Warren Ruda

All eyes will be on the Wilkes defense as the Colonels look for their fourth MAC victory Saturday against Lycoming

WILKES FOOTBALL GAME NOTES VS. LYCOMING

10/25/2012 11:00:00 AM

(Complete Game Notes)

WILKES FOOTBALL GAME NOTES VS. LYCOMING

Wilkes Colonels (4-3, 3-3 MAC) vs. Lycoming Warriors (5-2, 5-1 MAC)
Saturday, October 27, 2012 - 1:00 p.m.
Schmidt Stadium (Ralston Athletic Complex)

Live Stats

Live Audio (play-by-play Trevor Turner and Anthony Dorunda)

Live Video

THE MATCHUP
Wilkes University is at home for the first time in three weeks to battle Lycoming College Saturday at Schmidt Stadium. Wilkes posted a 38-35 win at Stevenson University last week, while Lycoming dropped its first MAC decision against unbeaten No. 12 Widener University 28-23.

THE HEAD COACHES
Colonels coach Frank Sheptock (Bloomsburg '85) enters his 17th year on the Wilkes sideline, racking up a 102-73 (.582) record. With the 102 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.

Warriors mentor Mike Clark (Lycoming '93) enters his fifth season in 2012 with an overall mark of 30-18 (.625). Clark, a former offensive linemen for Lycoming, has been a part of 84 wins, seven MAC titles, seven NCAA playoff teams and six NCAA playoff wins as a Warrior. During his time as head coach, Clark has tutored 33 all-conference selections, seven all-region selections, four All-Americans, an Academic All-American and led the team to three wins over top-25 programs. In 2011, Clark led the team to an 8-2 record and a 5-2 mark to finish in a tie for second in the Middle Atlantic Conference.

THE SERIES
This will mark the 53rd meeting between the two schools as Lycoming holds a 35-17 advantage in the series. The Colonels are 6-10 against the Warriors under Sheptock. Lycoming took a 40-7 decision over Wilkes in Williamsport, Pa. last season.

UP NEXT
The Colonels travel to Doylestown, Pa. for a matchup with Delaware Valley at 1:00 p.m. It will mark the 49th meeting between the two schools as Wilkes holds a 30-18 advantage in the series. The Colonels are 11-6 against the Aggies 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 102 wins stands as the school's all-time leader. Sheptock's 102 career wins has been built up over 17 seasons of work and includes a program-record 11 wins in 2006. In 175 career games, Sheptock has a winning percentage of .582.

THE COLONEL QBs
The Colonels have used their junior duo at quarterback for a majority of the season thus far with Tyler Berntsen (Long Valley, NJ/West Morris Central) receiving the start against Stevenson last Saturday. Berntsen went 12-for-21 for 194 yards and three touchdowns while rushing 24 times for a season-high 114 yards. For the season, Berntsen has thrown for 662 yards on 47-for-81 passing and four touchdowns. Alex George (York, PA/West York), who started most of the first half of the season, posts totals of 62-for-112 passing for 655 yards and two touchdowns. He has rushed for 214 yards on 48 carries through seven games. Both QBs will look to put pressure on a Warrior pass defense that ranks last in the MAC in yards allowed per-game (249.3).

THE COLONEL RBs
After the injuries to starter Auxence Wogou (Hackettstown, NJ/Hackettstown) and rookie PJ Incremona (Wood Ridge, NJ/Wood Ridge) last week, Wilkes relied on its stable of backs to account for 337 yards on the ground against Stevenson. Patrick Ingulli (Hawley, PA/Wallenpaupack) rushed for a career-high 210 yards on 30 carries, while Calvin Garvin (Philadelphia, PA/Roman Catholic) finished with five touches for 12 yards. Ingulli was named MAC Offensive Player of the Week for his performance in the win last week and has posted season totals of 402 yards and four touchdowns on a team-high 75 carries through seven games. Wilkes ranks second in the MAC in rushing averaging 262.0 yards per-game on the ground (14 TDs).

THE COLONEL WR/TEs
The Colonel wide receivers figure to be a key to the Wilkes offense scoring points against Lycoming after burning the Stevenson defense for three scores through the air. Tight ends Drew Devitt (Sinking Spring, PA/Wilson) (15 eceptions/165 yards/2 TD) and Dan Curry (13 receptions/180 yards/1 TD) have been excellent in short yardage situations and play-action pass, while speedsters Jonathon Conklin (12 receptions/193 yards/1 TD), Payton Bachman (Orefield, PA/Northwestern Lehigh) (14 catches/140 yards), and Justin Pellowski (Mt. Carmel, PA/Mt. Carmel) (11 catches/170 yards/2 TD) will look to stretch the Warrior pass coverage with deep patterns. Tim Bousson (Shamokin, PA/Shamokin) has come on strong lately averaging 22.4 yards per-game catching the football.

THE COLONEL OL
The offensive line continues to pave the way for the MAC's second-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 in seven games). 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 44 starts between the three since last season.

THE COLONEL DL
The defensive line has been nothing short of dominant thus far this season posting 11 sacks and 33 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 24 tackles, nine 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 (4th 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 (12) and White (21) combined for 33 stops and two sacks through seven 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 72 tackles (10.3 tackles per-game). His 11.0 tackles-for-loss ranks second in the MAC as the junior recorded his 300th career tackle against LVC two weeks ago. Junior DJ Shuttleworth (Leesport, PA/Schuylkill Valley) has been excellent in run and pass defense posting 43 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 28 tackles and two tackles-for-loss from his outside linebacker position. The Wilkes linebackers figure to have a busy day against Lycoming as the Warriors like to mix the ground game (145.6 ypg) and aerial attack (165.4 ypg) on offense.

THE COLONEL DBs
The Wilkes defensive backline is allowing 233.0 yards per-game through the first seven 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 six starts totaling 24 tackles and five pass break-ups, while fellow corner sophomore Matt Briskie (Moosic, PA/Riverside) posts 15 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 (16 tackles), while junior Paul Gaffney (Sparta, NJ/Sparta) adds 44 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 6-for-10 (60.0 percent) from 20 yards or better. He earned MAC Special Teams Player of the Week for the second time this season after kicking home a 20-yard game-winner with eleven seconds left at Stevenson. Freshman Frank Bobo (Southampton, NJ/Seneca) has taken over kickoff duties posting a 52.6 yard average per-kick in 24 attempts.

SCOUTING THE WARRIORS
Lycoming is led offensively by quarterback Tyler Jenny who has thrown for 1,151 yards on 108-for-177 passing and 12 touchdowns. On the ground, senior Parker Showers has rushed for 430 yards and four scores on 105 carries. Defensively, Lycoming boasts one of the best units in the MAC allowing just 15.7 ppg. Kabongo Bukasa leads the group with 59 tackles and three interceptions. Nate Oropollo tops the front line with 35 tackles, 13.5 tackles-for-loss, and 8.5 sacks.

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