Warren Ruda

WILKES FOOTBALL GAME NOTES VS. LYCOMING

10/13/2011 9:00:00 AM

(Complete Game Notes)

Wilkes Colonels (2-3, 2-2) vs. Lycoming Warriors (4-1, 2-1)
Saturday October 15, 2011 / 1:30 p.m.
David Person Field

Live Stats

Live Audio

THE MATCHUP
Wilkes University takes to the road for the fifth time this season to matchup against Lycoming College. The Colonels are coming off a 14-6 setback against #16 Delaware Valley College last Saturday.

THE HEAD COACHES
Colonels coach Frank Sheptock (Bloomsburg '85) enters his 16th year on the Wilkes sideline, racking up a 96-68 (.585) record. With the 96 victories, Sheptock is the all-time winningest coach in school history, passing Colonel legend Rollie Schmidt's (1962-1981) 90 wins last season. Sheptock has led the Colonels to two NCAA and seven 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 122 All-MAC performers.

Warriors mentor Mike Clark (Lycoming '93) enters his fourth season in 2011 with an overall mark of 21-15 (.548). Clark, a former offensive linemen for Lycoming, has been a part of 76 wins, seven MAC titles, seven NCAA playoff teams and six NCAA playoff wins as a Warrior. During his time as head coach, Clark has tutored 22 all-conference selections, four all-region selections, an All-American, an Academic All-American and led the team to two wins over top-25 programs. The 2010 Warriors posted a two-win turnaround as they finished 6-4 and notched a 4-3 conference record to take fourth in the league. Along the way, the Warriors upset 13th-ranked Ithaca, 26-24, and won its first three conference games.

THE SERIES
This will mark the 51st meeting between the two schools as Lycoming holds a 33-17 advantage in the series. The Colonels are 6-9 against the Warriors under Sheptock. The Colonels took a 31-14 decision in Edwardsville, Pa. last season.

UP NEXT
The Colonels will be idle with their by week before traveling to cross-town rival King's College on October 29 for the annual Mayor's Cup game scheduled for 1:00 p.m. It will mark the 26th meeting between the two schools as Wilkes holds a 19-6 series advantage. The Colonels are 11-4 against the Monarchs under Sheptock.

ON TOP OF THE RECORD BOOK
Going into today's game against Delaware Valley, Sheptock's 96 wins stands as the school's all-time leader. Sheptock's 96 career wins has been built up over 15 seasons of work and includes a program-record 11 wins in 2006. In 164 career games, Sheptock has a winning percentage of .585.

MAC PRESEASON POLL
The MAC preseason coaches poll was released on August 11 as Wilkes was picked to finish third. Delaware Valley, last year's conference champion, was picked first, receiving seven first place votes.
1. Delaware Valley (7)
2. Lycoming (1)
3. Wilkes
4. Widener (1)
5. Albright
6. Lebanon Valley
7. King's
8. FDU-Florham
9. Stevenson

THE COLONEL QBs
Sophomore Alex George (York, PA/West York) suffered through a disappointing week against Delaware Valley throwing for just 16 yards on 2-of-12 attempts. George threw the first interception of the season against the Aggies, while rushing for a season-low -7 yards. Junior Tyler Berntsen (Long Valley, NJ/West Morris Central) saw extended time in relief of George, throwing for 55 yards on 3-of-10 attempts including a game-high 29-yard toss to Tivald. Berntsen added 16 yards rushing on the ground mostly off of broken passing plays.

THE COLONEL RBs
Senior captain Zach Tivald (Edison, NJ/Edison), the MAC leading rusher, continued to punish teams on the ground rushing for 148 yards on 25 carries against DVC. He found the endzone once, a season-long 77-yard score. It marked the third straight 100+ game rushing for Tivald as he earned MAC Weekly Honor Roll status. Sophomore Auxence Wogou (Hackettstown, NJ/Hackettstown) posted 27 yards on seven carries. For the game, Wilkes rushed for a season-low 171 yards and one score. For the season, the Colonel ground game averages a MAC best 248.0 yards per-game.

THE COLONEL WRs
Senior captain Todd Eagles (Downingtown, PA/Downingtown East), in his third season with the Colonels after transferring from West Chester, finished with one catch for 8 yards against the Aggies secondary. Eagles currently ranks fourth in the MAC in receptions per-game (5.0) and sixth in receiving yards per-game (74.4). Sophomore Tim Bousson (Shamokin, PA/Shamokin) posted one catch for 18 yards, while Tivald made two catches for 34 yards including a 29 strike from
Berntsen.

THE COLONEL OL
The offensive line returns three of five starters from a season ago, led by senior captain and four-year starter Ben Webb (Shohola, PA/Delaware Valley). The offensive line showed their dominance for a third straight week in the game against Delaware Valley clearing the way for 171 yards and one score on the ground in the contest. They kept George and Berntsen off the ground allowing just one sack on 22 passing attempts throughout. For the season, Wilkes has only allowed 10 sacks in five games.

THE COLONEL DL
The defensive line took a major hit with the loss of senior co-captain Harry Reese (Plymouth, PA/Wyoming Valley West) going down with a season-ending injury in week 4 at FDU-Florham. Fellow senior James Moore (Orwigsburg, PA/Blue Mountain) has been called upon to fill the void left in the middle of the defense enjoying a solid outing against the Aggies with two tackles and 1.0 tackles-for-loss. Moore ranks fifth in the MAC in sacks (4.0) and needs just seven stops to reach the 100-tackle plateau for his career. Fellow senior Josh Brito (Little Falls, NJ/Passaic Valley) has been elevated to a starter finishing with three tackles and a blocked field goal last week.

THE COLONEL LBs
Preseason All-American Tate Moore-Jacobs (New Cumberland, PA/Cedar Cliff) continues to lead an experienced group of linebackers this season. Moore-Jacobs posted a team-best 13 tackles and recovered a fumble for the Colonels against DVC. It marked the fifth straight game he has hit double figures in tackles. He currently is ranked second in the conference in tackles (60) and 13th in tackles-for-loss (5.5). Sophomore Rob Houseknecht (South Williamsport, PA/South Williamsport) posted nine tackles, 2.0 tackles-for-loss, while forcing a fumble for Wilkes last week. Sophomore DJ Shuttleworth (Leesport, PA/Schuylkill Valley) added a season-high seven tackles and 0.5 TFL from his outside linebacker position.

THE COLONEL DBs
The secondary has improved greatly from the start of the season allowing just 167 yards passing against DVC last week. The unit was led by freshman Justin Pellowski (Mt. Carmel, PA/Mt. Carmel) with seven tackles and one forced fumble from his corner position. Freshman safety Dylan Mohring (Mohrsville, PA/Schuylkill Valley) recorded six tackles, while freshman Jake Sarson (Belvidere, NJ/Belvidere) posted six tackles, 2.0 TFL and one sack.

THE COLONEL SPECIALISTS
Sophomore Geoffrey Arentz (Stevens, PA/Lancaster Catholic) did not attempt a field goal against the Aggies. His last attempt came at FDU-Florham two weeks ago connecting on a 24-yard strike late in the fourth quarter for the Colonels. Arentz is 2-for-4 on field goal attempts, including a season-long 25-yard field goal at Susquehanna in week one. Arentz missed a 46-yard kick at Albright and a 31-yard kick against Widener in his two other attempts. Senior Shawn Gregson (Dingmans Ferry, PA/Delaware Valley) continues to serve as kick-off return specialist averaging 19.9 yards per-return. Freshman Andrew Regan (Boonton, NJ/Boonton) provided a spark for Wilkes in the kick return game with an 85-yard kick-off return for a touchdown against FDU in week 4. For the season, Regan has six returns for 165 yards, good for 27.5 yards per-return. Gregson has fielded four punt returns averaging 6.0 yards per-return.

SCOUTING THE WARRIORS
On offense, Lycoming is led by quarterback Zach Klinger who has thrown for 832 yards and six touchdowns on 68-for-137 passing. Parker Showers leads the Warriors ground game with 297 yards and two scores on 79 attempts. Jarrin Campman is Klinger's favorite target on the outside recording 20 catches for 277 yards and two touchdowns. The Warriors average 30.8 points per-contest. Lycoming will feature the MAC's best defense allowing just 12.6 points per-contest. Kabongo Bukasa tops the squad with 33 tackles, 3.0 TFL and 1.0 sacks. Corey Schuster follows with 28 tackles, 1.5 TFL and one interception. Anthony Marascio leads the pass rush with 23 tackles, 7.0 TFL, and a team-high 4.0 sacks. Lycoming tops the league in total defense allowing a conference-low 173.6 yards p/g.

Print Friendly Version