box score

The Wilkes University football team improved to 2-0 on the year with a convincing 37-10 win over No. 18 Montclair State, marking the best start since the 2006 season.

The Colonel defense came up big once again as it caused three turnovers, including a 34-yard fumble return by Sean O'Neill (Boonton, N.J./Boonton) and an 88-yard interception return by Corey Gilroy (Dunmore, Pa./Dunmore) which was more than enough for Wilkes' offense, which racked up 375 yards on the day. The defensive unit continued its 'bend but not break' attitude as it gave up 335 yards to Montclair State, but stymied its run game by allowing just 61 yards on the ground. “We have a lot of experience on defense and they are playing well,” head coach Frank Sheptock said. “They are responding which is really good to see.”

The Colonels held the Red Hawks to just nine plays on their first two drives before Wilkes traveled 58 yards in 1:58 when Chris Horn (New Tripoli/Northwestern Lehigh) connected from 20 yards out giving it a 3-0 lead. The score was set up on the first play of the drive when Johnson hooked up with Gennaro Zangardi (Pittston Township, Pa./Pittston) on a 42-yard pass down the sideline.

Wilkes' defense would come up big once again in the second quarter as Montclair State attempted a reverse in the middle of the field, but Scott Kubrak simply dropped the ball where O'Neill was there to scoop it up and run it in from 34 yards out. A blocked extra point would give the Colonels a 9-0 lead with 12:28 to go in the half.

Two possessions later, Wilkes would rely on the big play once again as Johnson found Jonathon Kocher (Larksville, Pa./Wyoming Valley West) at the Montclair State 31 yard line for a 27-yard reception before Jordan D'Emilio (Stowe/Saint Pius X) caught a 25-yard pass and managed to keep both feet in before falling out of bounds at the two yard line. Two plays later, Harry Reese (Plymouth, PA/Wyoming Valley West) would punch it in for his fist touchdown of the season. Horn's kick was good, giving the Colonels a commanding 16-0 lead with 1:59 to go in the first half. The Red Hawks were finally able to sustain an offensive drive as they traveled 54 yards in 12 plays before Marco Capozzoli hit a 31-yard field goal with 27 seconds to go before the break.

Like before, the Colonels would cash in on a big play as Johnson connected with Aireil Adams (New Brusnwick, N.J./New Brunswick) for a 78-yard touchdown strike, hitting him in stride as he went in untouched, giving Wilkes a 23-3 lead with 14:10 to go in the third.

Montclair State threatened on its first possession of the second half, driving to the Wilkes 19-yard line, but on a third-and-eight play, Corey Gilroy (Dunmore, Pa./Dunmore) picked off a Tom Fischer pass at the 12-yard line and ran it back 88 yards untouched giving the Colonels a 30-3 lead after Horn's extra point. Gilroy now has two interceptions on the year and the defense has a total of five picks in two games thus far.

“Obviously our kids thought we could go out and prove we were a team. This was an outstanding performance for us. We still have some things to work on, but after two weeks, the one thing we are doing is responding,” Sheptock said. This is a significant win for us. Montclair State traditionally wins eight or nine games a year and to go out and play the way we did is just tremendous.”