Box Score

WILLIAMSPORT – Zach Tivald (Edison, NJ/Edison) rushed for a career-high 149 yards and caught a 22-yard touchdown pass while the Colonel defense held Lycoming to under 200 yards of total offense as they took a 17-13 road win over the Warriors.

Tivald became Wilkes' first 100-yard rusher since the 2007 season when Alex Pearson surpassed the century mark against Albright. Tivald was a workhorse in the game with 31 of the team's 49 carries and his lone reception broke a scoreless tie with 6:21 to go in the second quarter.

Despite holding the ball for 11:37 in the first quarter, the Colonels were unable to capitalize on their only scoring opportunity. Wilkes drove 81 yards in 15 plays on its first possession and reached the Lycoming four-yard line, but a missed field goal with 4:35 to go in the first stopped the threat.

The Colonel defense on the other hand held Lycoming to just nine offensive plays in the opening quarter and a total of 22 yards.

Wilkes got the ball back with 10:10 to go in the first half and traveled 67 yards in seven plays where quarterback Rob Johnson (Bridegwater, N.J./Bridgewater) hit Tivald for his first of two touchdown passes on the day. On the second play of the drive, Johnson hit Jordan D'Emilio (Stowe/Saint Pius X) for a 30-yard play putting the Colonels on the Lycoming 36-yard line. Five plays later, the Colonels took a 7-0 lead.

The defense would come up big once again as it held Lycoming to a three-and-out. The Colonel defensive unit was so impressive in Lycoming's final two drives of the half that they allowed minus nine yards in seven plays.

Wilkes was able to use its hurry-up offense as it traveled 36 yards in 51 seconds before kicker Chris Horn (New Tripoli/Northwestern Lehigh) nailed a 40-yard field goal as time expired, giving the Colonels a 10-0 halftime lead.

The Warriors closed the gap on their first possession of the third quarter when they traveled 52 yards in just 59 seconds where Josh Kleinfelter scored from four yards out. He opened the series with an 18-yard run, putting the Warriors on Wilkes' 34-yard line. Quarterback Colin Dwyer then found Brad Shellenberger for a 30-yard pass-and-catch play for Lycoming's longest play of the game.

The momentum didn't last long for Lycoming as the Colonels found the end zone once again with 1:52 to go in the third. Johnson hit Eli Hollock (Wapwallopen, Pa./Crestwood) for his first touchdown reception of the season from four yards out, capping off an 11-play, 69 yard drive. It was Hollock's only catch of the game.

With just over eight minutes to go in the contest, Lycoming threatened as it reached the Colonel 25-yard line, but Kevin Gerhart (Hummelstown, Pa./Lower Dauphin) intercepted a Dwyer pass at the Wilkes one yard line with 7:28 to go.

In their next possession, the Warriors traveled 55 yards in 12 plays where Dwyer hit Shellenberger from seven yards out, closing the gap to 17-13. The extra point failed as well as the ensuing on-side kick attempt.

The Colonels attempted to run the clock out, but Nick Genuardi (Sparta, N.J./Sparta)'s punt with 41 seconds to go in the game pinned the Warriors on their own 12-yard line. In their final possession of the game the Warriors managed just one yard over five plays that included a Sean O'Neil sack to end the game.

Wilkes finished with 379 yards of total offense while Johnson was 16-of-26 for 210 yards and two touchdowns without an interception.

The Colonels improved to 5-3 overall and 2-3 in MAC play and will host Widener in their final home game of the season next Saturday.