READING, Pa. – Josan Holmes rushed for 212 yards on 32 carries and scored a touchdown to lead the Lions to a 17-10 win over Wilkes University.
The Colonels fell behind early, but eventually took a 10-8 advantage when quarterback
Rob Johnson (Bridgewater, N.J./Bridgewater-Raritan) found
Jordan D'Emilio (Stowe, Pa./Saint Pius X) in the end zone for a 10-yard scoring strike. It would be the only offensive score for the Colonels as the Lion defense shut out Wilkes in the second half.
Albright threatened on its first possession, driving down to the Wilkes seven yard line before quarterback Tanner Kelly completed a pass to Holmes at the one yard line where
Drew Letcavage (Kulpmont, Pa./Mt. Carmel) forced a fumble that was eventually recovered in the end zone by
John Wojceichowski (Riverside, N.J./Holy Cross) for a touchback.
The Wilkes offense started slow, going three-and-out before
Mario Della Fortuna (North Plainfield, N.J./North Plainfield) booted a punt 67 yards pinning Albright on its 17-yard line after a nine yard return.
Holmes carried the Lion offense on their second possession, gaining 55 yards on five carries before Kelly found Nate Romig for a 12-yard scoring strike to give Albright an early 6-0 lead. The Lions traveled 83 yards on 10 plays that took just over four minutes as Chris Kovensky ran the ball in for a two-point conversion to make it 8-0 in favor of Albright.
Sean Madden (Dunmore, Pa./Bishop O'Hara) took the ensuing kickoff 18 yards to the Colonel 42-yard line, where Wilkes eventually marched down to Albright's 10.
Chris Horn (New Tripoli, Pa./Northwestern Lehigh) converted his eighth-straight field goal without a miss by making a 26-yarder. The Colonels drove 48 yards on nine plays that took just over four minutes highlighted by a pair of passes from Johnson to
Gennaro Zangardi (Pittston Township, Pa./Pittston) and
Alan Frost (Howell, N.J./Freehold Twp.) for 11 and 12 yards respectively.
The score would remain that way until Johnson and D'Emilio hooked up in the second quarter to give Wilkes its only lead of the game. The Colonels started on their own three yard line after a Kelly 51-yard punt, but Johnson was 5-of-6 passing on the drive for 53 yards for his 11th touchdown pass of the season. Zach Tivald, picking up his first start of the season for Wilkes, ran for 32 of his team-high 71 yards on the drive.
Wilkes would hold a 10-8 advantage at the half, but Holmes found the end zone on a nine-yard scamper, giving the Lions a 14-10 before
Darius Harrison (Morristown, N.J./Fork Union Mil. Academy) blocked John Whelan's extra point attempt.
In the fourth quarter, Kelly pinned the Colonels on their own one-yard line for the second-straight time after a 33-yard punt, but Wilkes managed just seven yards on its possession before a 17-yard punt gave Albright the ball on the Colonel 25. Four plays later, Whelan's 40-yard field goal attempt was good, giving the Lions a 17-10 lead.
The Colonels threatened on their next drive, reaching the Lion 29-yard line before Robert Harper intercepted a Johnson pass at the seven-yard line with 10:35 to go in the game. Wilkes' offense had just five plays the rest of the game and managed just nine yards.
The loss snaps the Colonels' two-game winning streak and now stand at 2-5 overall and 2-2 in MAC play. They will return home next Saturday to host King's when the two teams battle for the Mayor's Cup.
