Saturday, September 3, 2011 / 1:00 p.m.
Nicholas A. Lopardo Stadium
Watch Live: The game will be rebroadcast Sunday Sept. 4th at 4pm on WQMY. WQMY-TV can be seen on Comcast Ch. 11, Service Electric Cable W-B. Ch. 4, Service Electric Cable Sunbury, Danville Ch. 8. Direct TV HD Ch. 53, Direct TV Ch. 53. Over the air Ch. 53.1
THE MATCHUP
Wilkes University opens its 2011 regular season at Susquehanna University at Nicholas A. Lopardo Stadium. Both teams will be taking the field for the first time this year.
THE HEAD COACHES
Colonels coach Frank Sheptock (Bloomsburg '85) enters his 16th year on the Wilkes sideline, racking up a 94-65 (.691) record. With the 94 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.
Crusaders mentor Steve Briggs (Springfield '84) enters his 22nd season as head coach of the Susquehanna football team in 2011. He has accumulated a 112–101 record during his tenure to stand as the winningest coach in school history. In 2010, the Crusaders embarked on their first season as a member of the Centennial Conference. Briggs has compiled 13 non-losing seasons in 20 years from 1990 to 2010, including each of his first 11 campaigns. In addition, Briggs has coached 213 games at Susquehanna, more than any coach in program history, while his 22 seasons at the helm of the Crusaders passed the 17 years coached by Amos Alonzo Stagg, Jr., from 1935 through 1954 (SU did not field a team from 1943 to 1945).
THE SERIES
This will be the 38th meeting between the two schools as Susquehanna holds a 21-16 advantage in the series. The last time the teams squared off in 2006, Wilkes took a 35-7 decision in Edwardsville, Pa.
UP NEXT
The Colonels remain on the road as they travel to Waynesburg University next Saturday. It will be the second meeting between the two schools. Wilkes took a 38-35 victory last season in the first ever meeting of the squads.
FOR OPENERS
Under Sheptock, Wilkes is 8-7 in the season's first game, including 3-4 on the road.
THE RALSTON ATHLETIC COMPLEX'S NEW LOOK
The Ralston Athletic Complex is currently in Phase II 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 uses the field in the spring.
ON TOP OF THE RECORD BOOK
Going into today's game against Susquehanna, Sheptock's 94 wins stands as the school's all-time leader. Sheptock's 94 career wins has been built up over 15 seasons of work and includes a program-record 11 wins in 2006. In 159 career games, Sheptock has a winning percentage of .691.
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
The Colonels used three quarterbacks in 2010 and two return with loads of experience and a year of the offensive strategy under their belt. Junior Tyler Berntsen (Long Valley, NJ/West Morris Central) and sophomore Alex George (York, PA/West York) each took a healthy amount of snaps behind center. Berntsen started in 11 games going 98-for-183 for 1,112 yards with five touchdowns through the air. He also used his ability to elude defenses with his feet rushing for 284 yards and five touchdowns. George saw time in nine contests going 52-for-84 for 518 yards with four scores. Similar to Berntsen, George kept opposing defenses honest on the ground rushing for 233 yards and three touchdowns.
THE COLONEL RBs
Wilkes has always featured a tough and talented running game and this season looks to be no different. Senior captain Zach Tivald (Edison, NJ/Edison) returns after a solid year in 2010 where he led the Colonels with 844 yards and nine touchdowns, going for 4.8 yards per carry. Tivald also showed his versatility out of the backfield catching 31 passes for 358 yards and one score. Joining Tivald in the backfield is sophomore Auxence Wogou (Hackettstown, NJ/Hackettstown) who enjoyed a banner rookie campaign where he rushed for 337 yards and three scores, going for a team-best 6.9 yards per carry.
THE COLONEL WRs
On the outside the Colonels return a solid group of receivers that saw extended playing time a year ago. Senior captain Todd Eagles (Downingtown, PA/Downingtown East), in his third season with the Colonels after transferring from West Chester, returns to lead the group after posting 25 receptions for 446 yards and three touchdowns last season. Sophomore David Kratzer (Flanders, NJ/Pope John) and senior Shawn Gregson (Dingmans Ferry, PA/Delaware Valley) are also back to add depth to the receiving core. Kratzer played all 11 games a year ago, catching 15 passes for 161 yards, while Gregson added four receptions, two for touchdowns, for 60 yards.
THE COLONEL OL
The offensive line returns three of five starters from a season ago and will be led by senior captain and four-year starter Ben Webb (Shohola, PA/Delaware Valley). Webb is the epitome of consistency in the Colonel program having started in every game since he walked onto campus (32 games) at multiple positions on the line. Joining Webb are returning starters senior Nick Riccio (Howell, NJ/Howell) and junior Josh Grube who have combined for 18 starts in their
Wilkes careers.
THE COLONEL DL
The defensive line may be the deepest and most experienced group of the entire defense and will again provide the core foundation of stopping the run. Five seniors return led by captain Harry Reese (Plymouth, PA/Wyoming Valley West) who will be starting his second year on the defensive side of the ball after playing his first two seasons at running back. Reese posted 55 tackles, 6.0 tackles for loss, and two sacks. Fellow senior James Moore (Orwigsburg, PA/Blue Mountain) is also back after posting 28 tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss, and 1.5 sacks.
THE COLONEL LBs
A young, athletically gifted group of linebackers, including three starters, are back to solidify the defense in 2011. Preseason All-American Tate Moore-Jacobs (New Cumberland, PA/Cedar Cliff) returns to lead an experienced group of linebackers after a stellar first year. Moore-Jacobs posted a team-best 145 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, and one sack on way to being named First Team All-MAC. His 7.18 solo tackles per game was good for seventh in NCAA Division III rankings. Returning starters sophomores Rob Houseknecht (South Williamsport, PA/South Williamsport) and Tom Calabrese (Belvidere, NJ/Belvidere) are also back. Houseknecht posted 42 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, and 2.5 sacks last season, while Calabrese proved to be an explosive pass rusher with 22 tackles, 5.0 tackles for loss, and a team-high 3.0 sacks.
THE COLONEL DBs
With the graduation of three-time All-MAC safety Kevin Gerhart (Hummelstown/Lower Dauphin), the secondary looks to be the biggest question mark heading into this year. Gerhart, the MAC Defensive Player of the Year last season, will be impossible to replace, but with both corners returning and a talented incoming class of defensive backs, the Colonels are poised to keep opposing teams' air attacks in check. Senior corners Matt Gunther (Easton, PA/Easton) and Joe Chrismer (Mountaintop, PA/Crestwood) both return to man the outside for Wilkes. Gunther made 10 starts in 2010 posting 34 tackles, 6 pass break-ups, and one interception. Chrismer started in six contests finishing with 24 tackles and 3 pass break-ups. Junior Shane Stanek (Bogota, NJ/Bogota) will also compete for time in the secondary after posting 26 tackles and 2.0 tackles for loss in nine games last season.
THE COLONEL SPECIALISTS
The Colonels will look for a new kicker/punter in 2011 following the graduation of First Team All-MAC kicker Chris Horn (New Tripoli/Northwestern Lehigh). Sophomore Geoffrey Arentz (Stevens, PA/Lancaster Catholic) has secured the starting job. Sophomore Jordan Fredo (Williamsport, PA/Williamsport Area) will serve as the back-up.
SCOUTING THE CRUSADERS
Susquehanna returns nine offensive starters and eight defensive starters in 2011. On offense, Susquehanna will be led by the duo of senior quarterback Rich Palazzi and All-Centennial Conference wide receiver senior Mike Ritter. Palazzi threw for 1,682 yards and 15 scores last season while Ritter caught 68 passes for 963 and eight touchdowns. On defense, the team's leading tackler returns in senior Aaron Inch.
