Warren Ruda

WILKES FOOTBALL GAME NOTES VS. STEVENSON

11/9/2011 4:18:00 PM

WILKES FOOTBALL GAME NOTES VS. STEVENSON

Wilkes Colonels (3-5, 3-4 MAC) vs. Stevenson Mustangs (2-7, 1-6 MAC)
Saturday, November 12, 2011 / 12:00 p.m.
Schmidt Stadium

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THE MATCHUP
Wilkes University hosts Stevenson University in a Middle Atlantic Conference matchup at Schmidt Stadium in the Colonels season finale. The Colonels are coming off a 42-35 defeat against Lebanon Valley College last Saturday. The game will mark Senior Day as 17 Colonels will suit up for the last time for Wilkes.

THE HEAD COACHES
Colonels coach Frank Sheptock (Bloomsburg '85) enters his 16th year on the Wilkes sideline, racking up a 97-70 (.580) record. With the 97 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.

Ed Hottle (Frostburg State '99) enters his 1st year as head coach of the Stevenson University football team. He previously served as the head football coach and assistant athletic director at Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C. He joined Gallaudet in July 2005, amassing a 27-20 record in five seasons from 2005-09, during which he led the Bison back to NCAA Division III status in 2007. In 2009, Hottle was selected by his peers as the Eastern Collegiate Football Conference (ECFC) Coach of the Year after leading Gallaudet to a 6-4 record and a second-place finish. The Bison also ranked 10th in the nation in total defense and ninth in rushing offense.

THE SERIES
This will mark the first meeting between the two schools as Stevenson is in its first year as a member of the Middle Atlantic Conference.

UP NEXT
Wilkes will be idle until spring practice in early April before embarking on their 66^th year in program history in the Fall of 2012.

ON TOP OF THE RECORD BOOK
Going into today's game against Stevenson, Sheptock's 97 wins stands as the school's all-time leader. Sheptock's 97 career wins has been built up over 15 seasons of work and includes a program-record 11 wins in 2006. In 167 career games, Sheptock has a winning percentage of .580.

THE COLONEL QBs
Sophomore Alex George (York, PA/West York) enjoyed a fine all-around game under center throwing for 272 yards on 28-of-46 attempts and two touchdowns. He faired just as well on the ground rushing 22 times for 84 yards and two more touchdowns in the loss. Junior Tyler Berntsen (Long Valley, NJ/West Morris Central) has seen time in relief of George with season totals of 193 yards and one score on 10-for-30 attempts.

THE COLONEL RBs
Senior captain Zach Tivald (Edison, NJ/Edison), ranked third in the MAC in rushing (94.2 ypg), continues to punish teams on the ground rushing for 100+ yards on four different occasions. His 128-yard, one touchdown day at King's moved him into fifth place all-time on the school's rushing list with 2,309 career yards. Sophomore Auxence Wogou (Hackettstown, NJ/Hackettstown) has posted 371 yards on 65 carries on the year. For the season, the Colonel ground game averages a MAC-best 225.1 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 five catches for 73 yards against the Lebanon Valley secondary. Eagles currently ranks sixth in the MAC in receptions per-game (4.6) and seventh in receiving yards per-game (66.6). Sophomore Tim Bousson (Shamokin, PA/Shamokin) has posted 12 catches for 162 yards and two touchdowns on the year, while Shawn Gregson (Dingmans Ferry, PA/Delaware Valley) totals seven receptions for 60 yards.

THE COLONEL OL
The offensive line has done a solid job protecting the quarterback and paving the way for the explosive Colonel ground attack, led by senior captain and four-year starter Ben Webb (Shohola, PA/Delaware Valley). The unt has shown their dominance this season clearing the way for an MAC-best 225.1 yards per-game on the ground. They have kept George and Berntsen off the ground allowing just 13 sacks on 208 passing attempts throughout the season.

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 Lebanon Valley with three tackles, including the 103rd stop of his Colonel career. Moore ranks seventh in the MAC in sacks (4.0). Freshman end Tyler Thomas (Easton, PA/Easton) has been elevated to a starter posting 16 tackles and 1.0 TFL in seven games this season.

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 game-high 13 tackles for the Colonels against Lebanon Valley, the eighth time this season he has reached double digit stops in a contest. He currently is ranked second in the conference in tackles (91) and 10th in tackles-for-loss (8.5). Sophomore Rob Houseknecht (South Williamsport, PA/South Williamsport) posted nine tackles, 1.0 tackles-for-loss, and one forced fumble for Wilkes against the Flying Dutchmen. His 10.0 TFL ranks sixth in the MAC. Sophomore DJ Shuttleworth (Leesport, PA/Schuylkill Valley) added one stop from his outside linebacker position.

THE COLONEL DBs
The secondary has improved greatly from the start of the season but allowed 277 yards passing against Lebanon Valley last week including four touchdowns through the air. The unit was led by freshman Jake Sarson (Belvidere, NJ/Belvidere) with a career-high 12 tackles and 1.0 TFL from his safety position. Freshman corner Matt Briskie (Moosic, PA/Riverside) recorded two tackles and an interception in his first career start, while fellow freshman corner Justin Pellowski (Mt. Carmel, PA/Mt. Carmel) posted six tackles and one interception.

Senior corners Matt Gunther (Easton, PA/Easton) and Joe Chrismer (Mountaintop, PA/Crestwood) combine for six tackles.

THE COLONEL SPECIALISTS
Sophomore Geoffrey Arentz (Stevens, PA/Lancaster Catholic) missed both of his attempts last week, a 35-yarder and a 30-yarder both wide right of the mark. His last successful attempt came at FDU-Florham five weeks ago connecting on a 24-yard strike late in the fourth quarter for the Colonels. Arentz is 2-for-7 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 14 returns for 344 yards, good for 24.6 yards per-return. Gregson has fielded six punt returns averaging 4.5 yards per-return.

SCOUTING THE MUSTANGS
On offense, Stevenson is led by quarterback C.J. Hopson who has thrown for 1,607 yards and 17 touchdowns on 111-for-212 passing. Emmanuel Paul leads the Mustangs ground game with 330 yards and a one score on 88 attempts. Jeromie Miller is Hopson's favorite target on the outside recording 51 catches for 699 yards and seven touchdowns. Stevenson averages 25.9 points per-contest. On defense, the MAC's leading tackler Donnell Brown tops the unit with 108 tackles, 9.5 TFL, and 1.0 sacks. Michael Higgins follows with 64 tackles, 2.0 TFL, and 1.5 sacks. The Stevenson defense is dead last in the MAC allowing 475.6 yards p/g and 48.2.

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