Wilkes Colonels (2-6, 2-5) vs. No. 12/14 Stevenson Mustangs (8-0, 7-0)
Saturday, November 5, 2016 - 1:00 p.m.
Mustang Stadium
 
Game Notes
 
Live Stats
 
Live Video
 
Live Audio: (ESPN Williamsport: Chris Del Sordo, play-by-play)
 
THE MATCHUP
Wilkes University takes to the road for the final time this season traveling to No. 12/14 Stevenson University Saturday for a 1:00 p.m. MAC matchup in Owings Mills, Maryland. Wilkes snapped a four-game losing skid posting a 28-26 win over Lycoming at home last week. Stevenson, who sits atop the MAC at 8-0 and 7-0 in conference play, posted a 41-20 victory at King's College 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.
 
Ed Hottle (Frostburg State '99) enters his sixth season at Stevenson in 2016. In just five years, Hottle has built the Mustangs into a contender on a regional and national level. The 2015 season saw Stevenson finish 9-2 overall and tied for second in the Middle Atlantic Conference with a 7-2 mark. The Mustangs defeated Muhlenberg 14-9 in the inaugural Centennial-MAC Bowl Series and were received votes in both national polls (D3football.com and AFCA) as well as earning an NCAA regional ranking. The squad ranked among the nation's defensive leaders, leading Division III in turnovers forced with 40 as well as turnover margin per game. Hottle has had 29 players named All-Middle Atlantic Conference, including a program best 10 in 2014 and 2015 and the 2012 Rookie of the Year. Off the field, four players have been named to the MAC Academic All-Conference Team and two have received the Herb Armstrong Service to Football Award from the Baltimore Chapter of the National Football Foundation.
 
THE SERIES
This will be the sixth meeting between the two schools, with the Colonels holding a 3-2 advantage in the series. Stevenson has taken the last two meetings including a 31-14 win at Schmidt Stadium last season. Wilkes opened the series with the Mustangs taking the first three games dating back to 2011.
 
UP NEXT
Wilkes concludes its season hosting cross-town rival King's College for the 21^st annual Mayor's Cup game on Saturday at 12:00 p.m. at Schmidt Stadium. The game will also be Senior Day for the Colonels and be televised by Fox 56 TV.
 
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 6,213yards through three season as a starter. For the season Dailey totals 1,525 yards on 137-for-219 passing with twelve touchdowns averaging over 217.9 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 in week six. He ranks third in passing touchdowns (12) and third in completion percentage (62.6) in the MAC among quarterbacks.
 
- Jose Tabora (Richland, NJ/St. Augustine Prep.) received the start last week in place of an injured Dailey and the rookie did not disappoint in his first career start. Tabora accounted for three touchdowns throwing for two scores while running for one. He finished 9-for-17 for 120 yards passing and ran 17 times for another 81 yards on the ground including the opening drive score.
 
- Wilkes' 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 37 receptions for 471 yards and four touchdowns. He ranks ninth in the MAC with 58.9 yards per-game receiving and ninth in yards receiving.
 
- 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 419 yards and three touchdowns on 94 carries. Tabora follows with 277 yards and two scores on 52 attempts. Devon Fink (Pottstown, PA/Pottsgrove) has tallied 135 yards on 45 attempts.
 
- Wilkes ranks sixth in the MAC in scoring offense (23.8 ppg), sixth in total offense (360.9 ypg) and fourth in passing offense (226.3).
 
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 98 total stops including 46 solo tackles. Stengel is averaging 12.3 tackles per-game, good for second in the MAC among all defenders. For his play this past week including a career-high 20 tackles and 1.5 sacks, Stengel was named MAC and ECAC North Defensive Player of the Week.
 
- Jordan Stiles (Camp Hill, PA/Cedar Cliff) and Lukas Wood (Quakertown, PA/Quakertown) have joined Stengel to solidify the middle of the Colonel defense. Stiles has totaled 41 tackles and 3.0 sacks while Wood has also posted 41 tackles and 3.5 tackles-for-loss.
 
- As a unit, Wilkes is allowing 134.6 yards per-game on the ground (7th in MAC) while giving up 226.3 yards per-game through the air (4th in the MAC).
 
SCOUTING STEVENSON OFFENSE (SPREAD)
- The Stevenson offense is averaging a conference-best 38.0 points per-game ranking fifth in the MAC in rushing (148.1) and fifth in the MAC in passing (217.6). Quarterback Dan Williams has thrown for 1,634 yards on 147-for-223 passing and a conference-high 18 touchdowns.
 
- The Mustangs feature one main back in Jainard Crawley-Lambert who has posted 516 yards on 102 carries. He has totaled nine touchdowns with a 5.1 yards per-rush average.
 
- Stevenson features a trio of wide receivers who have caught over 20 passes. Devin Salisbury posts 31 receptions for 510 yards and four scores. Preston Addo has caught 31 passes for 533 yards and a team-high eight touchdowns.
 
SCOUTING STEVENSON DEFENSE (3-4)
- The Stevenson defense is led by its secondary which has picked off an NCAA Division III high 19 passes on the year. Billy Lewis has accounted for six picks while Jimmy Lauer has totaled four interception through eight games.