Warren Ruda

The Colonels defense will be key in stopping a potent Lebanon Valley offense as Wilkes looks to move to 3-2 in the MAC with a win Saturday

WILKES FOOTBALL GAME NOTES VS. LEBANON VALLEY

10/11/2012 2:16:00 PM

(Complete Game Notes)

WILKES FOOTBALL GAME NOTES VS. LEBANON VALLEY

Wilkes Colonels (3-2, 2-2 MAC) vs. Lebanon Valley Flying Dutchmen (3-2, 2-2 MAC)
Saturday, October 13, 2012 - 1:00 p.m.
Arnold Field

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THE MATCHUP
Wilkes University takes to the road to face Lebanon Valley College Saturday at Arnold Field in Annville, Pa. Wilkes defeated Misericordia 45-13 on homecoming last week. Lebanon Valley enjoyed its bye week after falling 40-37 in overtime to unbeaten No. 17 Widener University on Septmeber 29th.

THE HEAD COACHES
Colonels coach Frank Sheptock (Bloomsburg '85) enters his 17th year on the Wilkes sideline, racking up a 101-72 (.583) record. With the 101 victories, Sheptock is the all-time winningest coach in school history, passing Colonel legend Rollie Schmidt's (1962-1981) 90 wins two seasons ago. 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 128 All-MAC performers.

Jim Monos (Shippensburg '72) enters his 20th year as head coach of the Lebanon Valley College football team. He began his second stint at LVC in 2004 after serving as the Flying Dutchmen head coach from 1986-96. Through the 2011 season, Monos has directed the Dutchmen to an 87-103-2 record, and is the all-time leader in wins at LVC. His 192 games coached is also a school record. The 2011 season saw the Dutchmen go to their third straight ECAC Bowl game, beating Saint Vincent at Arnold Field to cap off a terrific 8-3 campaign.

THE SERIES
This will mark the 41st meeting between the two schools as Wilkes holds a 23-17 advantage in the series. LVC posted a come-from-behind 42-35 win over Wilkes last season in Edwardsville.

UP NEXT
The Colonels will travel to Stevenson University next Saturday for a 1:00 p.m. MAC contest in Owings Mills, MD. In the teams' first-ever meeting last season, Wilkes posted a 43-34 win over the Mustangs.

HITTING 100
Frank Sheptock recorded his 101st career win last week as the Colonels defeated Misericordia 45-13. It marked the first-ever meeting in football between the two local schools beginning a new rivalry on the gridiron.

THE RALSTON ATHLETIC COMPLEX'S NEW LOOK
The Ralston Athletic Complex is currently in Phase III of a $3 million renovation, which has seen a new synthetic turf along with lights and a state-of-the-art press box added to Schmidt Stadium. A new bleacher system and comfort facilities will complete the project.

In addition to the Colonels football team, Wilkes men's and women's soccer along with field hockey will play on the 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 Lebanon Valley, Sheptock's 101 wins stands as the school's all-time leader. Sheptock's 101 career wins has been built up over 17 seasons of work and includes a program-record 11 wins in 2006. In 173 career games, Sheptock has a winning percentage of .583.

THE COLONEL QBs
The Colonels have used their junior duo at quarterback for a majority of the season thus far with Alex George (York, PA/West York) receiving the start against Misericordia last Saturday. George went 12-for-17 for 145 yards while rushing four times for four yards. Tyler Berntsen (Long Valley, NJ/West Morris Central) saw game action after missing two straight games with a shoulder injury. He threw one pass for 11 yards in the win. For the season, George has thrown for 577 yards on 53-for-90 passing and two touchdowns. Berntsen has thrown for 334 yards on 26-for-45 passing and one touchdown, a three-yard strike to tight end Drew Devitt (Sinking Spring, PA/Wilson) against Albright in week two. Both QBs will look to put pressure on a Flying Dutchmen pass defense that ranks next to last in the MAC in yards allowed per-game (235).

THE COLONEL RBs
Wilkes showed its depth at the running back position against Misericordia as five of the Colonels backs accounted for 250 yards from scrimmage and six rushing touchdowns. Patrick Ingulli (Hawley, PA/Wallenpaupack) became Wilkes' third 100-yard rusher racking up a career-high 119 yards and two touchdowns on a season-high 20 carries. Auxence Wogou (Hackettstown, NJ/Hackettstown) finished with 77 yards and two scores before leaving the game with a knee injury. Calvin Garvin (Philadelphia, PA/Roman Catholic) and PJ Incremona (Wood Ridge, NJ/Wood Ridge) each added a score combining for 33 yards. Wilkes is leading the MAC averaging 252.2 yards per-game on the ground (10 TDs).

THE COLONEL WR/TEs
The Colonel wide receivers figure to be a key to the Wilkes offense scoring point against LVC. Tight ends Drew Devitt (Sinking Spring, PA/Wilson) (13 receptions/145 yards/1 TD) and Dan Curry (8 receptions/105 yards) have been excellent in short yardage situations and play-action pass, while speedsters Jonathon Conklin and Payton Bachman (Orefield, PA/Northwestern Lehigh) will look to stretch the LVC pass coverage with deep patterns.

THE COLONEL OL
The offensive line returns four of five starters from a season ago and is be led by its tackles junior Anthony Swain (Hunlock Creek, PA/Northwest Area) and senior Chris Grube (Orwigsburg, PA/Nativity). Both Swain and Grube provide leadership on the edge and will continue to provide Colonel quarterbacks time to throw in the pocket (have allowed nine sacks). Seniors Dave Cinalli (Miami, FL/Archbishop Coleman Carrol) and Joshua Haag (Center Valley, PA/Becca), and junior center Jake Jardel (Cresco, PA/East Stroudsburg) complete the line totaling over 38 starts between the three since last season.

THE COLONEL DL
The defensive line has been nothing short of dominant this far thos season posting nine sacks and 27 tackles-for-loss as a unit. All-MAC defensive end junior Rob Houseknecht (South Williamsport, PA/South Williamsport) had his season cut short due to a knee injury in the loss against Albright in week three. Sophomore Tyler Thomas (Easton, PA/Easton) has stepped up to provide all the pressure needed on the quarterback posting season totals of 20 tackles, five tackles-for-loss and two sacks. Freshman Jason Ugwu (Collegeville, PA/Perkiomen Valley), who has started in the place of the injured Houseknecht, has been a monster on the edge recording four sacks and nine tackles-for-loss this season. Seniors Ryan Deeney (Milford, DE/Milford) and David White line up in the middle against the run. Deeney (10) and White (15) combined for 25 stops and two sacks through five games played.

THE COLONEL LBs
All-MAC performer Tate Moore-Jacobs (New Cumberland, PA/Cedar Cliff) continues to lead the Wilkes defense standing second in the MAC with 54 tackles (10.8 tackles per-game). His 10.0 tackles-for-loss also ranks second in the MAC as the junior has been play after play in the opposing backfield this season. Junior DJ Shuttleworth (Leesport, PA/Schuylkill Valley) has been excellent in run and pass defense posting 29 tackles and one interception on the year. Freshman Ty Cunningham (Orefield, PA/Northwestern Lehigh) continues to make a big impact in his rookie year posting 26 tackles and two tackles-for-loss from his outside linebacker position. The Wilkes linebackers figure to have a busy day against LVC as the Flying Dutchmen like to mix the ground game (180 ypg) and aerial attack (217.8 ypg) on offense.

THE COLONEL DBs
The Wilkes defensive backline is allowing 254.4 yards per-game through the first five games of the season. Wilkes allowed just 86 yards through the air at Morrisville limiting Mustang quarterbacks to 11 completions, but struggled against an experienced quarterback-receiver combo against Albright (319 yards), at Widener (467 yards), and against FDU (337 yards). Rookie corner Marcus Leaf (Reading, PA/Berks Catholic) has seen significant playing time earning four starts totaling 18 tackles and three pass break-ups, while fellow corner sophomore Matt Briskie (Moosic, PA/Riverside) posts 11 tackles and two pass deflections. At safety, sophomore Jake Sarson (Belvidere, NJ/Belvidere) has been all over the field posting 27 tackles, while junior Paul Gaffney (Sparta, NJ/Sparta) adds 28 stops and a team-high two interceptions.

THE COLONEL SPECIALISTS
After a career-day in the opening season win against Morrisville (3-for-3 FG's including game-winner with 1:25 left), junior Jordan Fredo (Williamsport, PA/Williamsport Area) remains the MAC's top kicker going 5-for-7 (71.4 percent) from 20 yards or better. Freshman Frank Bobo (Southampton, NJ/Seneca) has taken over kickoff duties posting a 53.0 yard average per-kick in 15 attempts.

SCOUTING THE FLYING DUTCHMEN
Lebanon Valley is led offensively by running back Pete Panichi with 447 yards on a team-high 92 carries. Quarterback Leo Kyte has thrown for 855 yards and five scores going 58-for-104 (four interceptions) through four games under center. Joey Screbo leads the LVC defense with 25 tackles, three tackles-for-loss and one sack. The secondary has picked-off eight passes led by corner Jerome Duncan (22 tackles).

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