WILKES FOOTBALL LATE RALLY COMES UP SHORT AGAINST ALBRIGHT IN 27-13 DEFEAT

9/15/2012 6:59:00 PM

Box Score

WILKES FOOTBALL LATE RALLY COMES UP SHORT AGAINST ALBRIGHT IN 27-13 DEFEAT

EDWARDSVILLE, PA – Visiting Albright College jumped out to a 20-0 lead midway through the third quarter using an all out aerial assault, but host Wilkes University answered with a late rally to cut the Lions' lead to 20-13 in the fourth only to see Albright score once more to seal a 27-13 Middle Atlantic Conference win Saturday afternoon from Schmidt Stadium.

Wilkes falls to 1-1 overall on the year and 0-1 in MAC play. Albright remains unbeaten at 3-0 and moves to 2-0 in league action.

Albright scored its first touchdown with 14:54 left in the second quarter as quarterback TJ Luddy threw his first of two touchdown passes to Scott Pillar to cap an eight play, 55-yard drive with a 16-yard scoring reception. The Lions extended the lead to 13-0 as Pillar added his second touchdown reception with 12:32 left in the half this time from quarterback Adam Galczynski from three yards out. The Albright extra point was wide right as the Lions lead grew to 13-0.

Wilkes began a drive late in the quarter just prior to the halftime buzzer, but quarterback Tyler Berntsen (Long Valley, NJ/West Morris Central) was intercepted by Drew Peterson on a second and twelve play stopping the drive and sending the teams into the half with Albright holding a 13-0 lead.

The Albright offense started the third quarter where it left off in the first scoring on its first possession of the frame. Caleb Shilko hauled in a 36-yard pass from Luddy to cap a twelve play, 89-yard drive over the quarters' first 6:23. Following the Dan Sobolewski extra point, the Lions extended their advantage to 20-0.

The fourth quarter saw the Colonels offense finally begin to click as Berntsen rushed twice for 15 yards and 16myards respectively setting up a first and goal from the Albright 10. From there, Wilkes went to the ground three straight times only to be stopped short at the Albright 3 with a fourth down looming. Wilkes decided to go for it on fourth down and Berntsen delivered hitting tight end Drew Devitt (Sinking Spring, PA/Wilson) for a three-yard score to cut the lead to 20-7 following a Jordan Fredo (Williamsport, PA/Williamsport Area) extra point.

After another Albright three and out, the Wilkes offense began its second scoring drive of the afternoon. Auxence Wogou (Hackettstown, NJ/Hackettstown) ran for five yards followed by a Berntsen rush for 15 more to put Wilkes near midfield. Two more rushes and a Berntsen to Devitt eight yard completion moved the Colonels into Lions territory. Facing a first and ten, running back Andrew Regan (Boonton, NJ/Boonton) took a hand-off from Berntsen and went for 22 yards down to the Albright 2. Berntsen finished off the drive sneaking in from two yards out to bring the Colonels to within seven at 20-13 with 5:51 left in the game.

Albright began its game-closing drive with the Wilkes defense needing one more big stop. The Colonels defense was unable to slow down the Lions offense on their final possession as Albright marched down the field using a ten play, 62-yard drive capped by a Ty Hughes one yard touchdown run to seal the game with :44 left.

Bernsten finished 15-for-26 throwing for 166 yards and one score. He also rushed for a team-high 76 yards on 14 attempts. Wogou followed rushing for 70 yards on 16 carries. Freshman Payton Bachman (Orefield, PA/Northwestern Lehigh) led the Wilkes receivers with five catches for 38 yards. Regan added five grabs for 30 yards.

Luddy led the Albright passing game going 21-for-31 for 288 yards and two scores. Galczynski went 4-for-7 for 31 yards and one touchdown.

Pillar was all over the field for Albright catching 14 balls for a game-high 156 yards and two touchdowns. Daniel McNair finished with four catches for 70 yards.

Tate Moore-Jacobs (New Cumberland, PA/Cedar Cliff) led the Colonels defensively with 15 tackles and one interception. Jake Sarson (Belvidere, NJ/Belvidere) followed with 12 tackles, while DJ Shuttleworth (Leesport, PA/Schuylkill Valley) contributed 11 stops.

Peterson was one of three Albright defenders to finish with double digit tackles with 10 stops.

Wilkes takes to the road next Saturday to face undefeated Widener University (3-0, 2-0 MAC) at 1:00 p.m. in Chester, Pa.

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