Complete Game Notes (PDF)

Wilkes (0-0) vs. Waynesburg (0-0)
Saturday, September 11, 2010 / 12:00 p.m. 
Ralston Athletic Complex

Live Stats Link: Coming Soon

THE MATCHUP
Wilkes University opens its 2010 regular season against visiting Waynesburg
University at the Ralston Athletic Complex. This will be the kickoff to the “PAC-MAC Football Challenge Series.”

Both teams sill be taking the field for the first time this year, as each school had a bye week during the first week of the Division III regular season last weekend.

THE HEAD COACHES
Colonels coach Frank Sheptock (Bloomsburg '85) enters his 15th year on the Wilkes sideline, racking up an 88-60 (.595) record. The 88 wins are second all-time in school history behind Rollie Schmidt's 90 from 1962-81. Sheptock has led the Colonels to two NCAA and six ECAC playoff berths during his tenure, along with a MAC championship (2006). Wilkes made the NCAA playoffs in 2005 and 2006, going 19-4 overall, including a 42-0 win over Washington & Lee in the first round of the 2006 playoffs. Since 1996, Sheptock has coached 12 All-Americans and 117 All-MAC performers.

Rick Shepas (Youngstown State '87) has put together a 28-23 (.549) overall record in his five seasons at Waynesburg, including an 8-3 mark and an ECAC playoff berth in 2007. Prior to coaching the Yellow Jackets, Shepas was the head man at Massillon Washington (OH) High School for seven seasons, posting a 53-28 overall record. He also served as the athletics director at Massillon, which is recognized as one of the most prominent high school programs in the nation.

THE SERIES
This will be the first ever meeting between these two schools.

UP NEXT
The Colonels remain at home as they welcome Springfield College (MA) next
Saturday. It will be the first meeting between the two schools. Springfield visited King's on September 3, winning 31-7. 

THE COLONEL QBs
Jr. Marc Persing (Coal Township/Shamonkin) is the only returner at quarterback with playing experience, thus making the position a big question mark. Playing in seven games a year ago, Persing completed 6-of-12 passes for 92 yards and an interception. Also looking for playing time this year is Jr. Ian Schreffler (Belvidere, NJ/Belvidere), So. Tyler Berntsen (Long Valley, NJ/West Morris Central), Fr. Alex George (York, PA/West York) and
Fr. Dan Van Mater (Wrightstown, NJ/Northern Burlington).

THE COLONEL RBs
The Colonels will feature a quality group of running backs, led by Jr. Zach Tivald (Edison, NJ/Edison). He finished with 557 yards in 2009, leading the team, and added 10 receptions for 120 yards. He came on strong in the second half of the season, rushing for 414 yards in the final six games. Backing him up will be Sr. Jon Kocher (Larksville/Wyoming Valley West), Jr. T.J. Bergmann (Matamoras, Pa./Delaware Valley) and Fr. Auxence Wogou (Hackettstown, NJ/Hackettstown).

THE COLONEL WRs
Sr. Jordan D'Emilio (Stowe/Saint Pius X), a second team All-MAC performer in 2009, returns to lead the Wilkes receiving corps. He led the Colonels in both catches (55) and yards (635) last season and had eight five-reception games, including a nine-catch, 100-yard effort in a win over Christopher Newport. With 80 career receptions, D'Emilio is just 19 away from entering the school's all-time top 10. Jr. Todd Eagles (Downingtown, PA/Downingtown East), Jr. Adam Fraley (Swoyersville/Wyoming Valley West) and Jr. Shawn Gregson (Dingmans Ferry, PA/Delaware Valley) will also look for playing time alongside D'Emilio.

THE COLONEL OL
Only two starters return on the offensive line, but they are a strong pair in Sr. G Joe Lemoncelli (Clarks Summit/Lakeland) and Jr. C Ben Webb (Shohola, PA/Delaware Valley). They've combined for nearly 40 career starts and will be the leaders upfront. Jr. G Nick Riccio (Howell, NJ/Howell) will also look to chip in as he saw his playing time increase a season ago.

Sr. Anthony Dorunda (New Milford/Susqehanna) will look to start at tight end after catching 13 balls for 166 yards in 2009. Fr. Billy Baker will also look for playing time at that position.

THE COLONEL DL
Wilkes will be anchored up front by Sr. Chris Swinarski (Old Bridge/Old Bridge), a second team All-MAC pick a year ago and one of the best defensive linemen in the conference. He totaled 35 tackles last season, getting 6.5 TFL and 5.0 sacks. He'll be joined by Jr. Jimmy Moore, who had 6.5 TFL in 2009 and Jr. Harry Reese (Plymouth, PA/Wyoming Valley West), who started seven games in the
offensive backfield last year.

THE COLONEL LBs
Sr. Ryan Clifford (Raritan, NJ/Bridgewater) and Jr. Walt Pabst (Scranton/Scranton) return as starting linebackers for the Colonels in 2010. Clifford posted 60 tackles and 4.0 TFL last year while Pabst added 37 tackles.

Jr. Seth Fetterolf (Berwick, PA/Berwick) and So. Ryan Deeney (Milford, DE/Milford) will also look for playing time, while
Fr. Tate Moore-Jacobs (New Cumberland, PA/Cedar Cliff) and Fr. Tom Calabrese (Belvidere, NJ/Belvidere) will also look to contribute in their first year in a Wilkes uniform.

THE COLONEL DBs
Sr. S Kevin Gerhart (Hummelstown/Lower Dauphin), a two-time All-MAC performer, will combine with Sr. S Greg Nielsen (Wharton, NJ/Roxbury) to form the foundation of the Colonels defensive secondary. Gerhart led the team in tackles last season with 100, adding five interceptions. With 10 career picks, he is just three away from entering the school's all-time top 10. Nielsen has started 21 straight games for Wilkes, posting 40 tackles in each of the past two seasons.

Jr. Matt Gunther (Easton, PA/Easton) and Jr. Shane Stanek (Bogota, NJ/Bogota) along with the freshmen tandem of Will Jones (Asbury Park, NJ/Asbury Park) and Aashon Blackwell (Scranton/Scranton) will look for playing time at
cornerback.

THE COLONEL SPECIALISTS
Jr. Chris Horn (New Tripoli/Northwestern Lehigh), a first team All-MAC pick as a freshman, returns to perform kicking duties this year. He has connected on 16-of-19 field goals (47 long) and 45-of-52 extra points during his career at Wilkes. He also could be called on to punt in 2010.

SCOUTING THE YELLOW JACKETS
Waynesburg will be led offensively by Sr. Brad Dawson. The three-year starter broke the school's single-season record with 2,718 passing yards in 2009 and produced two of the top 10 single-game passing performances in Yellow Jackets history. He'll be joined in the backfield by Jrs. Justin Falcon and Jamelle Bowers who combined for 951 yards and seven TDs last season. Sr. receivers Kyle Kyper and Brent Heckel, along with Sr. TE Zach Fatigante will be catching passes from Dawson.

With a strong front seven, the area for concern for Waynesburg is the secondary with just one returning starter. Jr. CB Sean Hunt is a good one though, racking up 33 tackles with two interceptions, adding 3.0 TFL and a sack last season.

The Yellow Jackets do return So. K Jon Storck, who led the team in scoring last year with 63 points, making 7-of-8 field goals (48 long) and 42-of-43 extra points.