
No. 14 California University of Pennsylvania took a seven-point half time lead and hung on to defeat No. 12 Charleston, W.Va., 23-19, Thursday night at Adamson Stadium in California.
Senior quarterback Roman Purcell made his first start for the Vulcans and threw for 174 yards with an interception while also rushing for 40 yards and a score.
Junior running back Bobbie Boyd Jr., a McKeesport product, carried the football 15 times for 108 yards.
Special teams loomed large for California, as freshman Kenny Lewis IV, a Gateway graduate, returned a second-quarter punt 76 yards for a touchdown. Vulcans kicker Harry Radcliffe, a Laurel Highlands product, also converted on a 35-yard field goal, along with a pair of 40-yard field goals.
IUP offense sputters in season-opening loss
Quarterback Matthew Rueve threw for 221 yards, 1 touchdown and 3 interceptions in his Indiana University of Pennsylvania debut, as the Crimson Hawks dropped a 13-9 decision to No. 23 Ashland Thursday night at George P. Miller Stadium in Indiana.
Wide receiver Maurice Massey caught four passes for 110 yards, while redshirt junior Randy Washington snagged a 55-yard scoring strike from Rueve.
Westminster can’t complete second-half rally
Quarterback Ty McGowan, a Moon product, threw for 106 yards and a 12-yard, third-quarter touchdown pass to Taite Beachy, but Westminster was unable to complete its second-half rally and suffered a 12-8 loss to Marietta Thursday night at Harold Burry Stadium in New Wilmington.
Beachy made four catches for 44 yards, while McGowan added a team-high 50 yards rushing.
John is a copy editor and page designer at the Post-Gazette, but he's currently on strike. Email him at jsanta@unionprogress.com.