Box Score

The Wilkes University football team (6-3, 3-3) hosted Widener University (3-6, 1-5) at Ralston Field on Saturday, a day in which 17 senior Colonels were honored and participated in their last home game in a Wilkes uniform. The game began with the Colonels establishing an early lead off of a plethora of Pride mistakes, and ending with Wilkes fending off a potent Widener run game to secure its third victory in a row.

Wilkes scored nearly all its points in the first quarter, as the game began with Widener fumbling the opening kickoff and defensive back Jose Clemente (Fords, N.J./Woodbridge) recovering on the Pride 35 yard line for the Colonels. After a three yard rush by fullback Rob Pietrucha (Hillsborough, N.J./Immaculatta), Wilkes called time out to talk things over. Out of that break Quarterback Rob Johnson (Bridegwater, N.J./Bridgewater) handed the ball to sophomore tailback Zach Tivald (Edison, NJ/Edison) who ran around the right side for a 32 yard touchdown, putting the Colonels up 7-0 less than one minute into the contest.

After the kickoff, the Colonels held Widener to a three-and-out, and the fourth down punt by Kevin Huelster was blocked by senior defensive back Corey Gilroy (Dunmore, Pa./Dunmore). The ball trickled into the Wilkes end zone, but was recovered by the Pride for a safety, making the score 9-0.

After receiving the punt from Widener, Wilkes was held to a three-and-out, but the punt by senior Nick Genuardi (Sparta, N.J./Sparta) was muffed by the Pride and recovered by another senior, Sean Madden (Dunmore, Pa./Bishop O'hara). On the ensuing offensive play, Johnson found senior wide receiver Gennaro Zangardi (Pittston Township, Pa./Pittston) for a 28 yard touchdown. The extra point conversion was no good, but the Colonels had grabbed a 15-0 lead less than five minutes into the game.

After a nice return and a 15 yard penalty on Wilkes, Widener started its next drive on the Colonel 49 yard line. The Pride would then piece together a seven play, 49 yard drive, capped off with a Jimmy Lahue one yard rushing touchdown, making the score 15-7.

Wilkes then received the ball with 6:46 left in the first period on its own 36 yard line. The Colonels utilized a balanced running attack, with multiple runs by Tivald and Harry Reese (Plymouth, PA/Wyoming Valley West) as well as a 19 yard scamper by Johnson to get in position for another score. On the goal line, Reese had three consecutive rushes, and on the third attempt muscled his way into the end zone for the third touchdown on the day for Wilkes, making the score 22-7.

On Widener's ensuing possession it once again answered, putting together a seven play, 50 yard drive on numerous runs by junior running back Adam Smith to grab its second touchdown of the day. The drive was completed by a 10 yard touchdown run by quarterback Chris Haupt.

For the first half of the second quarter each team possessed the ball twice, but neither squad was able to retain momentum. Finally, on a third and 11 from the Widener 46, Johnson hooked up with wide receiver and return man Shawn Gregson (Dingmans Ferry, PA/Delaware Valley) on a wide receiver screen who continued to race down the middle of the field for the fourth Colonel touchdown of the half. After a Chris Horn (New Tripoli/Northwestern Lehigh) extra point the Colonels found themselves up 29-14, a lead they would take into the half.

The second half was a much difference experience for the Colonels, who managed a total of 15 yards in the third quarter. Meanwhile, the Pride put together two drives of 47 and 77 yards, scoring on a Matthew Breslin field goal in the first drive and a Haupt touchdown rush in the second. By the end of the quarter Wilkes was hanging onto a 29-24 lead with the momentum swinging in Widener's direction.

The fourth quarter saw a total of seven first downs combined by both squads, but the Colonels were able to keep Widener out of the end zone. The quarter was highlighted by two interceptions by the Colonels, one by Madden and one by senior defensive back Kevin Gerhart (Hummelstown, Pa./Lower Dauphin), with Gerhart's securing the victory for Wilkes.

Wilkes out-gained the Pride on the day, 310 yards to 217. Adam Smith had a record day, running for 203 yards on 33 carries for an average of 6.1 yards per attempt. Wilkes was led by quarterback Rob Johnson (Bridegwater, N.J./Bridgewater), who tallied 155 yards and two touchdowns, including completions to seven different receivers. Shawn Gregson (Dingmans Ferry, PA/Delaware Valley) had a fine performance for Wilkes, recording 142 all-purpose yards and a 46 yard touchdown reception.

Defensively, Wilkes was led by Ryan Clifford (Raritan, NJ/Bridgewater) with 12 total tackles, while Kevin Gerhart (Hummelstown, Pa./Lower Dauphin) had 11 tackles and an interception. Sean O'Neill (Boonton, N.J./Boonton) recorded two and a half sacks for a total of 24 yards lost, while the Colonels held Widener to only 65 yards in the air.

With the win Wilkes is now 6-3 on the season, and has won three conference games in a row. The Colonels will look to end the regular season on a positive note when they travel across town to King's College to take on the Monarchs. That game will be on Saturday, Nov. 14, and will start at 1:00 p.m.

Wilkes Players Honored on Saturday

No. Name Cl. Pos. Ht. Wt. Hometown/High School
1 Joe Gorton (Scranton, Pa./Scranton, Pa.) Sr. DB 5-10 189 Scranton, Pa./Scranton
3 Gennaro Zangardi (Pittston Township, Pa./Pittston) GS. WR 6-1 195 Pittston Twp., Pa./Pittson
6 Kevin Drakes (Somerset, N.J./Franklin) GS. DT 6-1 240 Somerset, N.J./Franklin
9 Rob Johnson (Bridegwater, N.J./Bridgewater) Sr. QB 6-4 187 Bridegwater, N.J./Bridegwater
10 Corey Gilroy (Dunmore, Pa./Dunmore) Sr. DB 6-2 180 Dunmore, Pa./Dunmore
13 Shane Heberling (Williamstown, Pa./Williams Valley) Sr. LB 6-0 215 Williamstown, Pa./Williams Valley
32 Sean O'Neill (Boonton, N.J./Boonton) Sr. DB 6-2 190 Boonton, N.J./Boonton
34 Sean Madden (Dunmore, Pa./Bishop O'hara) Sr. DB 6-1 200 Dunmore, Pa./Bishop O'Hara
40 Rob Pietrucha (Hillsborough, N.J./Immaculatta) Sr. RB 6-2 225 Hillsborogh, N.J./Immaculatta
54 Zachary Sobota (Pompton Plains, N.J./Pequannock Township) Sr. OL 5-9 245 Pompton Plains, N.J./Pequannock Twp.
58 James Waddilove (Lincoln Park, N.J./Boonton) Jr. DL 6-1 295 Lincoln Park, N.J./Boonton
64 Matt Jackosky (Andover, N.J./Hopatcong) Sr. OL 6-2 261 Andover, N.J./Hopatcong
65 Ken Quazza (West Milford, N.J./West Milford) Sr. OL 6-1 285 West Milford,N.J./West Milford
75 Tim Partridge (West Paterson, N.J./Passaic Valley) Sr. OL 6-0 344 West Paterson, N.J./Passaic Valley
76 Mike McAloon (Rockaway, N.J./Morris Knolls) Sr. OL 6-2 265 Rockaway, N.J./Morris Knolls
88 Eli Hollock (Wapwallopen, Pa./Crestwood) Sr. TE 6-4 222 Wapwallopen, Pa./Crestwood
96 Nick Genuardi (Sparta, N.J./Sparta) Sr. P 6-0 215 Sparta, N.J./Sparta