Wilkes Colonels (1-5, 1-4) vs. Albright Lions (4-2, 4-1)
Saturday, October 22, 2016 - 1:00 p.m.
Schmidt Stadium
 
Game Notes
 
Live Stats
 
Live Video
 
Live Audio: (ESPN Williamsport: Chris Del Sordo, play-by-play)
 
THE MATCHUP
Wilkes University returns home after a two week period being away from Schmidt Stadium hosting the defending MAC champion Albright College at 1:00 p.m. Wilkes is trying to snap a three-game losing skid following a 52-10 defeat at Delaware Valley University last Saturday. Albright enters the game on a four-game winning streaking after dropping its first two games of the season. The Lions posted a 59-7 victory over FDU-Florham last week.
 
THE HEAD COACHES
Colonels coach Trey Brown (Colorado '93) enters his third year at the helm of the program in 2016. In just two years, Brown has coached fifteen Colonels who earned All-MAC honors including first team tight end Jeremy Hartman in 2014 and Jason Ugwu (Collegeville, PA/Perkiomen Valley) in 2015. Under Brown's guidance, the Colonels offense ranked in the top five in several offensive statistical categories including passing yards and plays per-game. In a game at Delaware Valley in 2014, the Wilkes offense ran 113 plays, a Division III regulation game record. Brown came to Wilkes after four years serving as the quarterbacks and special teams' coordinator at Muhlenberg. In his role with the Mules, Brown was responsible for coaching the quarterbacks, wide receivers, and special teams as well as the installation of the pass game. Prior to his time at Muhlenberg, Brown spent four seasons as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Lehigh University. The Mountain Hawk offense scored 30 or more points 15 times during his tenure and led the Patriot League in scoring in 2006, when its quarterback was named to the All-Patriot League first team.
 
John Marzka (Allegheny '91) enters his 10th season at the helm of the Albright football program. Named head coach in 2007, he and his staff inherited a 2-8 team and have since directed one of the most impressive turnarounds in NCAA history. The Lions have amassed a 69-32 record and six post-season wins since Marzka's arrival. His 74 percent win ratio prior to the start of the 2010 season was the best for any Albright football coach with at least three seasons leading the program, while his 26 wins are the most of any Lions gridiron coach in his first three years on the job. Marzka led the Lions to the Middle Atlantic Conference championship in 2015 and was rewarded by being named the MAC Coach of the Year and the ECAC South Coach of the Year. Albright finished the season with a 10-2 overall record and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Playoffs.
 
THE SERIES
This will be the 40th meeting between the two schools as Albright holds a 23-16 advantage in the series. The Lions posted a 62-9 win over Wilkes last season in Reading, Pa.
 
UP NEXT
Wilkes continues its home stretch next week hosting Lycoming College at 1:00 p.m. at Schmidt Stadium. The Colonels are home three out of the final four games of 2016.
 
SCOUTING THE WILKES OFFENSE (SPREAD)
- Quarterback Ryan Dailey (Easton, PA/Wilson) continues to climb the Wilkes record book standing third all-time in passing with 6,124 yards through three season as a starter. For the season Dailey totals 1,436 yards on 124-for-194 passing with eleven touchdowns averaging over 239.3 yards per-game through the air ranking third in the MAC. Dailey passed Neil Rine '98 for third all-time (6,094) on the yards passing list at Wilkes in the loss at Delaware Valley last week. He ranks second in passing touchdowns (11) and third in completion percentage (63.9) in the MAC among quarterbacks.
 
- Dailey's top target has been William Deemer (Washington Township, NJ/Warren Hills) who was named MAC Offensive Player of the Week after a breakout performance against Misericordia in week three. Deemer caught nine passes for 168 yards and two scores in the home win. He followed that performance with his second straight 100+ yard game finishing with nine catches for 126 yards at Widener in a narrow Wilkes defeat in week four. For the season, Deemer leads a deep and talented receiving core posting 34 receptions for 460 yards and three touchdowns. He ranks fourth in the MAC with 76.7 yards per-game receiving and fourth in yards receiving, just 34 yards behind the leader from FDU-Florham Esaun Mobley (494).
 
- The Colonel rushing game boasts a balanced and deep attack with four players netting over 100+ yards. Jacob Brook (Layton, NJ/Kittatinny) tops the unit with 265 yards and three touchdowns on 72 carries. Devon Fink (Pottstown, PA/Pottsgrove) follows with 120 yards and one score on 40 attempts. Rookie Jose Tabora (Richland, NJ/St. Augustine Prep.) has tallied 179 yards on 29 attempts mostly from designed quarterback runs.
 
- Wilkes sits in the top five in the MAC in several statistical categories on offense including total offense (389.7 ypg/3rd) and passing (255.7 ypg/4th).
 
SCOUTING THE WILKES DEFENSE (3-4)
- Tanner Stengel (Allentown, PA/Parkland) remains one of the best tacklers in the MAC standing second in the conference with 66 total stops including 37 solo. Stengel is averaging 11.0 tackles per-game and continues to climb the all-time tackles list in the school's history.
 
- The Colonel secondary has been strong and has anchored the backline with senior corners Marcellus Hayes (Camp Hill, PA/Camp Hill) and Ondre Roberts (Dunellen, NJ/Dunellen) and safeties Isaiah Robinson (Pittsburgh, PA/Milton Hershey) and Michael Legg (Whitehaven, PA/Crestwood). The group has combined for 124 tackles and 22 pass breakups. Robinson and Roberts also have one interception each with Robinson returning his pick for a touchdown against Misericordia in week three. Hayes ranks third in the MAC with three picks.
 
- As a unit, Wilkes is allowing 161.5 yards per-game on the ground (6th in MAC) while giving up 225.3 yards per-game through the air (6th in the MAC).
 
SCOUTING ALBRIGHT OFFENSE (MULTIPLE)
- The Albright offense is averaging 27.8 points per-game ranking fifth in the MAC in rushing (140.2) and second in the MAC in passing (259.5). Quarterback Alec Vignola and Mike Knight have split time under center this season for the Lions. Vignola has thrown for 912 yards on 79-for-119 passing with nine touchdowns while Knight has totaled 409 yards on 35-for-62 passing and one score.
 
- The Lions run game features one main back in Roemello Monroe. Monroe has run for 451 yards on 88 carries and three touchdowns in six games.
 
- The Lions receiving core features four players with 200+ yards receiving and two with 400+ to show a balanced and deep aerial attack. Vinny Williams tops the list with 38 catches for 420 yards and five touchdowns (2nd in MAC). Malik Jackson follows with 31 receptions for 412 yards and three scores.
 
SCOUTING ALBRIGHT DEFENSE (4-3)
- The Lions defense is the second-best unit in the MAC behind only Delaware Valley. Albright allows 16.5 points per-game and ranks third in rushing defense (122.2 yards per-game) and second in pass defense (172.7 yards per-game).
 
- Kevin Mason leads the defensive unit with 46 tackles and 3.5 tackles-for-loss. JaVaughn Patterson follows with 39 tackles (4.5 tackles-for-loss) and one interception.