Warren Ruda

Head coach Frank Sheptock and the Colonels welcome Misericordia to Schmidt Stadium Saturday for the first time in school history

WILKES FOOTBALL GAME NOTES VS. MISERICORDIA

10/4/2012 1:19:00 PM

Complete Game Notes

WILKES FOOTBALL GAME NOTES VS. MISERICORDIA

Wilkes Colonels (2-2, 1-2 MAC) vs. Misericordia Cougars (0-5, 0-4 MAC)
Saturday, October 6, 2012
Schmidt Stadium (Ralston Athletic Complex)

Live Stats

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

Live Video

THE MATCHUP
Wilkes University returns home to face Misericordia University Saturday at Schmidt Stadium in the Ralston Athletic Complex on Homecoming 2012. Wilkes defeated FDU-Florham 37-27 at home last week. Misericordia fell against Stevenson 35-7 last week.

THE HEAD COACHES
Colonels coach Frank Sheptock (Bloomsburg '85) enters his 17th year on the Wilkes sideline, racking up a 100-72 (.578) record. With the 100 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.

Mark Ross (Penn State '90) enters his first season at the helm of the Misericordia Football program. A native of Athens, Pa. Ross has spent the last 10 seasons as an assistant coach at Ithaca College. A graduate of Penn State with a degree in secondary education, Ross also spent four seasons as an assistant coach at East Stroudsburg where he earned a master's degree in sport management. The 14th sport added since Misericordia joined the NCAA Division III in 1992, football brings MU's total number of varsity intercollegiate offerings to 23. Misericordia joins Albright as the only MAC institutions to offer each of the conference sponsored varsity sports.

THE SERIES
This will mark the first meeting between the two schools as Misericordia begins its football program in 2012.

UP NEXT
The Colonels will travel to Lebanon Valley College for a 1:00 p.m. MAC matchup in Annville, PA. It will mark the 40th meeting between the two schools as Wilkes holds a 22-17 advantage in the series. LVC posted a 42-35 win over Wilkes last season.

HITTING 100
Frank Sheptock recorded his 100th career win last week as the Colonels defeated FDU-Florham 37-27. In the process, Coach Sheptock moved to 17-0 all-time against FDU-Florham in 17 seasons at the helm of the Colonel program.

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 Misericordia, Sheptock's 100 wins stands as the school's all-time leader. Sheptock's 100 career wins has been built up over 17 seasons of work and includes a program-record 11 wins in 2006. In 172 career games, Sheptock has a winning percentage of .581.

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 FDU last Saturday. George went 12-for-23 for 232 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 89 yards on 14 carries. Tyler Berntsen (Long Valley, NJ/West Morris Central) did not dress against FDU with a shoulder injury but figures to see some time under center against the Cougars this week. Berntsen has thrown for 323 yards on 25-for-44 passing and one touchdown, a three-yard strike to tight end Drew Devitt (Sinking Spring, PA/Wilson) against Albright in week two.

THE COLONEL RBs
Wilkes has always featured a tough and talented running game and this season has continued the trend. Junior Auxence Wogou (Hackettstown, NJ/Hackettstown) became Wilkes' first 100-yard rusher at Widener racking up 112 yards on a season-high 20 carries. He has also showed his versatility out of the backfield catching five passes for 42 yards. Joining Wogou in the backfield is sophomore Andrew Regan (Boonton, NJ/Boonton) who totals 130 yards on 37 carries this season. Junior Calvin Garvin (Philadelphia, PA/Roman Catholic) enjoyed a career-day against FDU rushing for a season-best 162 yards on 16 carries and two touchdowns.

THE COLONEL WR/TEs
Freshman Payton Bachman (Orefield, PA/Northwestern Lehigh) has enjoyed a fine start to his rookie campaign catching 10 balls for 74 yards in four games. Regan adds a team-best 10 catches for 140 yards, while Jonathon Conklin has made eight grabs for 150 yards and one score. Junior Tim Bousson (Shamokin, PA/Shamokin) chips in with four receptions for 55 yards. At tight end, sophomore Drew Devitt (Sinking Spring, PA/Wilson) has made an impact catching the football posting 10 receptions for 89 yards and recorded his first career touchdown grab on a three-yard reception from Berntsen against Albright.

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. 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 35 starts between the three since last season.

THE COLONEL DL
The defensive line may be the deepest it's been in years returning several starters and some talented freshman. 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 two weeks ago. Sophomore Tyler Thomas (Easton, PA/Easton) has stepped up to provide all the pressure needed on the quarterback posting season totals of 14 tackles, two tackles-for-loss and one sack. 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 six tackles-for-loss this season. Seniors Ryan Deeney (Milford, DE/Milford) and David White line up in the middle against the run. Deeney (9) and White (12) combined for 21 stops and two sacks through four games played.

THE COLONEL LBs
An experienced, athletically gifted group of linebackers, including two starters, solidify the middle of the defense in 2012. All-MAC performer Tate Moore-Jacobs (New Cumberland, PA/Cedar Cliff) returns after topping the team in tackles for the second straight year. Moore-Jacobs has posted a team-leading 40 tackles, 6.0 tackles for loss, and one interception. He led the Colonels defense against FDU finishing with 10 tackles, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. His 15 stops against Albright were a season-high two weeks ago. Junior DJ Shuttleworth (Leesport, PA/Schuylkill Valley) made eight tackles against FDU and posts 27 total stops on the year while freshman Ty Cunningham (Orefield, PA/Northwestern Lehigh) continues to make a big impact in his rookie year posting 22 tackles and one tackle-for-loss from his outside linebacker position.

THE COLONEL DBs
The Wilkes defensive backline is allowing 302.2 yards per-game through the first five weeks 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 three starts the past three games. Leaf has totaled 14 tackles and two 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 26 tackles, while junior Paul Gaffney (Sparta, NJ/Sparta) adds 25 stops and a team-high two interceptions.

THE COLONEL SPECIALISTS
After a career-day in the win against Morrisville (3-for-3 FG's including game-winner with 1:25 left), junior Jordan Fredo (Williamsport, PA/Williamsport Area) managed two opportunities against FDU making good on a 32-yard field goal. Freshman Frank Bobo (Southampton, NJ/Seneca) took over kickoff duties finishing with a 54.4 yard average per-kick in seven attempts against FDU.

SCOUTING THE COUGARS
Misericordia is led offensively by quarterback Jeff Puckett who has thrown for 502 yards on 56-for-106 passing and three touchdowns through five games. Defensively Misericordia has caused five turnovers while allowing 54.8 points per-game. Hunter Pates leads the Cougars defense with 24 total tackles from his inside linebacker position.

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