The Indians fall behind 28-0 in the first half, and Greencastle holds on for a 35-13 win in the 2026 season opener
By Robb Helfrick
During the first half of Waynesboro’s season opener at Greencastle, nothing went right for the Indians. The Blue Devils sprinted to a 28-0 lead, putting Waynesboro in a deep hole. “At the start of the game, Greencastle played faster and executed at a much better level,” Waynesboro Head Coach Scott McClure said after the game.
The Indians entered the road game with 13 of 22 starters making their first varsity start against rival Greencastle. The early loss of Larry Taylor, who Coach McClure called “a key piece to our offense,” required putting other younger players into action in a big season-opening game.
Waynesboro forced the game’s first turnover during the Blue Devils’ opening drive. The Indians recovered a Greencastle fumble after the Blue Devils had marched into enemy territory. However, Waynesboro’s offense went three-and-out during their next two possessions.
Greencastle opened the scoring with their first of several big-yardage plays they executed during the game. Running back Spencer Long burst through Waynesboro’s front line and sprinted away from the secondary for a 65-yard touchdown run. The Indians fumbled the ensuing kickoff, and as the second quarter began, another Blue Devil TD run put Greencastle up 14-0.
The situation worsened for the Indians after they fumbled again in their own territory. The Blue Devils capitalized on that turnover with a 30-yard touchdown pass from Gavin Logsdon to Long, widening their lead to 21-0. The first-half scoring ended on another big play, when the Greencastle ground attack exploded again for a 78-yard touchdown run.
On its last first-half possession, Waynesboro enjoyed its first substantial offensive drive of the game, but a pass attempt near the Blue Devil end zone fell incomplete as time expired. Trailing 28-0 at the break, the Indians needed to play at a higher level in the second half.
As the third quarter began, Waynesboro showed resurgence as the Indians’ all-around game noticeably improved. The offense began in good field position at their 43, but the first second-half possession ended after only 3 plays. However, an excellent punt pinned the Blue Devils down at their own 8-yard-line.
The Indian defense held firm and started their next possession at the Greencastle 33. A quarterback-keeper touchdown by Brayden Heimbuch finished a short drive and put Waynesboro on the board at 28-7.
The next series of possessions was a pivotal moment for any hopes that Waynesboro had for a comeback. The Indian defense, which played solidly for the entire half, shut down the Blue Devil offense once again. After a 35-yard punt return by Dwayne Robinson, Waynesboro started the next offensive series at the Greencastle 20.
The game’s momentum seemed to be shifting in the Indians’ favor. After the Waynesboro offense stalled, the team lined up for a field goal. What happened next stunned the Indians and thrilled the home crowd. Greencastle blocked the kick, as Ethan South scooped up the ball and ran it back for an 82-yard touchdown.
With the Blue Devils reestablishing a 28-point lead, the game was then out of reach for Waynesboro. “That field goal block swung the momentum back our way again,” Greencastle Head Coach Jason Thurston said in a post-game media interview.
The Indians moved the football more effectively in the second half. They scored their second touchdown after an impressive 10-play, 68-yard-drive. A 25-yard scoring pass from Heimbuch to Robinson on a fourth-and-one play put the Indians back in the end zone. Waynesboro missed a two-point conversion to conclude the game’s scoring, with a final tally of 35-13.
After the game, Coach McClure complimented the Blue Devils’ performance. “That was a good team we played last night. As the Head Coach, I have to do a better job getting our team in the right mindset and having the proper mental approach going into a game.”
The silver lining for the Indians after their first-game loss was that they won the game’s second half, outscoring Greencastle 13-7. The Indians prevented the Blue Devils from scoring an offensive touchdown in the second half. Waynesboro’s passing game was also more effective during the final quarters. “We talked a lot in the week leading up to the game about what it takes to win a game like that. I think once we settled in, we showed the potential to execute and play sound football,” Coach McClure said.
The Indians play their Mid-Penn Keystone Division opener at home next week, at 7 pm on September 4 against Lower Dauphin.