BOXSCORE

MADISON, N.J. – The Wilkes football team finally got its first victory of the season, taking a 24-14 road win over FDU-Florham behind a strong running game and stingy rush defense. 

           
The Colonel defense gave up just 61 yards rushing, while freshman Harry Reese (Plymouth, Pa./Wyoming Valley West) ran for a career-high 94 yards on 16 carries. 

           
On its third drive of the game, Wilkes traveled 42 yards in six plays before Alex Pearson (Lawrence, N.J./Lawrence) scored from one yard in to give the Colonels the early lead. The score was set up when quarterback Rob Johnson (Bridgewater, N.J./Bridgewater-Raritan) found Rob Pietrucha (Hillsborough, N.J./Immaculatta) for a 23-yard reception that put the Colonels on the FDU one yard line. 

           
FDU would tie the game early in the second quarter when Bill Winters found Kyle Bukowiec in the end zone from six yards out. The touchdown covered 56 yards on seven plays. 

           
Wilkes' Sean Madden (Dunmore, Pa./Bishop O'Hara) took the ensuing kickoff 72 yards to the FDU 12-yard line, but after three incomplete passes and a rush for minus two yards, the Colonels settled for a 31-yard field goal from freshman Chris Horn (New Tripoli, Pa./Northwestern Lehigh). He is now a perfect 5-for-5 in field goal attempts this season. 

           
Wilkes would make it 17-7 when Darius Harrison (Morristown, N.J./Fork Union Mil. Academy) blocked a punt which Corey Gilroy (Dunmore, Pa./Dunmore) picked up at the FDU 29-yard line and ran it in for a touchdown. It marks the first special-teams touchdown for the Colonels this season. 

           
It didn't take long for the Devils to cut into the lead as Winters found Beau Reed for a 70-yard scoring strike on their first play of the drive. It would be the last touchdown FDU would score as the Colonels held a 17-14 lead at the half. 

           
After a scoreless third quarter, Wilkes scored on one of its longest drives of the season, going 13 plays that covered 86 yards in just over seven minutes. Starting on their own 14-yard line, Reese had eight of his 16 carries on the drive, gaining 66 yards, including a 38-yard run. On a fourth-and-goal play from the FDU two-yard line, Johnson found Jonathon Kocher (Larksville, Pa./Wyoming Valley West) in the end zone for the score. Horn's extra point gave the Colonels a 24-14 advantage.  

           
Wilkes finished with 295 yards of total offense, 168 rushing and 127 passing, while the Devils had 248 yards of total offense. Johnson was 8-of-17 for 80 yards and a touchdown, while freshman Ryan Cushman (Monroe Township, N.J./Monroe) was 4-of-8 for 40 yards. 

           
Defensively, Jimmy Ragland and Drew Letcavage (Kulpmont, Pa./Mt. Carmel) had eight tackles each, while Tim Yeagley (Sparta, N.J./Sparta) and James Moore (Orwigsburg, Pa./Blue Mountain) teamed up for a half sack each.