Wilkes opens its 2013 campaign Saturday hosting Morrisville State at 12:00 p.m. at Schmidt Stadium

WILKES FOOTBALL GAME NOTES VS. MORRISVILLE

9/6/2013 11:53:00 AM

WILKES FOOTBALL GAME NOTES VS. MORRISVILLE

Complete Game Notes

Wilkes (0-0) vs. Morrisville (0-0)
Saturday, September 7, 2013 / 12:00 p.m.
Schmidt Stadium (Ralston Athletic Complex)
Edwardsville, Pa.

Live Stats

Live Video

Live Audio (Play-by-Play: Zach Barlage, ESPN Williamsport)

THE MATCHUP
Wilkes University opens its 2013 regular season against Morrisville State College at Schmidt Stadium on Saturday. Both teams will be taking the field for the first time this year.

THE HEAD COACHES
Colonels coach Frank Sheptock (Bloomsburg '85) enters his 18th year on the Wilkes sideline, racking up a 103-75 (.578) record. With the 103 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 133 All-MAC performers.

Curt Fitzpatrick (St. John Fisher '04) took the reins as head coach of the Mustang football program in June 2013. Fitzpatrick, a native of Central New York, comes to Morrisville State from Utica College where he served as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the past five seasons. Prior to his stint with the Pioneers, he spent two seasons as the quarterbacks coach at his alma mater, St. John Fisher College. In his time with the Pioneers, his balanced, no-huddle offense elevated Utica's program as one of the top ranked offenses in the Empire 8 Conference, acquired national attention, and along the way set numerous new school records in various categories year after year.

THE SERIES
This will be the second meeting between the two schools as the Colonels posted a 9-7 win over the Mustangs last season at Drake Field.

UP NEXT
The Colonels will take to the road for one of five away contests next Saturday when they open Middle Atlantic Conference play at Lycoming College at 1:00 p.m. in Williamsport, Pa. Lycoming took a 38-7 victory last season in Edwardsville.

FOR OPENERS
Under Sheptock, Wilkes is 9-8 in the season's first game, including 5-4 at home.

ON TOP OF THE RECORD BOOK
Going into today's game against Morrisville State, Sheptock's 103 wins stands as the school's all-time leader. Sheptock's 103 career wins has been built up over 17 seasons of work and includes a program-record 11 wins in 2006. He reached the 100-win plateau last season in a 37-27 victory against FDU-Florham on September 29. In 178 career games, Sheptock has a winning percentage of .578.

MAC PRESEASON POLL
The MAC preseason coaches' poll was released on August 7 as Wilkes was picked to finish sixth. Lycoming College was picked first, receiving four first place votes, while defending MAC champion Widener came in second with two first place votes.

1. Lycoming (4)
2. Widener (2)
3. Delaware Valley (2)
4. Albright
5. Lebanon Valley
6. Wilkes
7. Stevenson
8. FDU-Florham
9. King's
10. Misericordia

THE COLONEL QBs
Wilkes used a dual quarterback option last season with Tyler Berntsen (Long Valley, NJ/West Morris Central) and Alex George (York, PA/West York) splitting time under center throughout the year. After a decision to move George to tight end last spring was well received by both player and team, Bernsten now gets handed the reins of the Wilkes offensive attack in 2013. The senior signal-caller was effective running and throwing the football last season and added reps during camp this year should only help his confidence and technique. Berntsen threw for 917 yards and six touchdowns on 65-for-129 passing last season. He also used his legs to torture opposing defenses rushing 105 times for 503 yards and five more scores. His dual threat ability to both pass and run the football should help Wilkes in the red zone where the Colonels struggled (21-for-36 on red zone opportunities) to find the end zone last season.

THE COLONEL RBs/FBs
The run game will continue to be the cornerstone of the offense again this season after finishing second, only behind Delaware Valley (266.3 ypg), averaging 232.4 yards per-game. The Colonels have featured one back in prior years, but this season seems to be a run-by-committee approach thanks to the depth at the position. Sophomore Patrick Ingulli (Hawley, PA/Wallenpaupack) is back to lead the list of returners after a stellar rookie campaign where he rushed for a team-high 619 yards and six touchdowns. He went over the 100-yard mark three times including a career-high 210-yard/two touchdown performance in a win at Stevenson. Senior Calvin Garvin (Philadelphia, PA/Roman Catholic) returns for his final season after rushing for 266 yards and three touchdowns a year ago. His career-day came against FDU-Florham last season where he rushed for 162 yards and two scores in a 37-27 Colonels victory. Also adding depth to the backfield will be sophomore PJ Incremona (Wood Ridge, NJ/Wood Ridge) who saw limited time early as a freshman, but saw more game action as the year progressed. He finished with 29 carries for 80 yards and two touchdowns. At 5-11, 208-pounds, Incremona provides the punch of a bigger back to the Wilkes ground attack.

THE COLONEL WRs/TEs
The Wilkes passing game improved as the season progressed last year and provided some big plays down the field setting up Colonel touchdowns. Although the wide receiver position will be the most youthful group on the offense, Wilkes returns three solid tight ends which will make throwing the ball across the middle of the field to move the chains that much easier. Senior Tim Bousson (Shamokin, PA/Shamokin) leads the list of returners after grabbing 11 receptions for 166 yards. Now in his third year as a starter, Bousson has become the Colonel deep threat receiver over the past two seasons. Junior Jonathan Conklin (Sussex, NJ/Vernon) is the other returning starter at wide receiver after posting 18 receptions for 294 yards and two touchdowns last year. Sophomore Ryan Behrmann (Seven Valleys, PA/Dallastown) is back healthy to provide some big-play capabilities after a knee injury kept him out of eight games last season. As a freshman, Behrmann finished with seven catches for 83 yards and two scores. All-Freedom selection senior Dan Curry returns after posting 14 receptions for 193 yards and two scores. Junior Drew Devitt (Sinking Spring, PA/Wilson) is also back a year removed from leading all Colonel tight ends in receptions (18) and yards (205) while finding the end zone twice. George will just add to the depth at the position using his excellent football IQ to make the transition from signal caller to receiver.

THE COLONEL OL
The offensive line graduated three of its five starters but return two three-year starters in guard Jake Jardel (Cresco, PA/East Stroudsburg) and tackle Anthony Swain (Hunlock Creek, PA/Northwest Area). Both Jardel and Swain will look to lead a young, but physical offensive line in 2013 combing for 20 starts between the two last season. Senior Joe Buffa (Wayne, NJ/Wayne Valley), who played a reserve role on the Colonels line last season, and junior Michael Litwak (Minersville, PA/Minersville) will likely be called upon at the other guard spot. Senior Ryan Asay (Chesterfield, NJ/Northern Burlington) and sophomore Cliff Francis (Wilkes-Barre, PA/Coughlin) will look to hold down the other tackle position. Asay saw time in three games last year. Sophomore FJ Costantino (Dallas, PA/Dallas) is poised to take over at center following Jardel's move to guard.

THE COLONEL DL
Both tackles have graduated from last season, so Wilkes will rely on freshman Jon Koslop (Hazleton, PA/Hazleton) and junior Jeff Lee (Kings Park, NY/Kings Park) to clog the middle of the field. Lee saw time in seven contests totaling six tackles with two coming for a loss.The defenses' big play ability may come from its bookends as All-Freedom performer Jason Ugwu (Collegeville, PA/Perkiomen Valley) and a healthy senior Rob Houseknecht (South Williamsport, PA/South Williamsport) are back to solidify the Wilkes pass rush. Ugwu enjoyed one of the best rookie defensive season in Wilkes' storied history finishing with 42 tackles, 16 tackles-for-loss, and a team-high six sacks. His finished in the top five in the MAC in both sacks and tackles-for-loss last season, while blocking two field goal attempts on special team plays. Houseknecht was well on his way to another fine season last year when a knee injury cut his season short after two games. A former All-MAC selection, Houseknecht provides a steady force on the Wilkes defensive front that is capable of stopping the run and creating problems in opposing teams' backfields. Two years ago as a sophomore, he finished with 68 tackles, 11 tackles-for-loss, and 1.5 sacks.

THE COLONEL LBs
Wilkes has always boasted an elite group of linebackers over the years and this year's group can be added to the list. Three-time All-MAC linebacker senior Tate Moore-Jacobs (New Cumberland, PA/Cedar Cliff) enters his final season in the Navy and Gold after leading the team for the third straight year in tackles finishing with 105 in 2012 (second in the MAC). He also added two interceptions and recovered three fumbles in a do-everything role in the middle of the Wilkes defense. Joining Moore-Jacobs is fellow senior DJ Shuttleworth (Leesport, PA/Schuylkill Valley) who broke out with a career-year last season. He finished with 71 tackles (second behind Moore-Jacobs), nine tackles-for-loss, and two forced fumbles. The two combine for one of the best one-two punches in the middle of any defense in the MAC. Sophomore Michael Paskas (Rutherford, NJ/Rutherford) and junior Tyler Thomas (Easton, PA/Easton) add depth to the linebacker core for Wilkes. Paskas played in all ten games as a rookie finishing with 43 tackles.

THE COLONEL DBs
The secondary may have struggled a season ago because of youth and inexperience, but with the ups and downs of every season, the unit learned and has entered this year much wiser. Corners sophomore Marcus Leaf (Reading, PA/Berks Catholic) and junior Omar Richardson (East Stroudsburg, PA/East Stroudsburg North) are back to man the outside for Wilkes. Leaf showed signs of excellence at times last season using his size and athletic ability to cover opposing teams' top receivers. He finished with 38 tackles and a team-high seven pass breakups. His ability to catch onto the system throughout the year showed with his team-best four interceptions by game ten. Richardson played in all ten games both as a starter and as a reserve totaling 22 tackles and one pass breakup. Junior Matt Briskie (Moosic, PA/Riverside) saw action as a starter and reserve along with Richardson posting 18 tackles while breaking up four passes in nine contests. At safety, returning starter senior Paul Gaffney (Sparta, NJ/Sparta) and junior JT Keer are back to guide the Wilkes backend. Gaffney became more comfortable in the secondary throughout the year finishing third on the team in tackles (54) and second in interceptions (2). Keer became a starter late in the year and finished with 26 tackles and two interceptions. Junior Dylan Mohring (Mohrsville, PA/Schuylkill Valley) and sophomore Jared Powell (Easton, PA/Easton) will both see time in the secondary at both safety positions. The duo combined for 35 tackles last season.

THE COLONEL SPECIALISTS
Wilkes welcomes back both its punter and kicker in 2013 as All-MAC punter senior Jordan Fredo (Williamsport, PA/Williamsport Area) returns to help the Colonels special teams. Fredo was second in the MAC in average punt (37.9 yards), while ranking third in all kickers going 6-for-10 in field goal attempts. His 18-yard boot at Morrisville gave the Colonels a 9-7 opening season win in 2012. Sophomore Frank Bobo (Southampton, NJ/Seneca) is back after serving as the kickoff specialist last year. He averaged 52.1 yards per-kickoff sending two kicks to the back of the end zone for touchbacks.

SCOUTING MORRISVILLE
Morrisville enters 2013 with a new head coach looking to turn a program around that finished 1-9 overall last season. With six starters returning on offense and six on defense, the Mustangs have enough experience returning mixed with a talented freshman class that has fans hopeful for success. Morrisville will be led by junior quarterback Lemar Johnson who has all the Mustang main targets back from a season ago. Receivers sophomores Anthony Gray and Anthony Mella are both returning starters for Morrisville. Gray finished 2012 with 11 catches for 114 yards and one touchdown. Mella made six receptions for 56 yards in six games played. The Mustang defense returns six starters from last season including linebacker Travis French and safety Jeremy Stewart. Stewart is the top tackler back for Morrisville finishing 2012 with 61 tackles, two tackles-for-loss, and one interception. French added 59 tackles and three sacks last year.

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