Warren Ruda

Tyler Berntsen and the Wilkes offense looks to continue its strong showing on the ground leading the MAC with 249.5 rushing yards per-game

WILKES FOOTBALL GAME NOTES VS. STEVENSON

10/18/2012 2:06:00 PM

(Complete Game Notes)

WILKES FOOTBALL GAME NOTES VS. STEVENSON

Wilkes Colonels (3-3, 2-3 MAC) vs. Stevenson Mustangs (1-5, 1-4 MAC)
Saturday, October 20, 2012 - 12:00 p.m.
Mustang Stadium

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Live Audio (play-by-play: Trevor Turner & Anthony Dorunda)

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THE MATCHUP
Wilkes University takes to the road for the second straight week to face Stevenson University Saturday at Mustang Stadium in Owings Mills, MD. Wilkes fell 21-13 at Lebanon Valley last week, while Stevenson enjoyed its bye week after falling 56-20 at unbeaten No. 14 Widener University on October 6th.

THE HEAD COACHES
Colonels coach Frank Sheptock (Bloomsburg '85) enters his 17th year on the Wilkes sideline, racking up a 101-73 (.580) 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.

Ed Hottle (Frostburg State '99) enters his second year as head coach of the Stevenson University football team. Hottle led the Mustangs to a 2-8 overall mark in 2011 including the programs first-ever win against Christopher Newport. 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 SERIES
This will mark the second meeting between the two schools as Wilkes captured a 43-34 win in the squads' first meeting last season in Edwardsville, Pa.

UP NEXT
The Colonels will host Lycoming College next Saturday for a 1:00 p.m. MAC contest at Schmidt Stadium. It will mark the 52nd meeting between the two schools as Lycoming holds a 34-17 advantage in the series. The Colonels are 6-10 against the Warriors under Sheptock.

HITTING 100
Frank Sheptock recorded his 100th career victory when the Colonels defeated FDU-Florham 37-27 in week four.

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 Stevenson, 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 174 career games, Sheptock has a winning percentage of .580.

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 Lebanon Valley last Saturday. George went 9-for-22 for 78 yards while rushing four times for 14 yards. Tyler Berntsen (Long Valley, NJ/West Morris Central) saw most of his game action in the second half going 9-for-15 for 134 yards. He led the Colonel ground game with 102 yards on 17 carries becoming Wilkes' fourth straight 100-yard rusher. For the season, George has thrown for 655 yards on 62-for-112 passing and two touchdowns. Berntsen has thrown for 468 yards on 35-for-60 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 Mustang pass defense that ranks fourth in the MAC in yards allowed per-game (174.2).

THE COLONEL RBs
After the injuries to starter Auxence Wogou (Hackettstown, NJ/Hackettstown) and rookie PJ Incremona (Wood Ridge, NJ/Wood Ridge), Wilkes relied on its stable of backs to account for 109 yards on the ground against LVC. Patrick Ingulli (Hawley, PA/Wallenpaupack) rushed for 49 yards on 12 carries, while Calvin Garvin (Philadelphia, PA/Roman Catholic) finished with 10 touches for 35 yards. Andrew Regan (Boonton, NJ/Boonton) posted 25 yards on four carries before leaving the game with a minor injury. Wilkes continues to lead the MAC in rushing averaging 249.5 yards per-game on the ground (12 TDs).

THE COLONEL WR/TEs
The Colonel wide receivers figure to be a key to the Wilkes offense scoring points against Stevenson. Tight ends Drew Devitt (Sinking Spring, PA/Wilson) (14 receptions/162 yards/1 TD) and Dan Curry (10 receptions/120 yards) have been excellent in short yardage situations and play-action pass, while speedsters Jonathon Conklin (11 receptions/181 yards/1 TD) and Payton Bachman (Orefield, PA/Northwestern Lehigh) (14 catches/140 yards) will look to stretch the Mustang pass coverage with deep patterns. Tim Bousson (Shamokin, PA/Shamokin) has come on strong lately averaging 20.0 yards per-game catching the football.

THE COLONEL OL
The offensive line continues to pave the way for the MAC's best rushing attack 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 10 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 41 starts between the three since last season.

THE COLONEL DL
The defensive line has been nothing short of dominant this far this season posting 11 sacks and 30 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 21 tackles, six 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 a team-best five sacks (3rd in the MAC) and 11 tackles-for-loss (3rd in the MAC) this season. Seniors Ryan Deeney (Milford, DE/Milford) and David White line up in the middle against the run. Deeney (11) and White (19) combined for 30 stops and two sacks through six 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 62 tackles (10.3 tackles per-game). His 11.0 tackles-for-loss ranks fourth in the MAC as the junior recorded his 300th career tackle against LVC. Junior DJ Shuttleworth (Leesport, PA/Schuylkill Valley) has been excellent in run and pass defense posting 36 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. Cunningham missed last game with an injury, but should be back to full strength against Stevenson. The Wilkes linebackers figure to have a busy day against Stevenson as the Mustangs like to mix the ground game (203.5 ypg) and aerial attack (138.3 ypg) on offense.

THE COLONEL DBs
The Wilkes defensive backline is allowing 236.8 yards per-game through the first six 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 five starts totaling 21 tackles and five pass break-ups, while fellow corner sophomore Matt Briskie (Moosic, PA/Riverside) posts 12 tackles and two pass deflections.

At safety, sophomore Jake Sarson (Belvidere, NJ/Belvidere) suffered a season-ending knee injury against FDU-Florham and has been replaced by J.T Keer (six tackles), while junior Paul Gaffney (Sparta, NJ/Sparta) adds 32 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-9 (55.6 percent) from 20 yards or better. Freshman Frank Bobo (Southampton, NJ/Seneca) has taken over kickoff duties posting a 50.8 yard average per-kick in 17 attempts.

SCOUTING THE MUSTANGS
Stevenson is led offensively by the MAC's leading rusher K.K. Smith with 854 yards on 149 carries (143.2 ypg). The Mustangs use a pair of quarterbacks as Anthony Reid has thrown for 375 yards and two scores going 37-for-74 (four interceptions) through six games under center. John Gasparovic has played in five games going 41-for-60 for 446 yards with five touchdowns and two interceptions. Jeromie Miller is the Mustangs top target catching 17 balls for 253 yards and one score.

Tim Campbell leads the Stevenson defense with 44 tackles, one tackle-for-loss. The secondary has picked-off six passes led by Tyren Pinkett (29 tackles/two interceptions) and Chris Coffie (25 tackles/two interceptions).

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