WILKES FOOTBALL USES BIG DAY ON THE GROUND IN 35-27 WIN OVER WIDENER IN HOME DEBUT
EDWARDSVILLE – Senior captain Zach Tivald (Edison, NJ/Edison) rushed for a season-high 147 yards on 21 carries as Wilkes University garnered a season-best 332 yards on the ground in a 35-27 win over unbeaten Widener University Saturday afternoon at Schmidt Stadium.
With the win Wilkes moves to 1-2 on the season and evens its MAC mark at 1-1. Widener drops to 3-1 overall and 1-1 in league play.
The Wilkes offense was clicking on all cylinders in the first half using both the ground game and the passing game to move down the field. After the Colonel defense forced a Widener four and out on their first possession, the Wilkes offense stormed down the field using a nine play, 75-yard drive to take an early 7-0 lead. Quarterback Alex George (York, PA/West York) found Todd Eagles (Downingtown, PA/Downingtown East) for a 37-yard touchdown connection, his fourth of the season, to seal the drive for Wilkes.
After another Widener four and out, Wilkes started another promising drive. The Colonels stalled and were forced to punt, but a Jordan Fredo (Williamsport, PA/Williamsport Area) punt was mishandled by Widener's Laquan Robinson at the Pride 30 yard line and recovered by Eagles to setup the second scoring drive of the afternoon for Wilkes. From there Tivald found some room in the middle of the field for two rushes for 13 yards and Auxence Wogou (Hackettstown, NJ/Hackettstown) added two runs for eight yards to setup the touchdown. George then made his way up the Widener defense for the five yard scoring run to extend the Wilkes lead to 14-0.
Widener answered back on their next possession using a 10 play, 58-yard drive capped off by a Brendan Curran six yard touchdown run to cut the lead to 14-7 with 10:03 left in the second quarter.
The Wilkes offense was up to the challenge again on the ensuing drive as Tivald broke free for a 43-yard run down to the Widener 28. George then continued the ground attack on the very next play rushing for all 28 yards to find the Pride end zone and push the lead to 21-7 with 8:38 left in the half. The teams traded possession to close the half with either mustering any type of scoring chances.
After both teams failed to score on their first two possessions of the second half, Wilkes made good on their third drive of the third frame. George hit Tivald for a 33 yard completion down to the Widener 30. From there, the two hooked up again , this time for a 29 yard touchdown completion as the lead swelled to 28-7 with 6:55 left in the third quarter.
Widener responded on their ensuing drive going 54 yards in seven plays as Terrant Morrison finished the drive with a two yard touchdown run to keep the Pride close at 28-14.
Wilkes would be forced to punt late in the quarter and the Colonels took advantage of another Widener miscue as Wogou forced another Robinson fumble on the punt return. Joe Chrismer (Mountaintop, PA/Crestwood) recovered the football at the Widener 12 to setup the Colonel offense. A Tyler Berntsen (Long Valley, NJ/West Morris Central) two yard run followed by a Wogou three yard scamper placed the ball at the Widener 10. A pass interference penalty on the Pride setup the Colonels first and ten at the Pride 2. George wasted little time adding his second rushing touchdown of the afternoon going in from one yard out extending the lead to 35-14 with 12:41 left in the contest.
Widener started a promising drive mid-way through the final quarter, but Pride quarterback Chris Haupt was intercepted by Matt Gunther (Easton, PA/Easton) to stop any scoring opportunity for the Pride. After Wilkes was forced to punt, Widener used a quick 10 play, 89-yard drive over 2:21 to keep their hopes alive after a Haupt 14 yard touchdown pass to Anthony Davis made it 35-20.
Another quick touchdown pass from Haupt to Dennis Wolley with 1:46 left in the game kept Widener within reach of a comeback at 35-27. Wilkes was up to the task and went to their ground game to seal the conference win on their next drive as George picked up a game-clinching first down on fourth and four with Widener out of timeouts.
Wilkes used its ground game to wear on the Widener defense as the Colonels racked up 332 yards on the ground, bettering their season mark of 171 per-game. The Colonels also limited their turnovers while causing six Widener turnovers leading to 21 points.
Tivald had a huge effort on the ground with 21 carries for 147 yards. It marks the first time Tivald has gone over the 100-yard mark this season. George finished with 98 yards on 14 carries and three touchdowns, while Wogou went for 63 yards on 13 attempts.
George was effective for the third straight contest through the air leading a potent Wilkes aerial attack. The sophomore quarterback went 10-for-21 for 176 yards and two touchdowns. Eagles was his main target finishing with four catches for 84 yards and one score. Tivald had two catches for 62 yards and one touchdown.
Haupt finished 30-for-57 for 327 yards, but was picked-off three times by the Colonel defense. Couve LaFate led the Pride ground attack with 71 yards on 11 carries.
Tate Moore-Jacobs (New Cumberland, PA/Cedar Cliff) led the Wilkes defense with 14 tackles and one interception. Dylan Mohring (Mohrsville, PA/Schuylkill Valley) followed with seven tackles, while Jake Sarson (Belvidere, NJ/Belvidere) made four stops and one interception.
The game also featured the dedication of Schmidt Stadium in the Ralston Athletic Complex to legendary coach Rollie Schmidt. Schmidt coached the Colonels for 20 years serving as the head mentor for the Golden Horde teams. A ceremony took place prior to kick-off where Stadium Chairman Bill Hanbury and Wilkes President Tim Gilmour addressed the large crowd at the contest.
Wilkes will head to Madison, N.J. to face FDU-Florham next Saturday at 1:00 p.m. in an MAC contest.
