Warren Ruda

Patrick Ingulli rushed for 168 yards and one score in the win at FDU-Florham Friday night

RUSHING ATTACK LEADS WILKES FOOTBALL OVER FDU-FLORHAM 38-16

11/1/2013 10:29:00 PM

Box Score

RUSHING ATTACK LEADS WILKES FOOTBALL OVER FDU-FLORHAM 38-16

MADISON, NJ – Patrick Ingulli (Hawley, PA/Wallenpaupack) and Calvin Garvin (Philadelphia, PA/Roman Catholic) combined for 290 yards on the ground and one touchdown to lead visiting Wilkes University to a 38-16 Middle Atlantic Conference victory over FDU-Florham Friday night at Robert T. Shields Field.

Wilkes improves to 4-4 overall and 3-4 in MAC play following the road win. FDU-Florham drops to 1-7 overall and remains winless in conference play at 0-7. The win marks the second straight victory for the Colonels and keeps head coach Frank Sheptock a perfect 17-0 against the Devils since his arrival at Wilkes.

After a scoreless first quarter, the Wilkes offense, and in particular the rushing attack, began to find its rhythm early in the second frame. Ingulli went for 15 yards on two straight carries followed by a Taylor Young (Catawissa, PA/Southern Columbia) completion to tight end Drew Devitt (Sinking Spring, PA/Wilson) for 17 yards moving the Colonels to the FDU 48. Garvin then entered the Wilkes backfield as the change of pace back going for nine yards and five yards on consecutive carries. After two more Garvin six-yard gains on the ground, Young found his other tight end, Dan Curry, for a 16-yard connection as Wilkes entered the red zone at the FDU 10. From there, Garvin went for six yards and Young ran for one more down to the FDU 3. Facing a fourth and goal from the FDU 3, Young found a small hole behind his offense line and pushed through finding the end zone with 10:36 left in the first half. A Jordan Fredo (Williamsport, PA/Williamsport Area) extra point finished the drive giving the Colonels a 7-0 lead.

After another four and out from FDU-Florham, Wilkes was at the attack again using two 15-yard gains from Ingulli to move into FDU territory at the 24. The drive stalled after two rushing attempts and an incomplete pass. Fredo came on for the 21-yard field goal to up the Wilkes advantage to 10-0 with 6:01 left in the second quarter.

FDU-Florham looked to take back some momentum before the end of the half driving deep into Wilkes territory. The Devils moved into a first and goal situation with under a minute in the second quarter. The Wilkes defense stiffened and kept the Devils scoreless forcing three incomplete passes and stopping FDU-Florham on fourth down and goal from the three yard line to end the half.

Wilkes began the second half on defense and pinned the FDU-Florham offense deep in its own end before forcing a punt. The Colonels took over from their own 47 yard line looking to extend the lead to three scores. Wilkes continued to use what worked the whole first half going to the ground yet again. Ingulli rushed for eight yards followed by a Young to Curry completion for 33 more yards moving the Colonels to the FDU 5. Ingulli took the next handoff into the end zone off left tackle to put the Colonels up 17-0 with 11:26 left in the third quarter.

FDU-Florham found themselves deep in Wilkes territory on the subsequent possession, but another Wilkes defensive stop, this time on a fourth down at the one yard line, gave the Colonels the ball back keeping the Devils off the board.

The ensuing Wilkes drive moved into FDU territory on one play as Garvin dashed through the right side for 61 yards down to the FDU 24. Ingulli went for 22 more yards down to the FDU 2 before Young ran in for his second rushing touchdown of the game pushing the lead to 24-0 with 2:46 remaining in the third stanza.

FDU-Florham finally got on the board with :39 left in the third when quarterback Michael Santos completed a 45-yard touchdown pass to Doug Van Orden. The Devils added a two-point conversion to cut the lead to 24-8.

FDU-Florham then recovered an onside kick on the ensuing kickoff setting its offense up at the Wilkes 45. Following an incompletion, Craig Kimbrough took a handoff all 45 yards for the second Devils score in under a minute. Another two point conversion followed cutting the Wilkes advantage to 24-16 at the end of the third quarter.

The teams traded possessions over the first ten minutes of the final frame before Wilkes put the game out of reach with 3:41 left. Young found full back Nicholas Dawson for a 10-yard touchdown pass capping off a seven play, 80-yard drive and the Colonels defense scored on the ensuing FDU-Florham possession as Omar Richardson (East Stroudsburg, PA/East Stroudsburg North) intercepted a pass and returned the pick 78 yards giving the Colonels a 38-16 lead they would never relinquish.

Wilkes was back at its usual way running the football gaining a season-high 335 yards on the ground on 45 attempts. Ingulli went over the 100+ yard mark for the third time this season finishing with 168 yards and one score on 21 carries. Garvin was equally impressive posting 122 yards on 12 attempts, over 10.2 yards per-carry.

Young was efficient under center throwing for 139 yards and one score on 12-for-21 passing. David Claybrook (Piscataway, NJ/Piscataway) was his top target finishing with four receptions for 32 yards.

On defense, Richardson enjoyed his finest outing as a Colonel registering 12 tackles and the pick six. Marcus Leaf (Reading, PA/Berks Catholic) followed with 11 stops while JT Keer made ten tackles from his safety position.

Wilkes returns to Edwardsville, Pa. next Saturday for its home finale welcoming Delaware Valley College to Schmidt Stadium at 1:00 p.m. on senior day. The Colonels will honor the 14 senior members on this year's squad along with seniors from the cheerleading squad and dance team prior to kickoff.

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