Complete Game Notes (PDF)

Wilkes (1-0) vs. Springfield (2-0)
Saturday, September 18, 2010 / 12:00 p.m. 
Ralston Athletic Complex

THE MATCHUP
Wilkes University continues its home stand to open the season as it takes on the undefeated Springfield College Pride on Saturday at the Ralston Athletic Complex.

The Colonels are coming off of a 38-35 win over visiting Waynesburg in the season opener last Saturday. So. QB Tyler Berntsen (Long Valley, NJ/West Morris Central) combined for 4 TDs and Greg Nielsen (Wharton, NJ/Roxbury)'s interception with 43 seconds left lead Wilkes to the win. Springfield has won convincingly in each of its games this season, putting up 51 points and 459 rushing yards in last week's win over Husson.

THE HEAD COACHES
Colonels coach Frank Sheptock (Bloomsburg '85) is in his 15th year on the Wilkes sideline, racking up an 89-60 (.597) record. The 89 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.

Mike DeLong (Springfield '74) is in his 27th year leading the Pride, amassing a 152-110-2 (.580) overall record. He has led Springfield to five NCAA playoff appearances, five Freedom Football Conference titles one Empire 8 co-title and three ECAC championships. Under DeLong, the Pride has led Division III in rushing six times and has finished second on two occassions.

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

UP NEXT
The Colonels hit the road next Saturday as they travel to Utica, NY to take on the Pioneers. It will be the first meeting between the two schools, a matchup that will be broadcast on Time Warner Cable in Syracuse. 

FOR OPENERS
Wilkes is 25-38-1 all-time in season openers since 1946. The longest win streak in their openers came from 1965-69 when the Colonels won five straight. Under Sheptock, Wilkes is 7-7 in the season's first game, including 4-3 at home.

THE RALSTON ATHLETIC COMPLEX'S NEW LOOK
The Ralston Athletic Complex is currently in Phase I of a $3 million renovation, which has seen a new synthetic turf along with lights added to the stadium. Fencing, a temporary visitor's press box and comfort facilities, as well as an upgraded public address system are additional features of this part of the project.

In addition to the Colonels football team, Wilkes men's and women's soccer along with field hockey will play on the new turf in the fall, while the lacrosse team will use the new field in the spring.

REACHING FOR THE TOP SPOT
Going into Saturday's game against Springfield, Sheptock is just one win shy of tying Rollie Schmidt's all-time school record of 90. Sheptock's 89 career wins have been built up over 14-plus seasons of work and includes a program-record 11 wins in 2006. In 149 career games, Sheptock has a winning percentage of .597.

CLIMBING THE RECORD BOOKS
Sr. WR Jordan D'Emilio (Stowe/Saint Pius X)'s 85 career receptions put him just 14 away from entering the school's all-time top 10. He came into the season with 80 catches and recorded 5 receptions for 62 yards and a TD in last week's win over Waynesburg. A second team All-MAC performer in 2009, D'Emilio 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.

HE THROWS, HE RUNS
So. QB Tyler Berntsen (Long Valley, NJ/West Morris Central) put up 184 total yards (129 pass, 55 rush) in the Waynesburg win while throwing for 3 TDs and running for one more. Berntsen finished the game 11-of-16 (68.8%) with a 198.4 pass efficiency and no interceptions. He actually gained 67 yards on the ground, including a long run of 17 yards, but sacks netted him 12 less yards.

IT'S TIVALD TIME
Jr. RB Zach Tivald (Edison, NJ/Edison) gained 88 yards on 17 carries in the opener, the second highest output in his career. He also factored in the passing game, catching 3 passes, including a 34-yard screen pass that led the a Wilkes touchdown. Last season, Tivald led the Colonels with 557 rushing yards and added 10 receptions for 120 yards and a score. 

LEADERS ON THE LINE
Sr. RG Joe Lemoncelli (Clarks Summit/Lakeland) and Jr. C Ben Webb (Shohola, PA/Delaware Valley) have combined for 40 career starts in a Colonels uniform. They helped pave the way for 379 yards of total offense against Waynesburg, including 171 on the ground.

THE ANCHORS
Sr. DT Chris Swinarski (Old Bridge/Old Bridge), Jr. DT Jimmy Moore and Jr. NG Harry Reese (Plymouth, PA/Wyoming Valley West) caused havoc upfront, combining for 15 tackles, 0.5 TFL and a forced fumble. Reese, starting in his first game on the defensive side after playing in the offensive backfield last year, had 7 tackles last Saturday.

TACKLE MACHINES
Fr. LB Tate Moore-Jacobs (New Cumberland, PA/Cedar Cliff) and Sr. LB Ryan Clifford (Raritan, NJ/Bridgewater) combined for 22 tackles and 2.5 TFL last week against Waynesburg. Moore-Jacobs led all tacklers with 13 in his first career game, including 6 solo.

Jr. Walt Pabst (Scranton/Scranton) and Fr. LBs Tom Calabrese (Belvidere, NJ/Belvidere) and Rob Houseknecht (South Williamsport, PA/South Williamsport) added a combined 10 tackles, sack, TFL and 2 interceptions.

THE BALL HAWKS
Sr. S Kevin Gerhart (Hummelstown/Lower Dauphin) and Sr. S Greg Nielsen (Wharton, NJ/Roxbury) each had a big game against Waynesburg. Gerhart recorded 12 tackles, the sixth time in his career he's had at least 10, broke up a pass and recovered a fumble. Nielsen might have made an even bigger impact, getting 2 picks, including one with 43 seconds left to preserve the win. He also posted 6 tackles and broke up 2 additional passes.

TRIPLE DUTY
Jr. Chris Horn (New Tripoli/Northwestern Lehigh) handled field goal and extra point attempts, kickoff chores and the punting last Saturday against Waynesburg. Horn was perfect, going 5-5 in extra points and connecting on a 21-yard field goal, his only attempt of the day. He also boomed his kickoffs, making the Yellow Jackets receive them on their own 8-yard line on average. He also had five punts, including a long of 39.

SCOUTING THE PRIDE
Springfield's offense features a strong running game that has averaged 324 yards in its 2-0 start. FB Alex Mendez leads that charge, gaining 155 yards with 3 TDs so far this season. HB Antoine King and QB Josh Carter have also totaled at least 100 yards in the Pride's option attack. Against Husson last week, Springfield piled up 459 yards rushing on 61 carries, including a long rush of 91 yards, and had 6 TDs. When the Pride does pass, Carter will be throwing deep to WRs John Schmaltz and Tim Brady, who've combined for a 37.0-yard average on their 5 receptions this year.

The Pride's defense has been overwhelming during their 2-0 start, allowing just 215.0 yards per contest. Husson was able to gain just 168 total yards while King's managed 262. Springfield has racked up 20.0 TFL, 5.0 sacks and 3 interceptions in two games, with ILB Scott Christy and DT Chris Kulcsar leading the charge. DE Cody Flanigan has picked up 3 of those sacks while ILB Ken Goodwin has the 2 inteceptions.

K Ricky Peacock has hit on both of his field goal tries, with a long of 32, and has gone 10-of-11 on extra points. P James Poggio has a 31.1-yard average on 8 punts.