Wilkes Colonels (4-4, 3-3) vs. Lycoming Warriors (4-3, 3-2)
Saturday, October 27, 2018 - 1:00 p.m.
Schmidt Stadium
 
Game Notes
 
Live Stats
 
Live Video
 
Live Audio: (NEPA Local Sports Media: Tom Ferguson, play-by-play)
 
THE MATCHUP
Wilkes University returns home after playing five of its first eight games on the road to face Lycoming College in a key Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) game at Schmidt Stadium Saturday with kickoff scheduled for 1:00 p.m. The Colonels had their three-game winning streak snapped last week at Stevenson University and stand at 4-4 overall and 3-3 in the conference. The Warriors snapped a two-game losing streak by rolling over Alvernia 52-0 at home last week and are 4-3 overall and 3-2 in the MAC.
 
THE HEAD COACHES
Jonathan Drach (Western Michigan '04) was named head coach of the Wilkes University football team on February 8, 2018 becoming the ninth mentor of the program since its inception in 1946. Drach will also serve as the offensive coordinator. He comes to Wilkes after 11 years at Hobart where he was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. There he was instrumental in leading the Statesmen to six Liberty League Conference championships, seven NCAA playoff appearances and three consecutive undefeated regular seasons. He began his career as the quarterbacks coach in 2007 until adding offensive coordinator to his responsibilities in 2014. Drach coached the Liberty League Offensive Player of the Year in 2007, 2014, 2016 and 2017 and the ECAC Offensive Player of the Year in 2007 and 2016. He also coached seven All-League quarterbacks and a Bill Middleton Memorial Football Award Winner. A native of St. Charles, IL, Drach earned his bachelor's degree in business finance and economics from Western Michigan University in 2004 where he was a three-year starter. As a senior he completed a single season record 67 percent of his passes for 1,499 yards and 13 TDs.
 
Mike Clark (Lycoming '93) is in his 11th year as the head coach of the Warriors. He has coached the team to 122 wins, eight MAC titles, seven NCAA playoff appearances and six NCAA playoff wins. During his time as head coach, Clark has tutored 90 all-conference selections, 28 Hampshire Honor Society members, 17 all-region selections, seven All-Americans, eight Academic All-District selections, four Academic All-Americans, a Regional Player of the Year, a NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship winner and led the team to seven wins over top-25 programs. In four years as an offensive lineman at Lycoming under legendary Coach Frank Girardi, he won four MAC titles and helped the team advance to the 1990 NCAA Division III National Championship game.
 
THE SERIES
This season marks the 59th meeting between the two schools with Lycoming holding a 40-18 series advantage. A season ago the Warriors defeated the Colonels 34-7 in Williamsport, Pa. The Colonels won the 2016 meeting 28-26 at Schmidt Stadium.
 
UP NEXT
Wilkes takes a week off for its week 10 bye before returning to the field to host cross-town rival King's College in the 23rd annual Mayor's Cup game Saturday, November 10 at 12:00 p.m.
 
SCOUTING THE WILKES OFFENSE (MULTIPLE)
- Wilkes is sixth in the MAC in scoring offense (30.3), third in total offense (407.8), ninth in rushing offense (111.1) and second in passing offense (296.6).
 
- Quarterback Jose Tabora (Egg Harbor Township, NJ/St. Augustine Prep.) went 23-of-37 for 300 yards and two touchdown passes last week against Stevenson. The junior added 15 carries for 47 yards and another touchdown. His 347 total yards of offense in the game established him as the single season record holder at Wilkes for total offense. His 2,786 yards of total offense still ranks at the top of Division III after eight weeks. Tabora ranks in a tie for 12th in the country with 21 passing touchdowns which also has him in a tie for the single-season school record. He ranks fifth in the nation with 2,323 passing yards.
 
- Jeff Steeber (Shickshinny, PA/Berwick) caught nine passes for 131 yards against Stevenson for his fourth game of the season with nine-or-more receptions and sixth with at least 100 yards. The senior moved into seventh on the single-season receiving yards list at Wilkes with 804 yards. He now has 112 receptions, 12 touchdowns and 1,350 career receiving yards. His 58 receptions this season rank ninth in the country and his 804 receiving yards are 16th.
 
- Sophomore Nick Yanik (Edison, NJ/Edison Twp.) caught a 51-yard fourth quarter touchdown last week as part of a 4-for-93 game. Yanik is fifth in the MAC with 40 receptions and 606 yards.
 
- Junior wide receiver Derek Nelson (Pompton Plains, NJ/Pequannock) is seventh in the conference with 34 receptions and tenth with 393 yards. Juan Salas-Negron (Laurys Station, PA/Parkland) has 25 receptions for 270 yards in his freshman campaign. Junior tight end Bryce Harrison (Hunlock Creek, PA/Northwest) caught a career best three passes for 25 yards last week.
 
- Freshman running back Jason Wiley (Port Chester, NY/Port Chester ) scored on a four-yard reception from Tabora to put Wilkes ahead 7-6 at the 11:20 mark of the second quarter last week against Stevenson. He has 275 yards rushing on 61 carries this season.
 
SCOUTING THE WILKES DEFENSE (4-2-5)
- Wilkes is seventh in scoring defense (28.6), sixth in total defense (343.0), fourth in rushing defense (124.0), and eighth in passing defense (219.0).
 
- Senior linebacker Lukas Wood (Quakertown, PA/Quakertown) recorded a season high 14 tackles including eight solo against Stevenson. He added 1.5 tackles-for-loss and now has 47 total tackles on the season to rank second on the team and 19th in the conference.
 
- Bud Moyer (Tamaqua, PA/Tamaqua) had 10 tackles for the Colonels last week and now has 78 for the season. The junior linebacker ranks second in the MAC and is tied for 22nd in the country in tackles and his 8.5 tackles-for-loss leads the team and ranks in a tie for sixth in the conference.
 
- Dane Tarantelli (Gordon, PA/North Schuylkill) forced a fumble that Justin Trolinger (Carlisle, PA/Carlisle) recovered last and Pat Ricci (Gilbertsville, PA/Boyertown) added his team-leading fourth sack of the season last week.
 
SCOUTING THE WILKES SPECIAL TEAMS
- Freshman kicker David Kutteroff (Stroudsburg, PA/Stroudsburg) converted all three of his extra points against Stevenson and is now 19-of-20 for the season. He is also 3-of-3 on field goals with a long of 31 yards.
 
- Wilkes is third in the conference in punting with a 34.7 net average. Against Stevenson Yanik boomed a 58-yard punt and knocked both his punts inside the opponent's 20-yard line.
 
SCOUTING THE LYCOMING OFFENSE (MULTIPLE PRO STYLE)
- The Warriors are eighth in scoring offense (24.6), eighth in total offense (308.6), eighth in rushing offense (115.7), and eighth in passing offense (192.9).
 
- Freshman quarterback Elijah Shemory is 81-for-152 for 1,291 yards with 10 touchdown passes. He ranks fifth in the conference in passing yards and has also added five rushing touchdowns.
 
- Jacob Fimbres leads the Warriors rushing attack and his 15th in the MAC with 319 yards. The junior rushed for 78 yards on 12 carries last week.
 
- Senior wide receiver Nick Costello ranks seventh in the conference with 507 receiving yards. He caught five passes for 113 yards and two touchdowns a week ago.
 
SCOUTING THE LYCOMING DEFENSE (4-3)
- Lycoming is tied for second in scoring defense (20.0), second in total defense (308.1), third in rushing defense (122.7), and second in passing defense (185.4).
 
- Senior defensive back Joe Pinzka leads Lycoming with 40 total tackles and has three interceptions on the season. Junior defensive back Jeff Coplin has also accumulated three interceptions.
 
- Zach Kovach won the MAC Defensive Player of the Week award on September 9 after leading the Warriors to 33-19 win over Widener and holding the Pride to 190 total yards. He had seven tackles, a sack and 1.5 tackles-for-loss in the game.