OWINGS MILLS, MD – Turnovers proved costly as visiting Wilkes University was unable to fight all the way back from a second half deficit falling 33-21 at Stevenson University Saturday afternoon at Mustang Stadium. The loss snapped the Colonels three-game win streak dating back to September 29 and a week five win at Alvernia University.
 
Wilkes dropped to 4-4 overall and 3-3 in MAC games following the road defeat. Stevenson improved to 6-2 overall and 5-1 in conference contests.
 
Each team traded punts on their opening drives before Stevenson scored the game's first points. Mustang quarterback Ty Crabb did damage with his arm and legs leading an 11-play, 81-yard drive that resulted in a Chaz Lyles 14-yard touchdown run to put the hosts ahead 6-0 after a failed extra point attempt with 4:47 left in the first quarter.
 
The Colonels responded on its second drive of the second quarter as Jose Tabora (Egg Harbor Township, NJ/St. Augustine Prep.) used two short passes to Jeff Steeber (Shickshinny, PA/Berwick) and Derek Nelson (Pompton Plains, NJ/Pequannock) before finding Steeber for a 26-yard connection to move Wilkes inside the Mustang five yard line. From there Tabora found Jason Wiley (Port Chester, NY/Port Chester ) out of the backfield for a four-yard touchdown pass to give Wilkes a 7-6 advantage with 11:20 left in the half.
 
The Wilkes defense forced a three-and-out on Stevenson's next possession, but a muffed punt on the play gave the Mustangs the ball back at the Wilkes 6. One play later Lyles found Titus Johnson for a touchdown pass to put the hosts back ahead 13-6 with 8:32 left in the first half.
 
Wilkes was driving again on its next possession using short passes and Tabora and Wiley rushes to move down to the Stevenson 21. Facing a third and ten, Tabora tried for a Colonel near the end zone, but Brody Coleman picked off the pass at the Stevenson 2 ending the promising drive. Stevenson wasted little time taking advantage of the Wilkes miscue as Crabb completed a 53-yard pass then Lyles found Johnson for their second touchdown connection this time from 45 yards away to push the lead to 20-7 with under three minutes to play in the second quarter.
 
Wilkes tried one last time looking for a score to end the half on its next possession. Tabora hit Steeber for 36 yards followed by his own nine yard rush to move Wilkes to the Stevenson 34. After a 13-yard completion to Juan Salas Negron, Tabora appeared to have connected with Nelson for a 21-yard touchdown, but the play was ruled out-of-bonds as Tabora neared the sideline on the throw. With under :20 on the first half clock, Wilkes opted to go for it on 4^th and 12 but Steeber lost the football after hauling in a pass from Tabora at the goal line where the Mustangs recovered in the end zone to end the drive and the half.
 
Wilkes received the second half kickoff, but another fumble on the attempted return setup the Stevenson offense with great field position at the Wilkes 46. The Mustangs converted the turnover into points yet again finishing off a four-play, 46-yard drive with a 36-yard touchdown pass from Crabb to Lyles to take a 26-7 lead with 13:06 left in the third quarter.
 
The Colonels responded on its next drive using a balanced run and pass game to move the ball to the Stevenson 30. From there Tabora darted through the Mustang defense running into the end zone from 30 yards out to cut the deficit to 26-14 with 8:16 remaining in the third.
 
Wilkes turned the tide of turnovers on the ensuing kickoff as Dane Tarantelli (Gordon, PA/North Schuylkill) forced a fumble and Justin Trollinger recovered to give the Colonels' offense another shot at points. Two plays later Tabora was intercepted for the second time on the day as Coleman notched his second pick inside the Stevenson 10.
 
Stevenson added another score midway through the fourth quarter to extend its advantage to 33-14 with 8:11 remaining. Wilkes answered back quickly on its next possession as Tabora found Nick Yanik (Edison, NJ/Edison Twp.) for a 51-yard touchdown cutting the lead to 33-21 with just under 8:00 left in the game.
 
Wilkes forced a punt on Stevenson's next possession, but the Colonels were unable to convert a fourth down play giving the ball back to the Mustangs where the hosts were able to run out the clock and seal the home victory.
 
Tabora finished 23-for-37 passing for 300 yards and two scores while rushing 15 times for 47 more yards and another touchdown. Steeber led seven Colonel receivers with a catch finishing with nine receptions for 131 yards. It marked the sixth time the senior wide out went over the 100-yard mark receiving this season. Yanik followed with four catches for 93 yards and one touchdown.
 
Lukas Wood (Quakertown, PA/Quakertown) led all Wilkes tacklers with a season-high 14 stops including eight solo tackles. Bud Moyer (Tamaqua, PA/Tamaqua) added 10 tackles while Zac Weber finished with seven stops.
 
Wilkes returns home next Saturday hosting Lycoming College (4-3, 3-2 MAC) at 1:00 p.m. at Schmidt Stadium.