Wilkes Colonels (1-1) vs. No. 22 Delaware Valley Aggies (1-1)
Saturday, September 15, 2018 - 1:00 p.m.
Robert A. Lipinski Field at James Work Memorial Stadium
 
Game Notes
 
Live Stats
 
Live Video
 
Live Audio  (NEPA Local Sports Media: Tom Ferguson, play-by-play)
 
THE MATCHUP
Wilkes University travels to Doylestown, Pa. to face No. 22 Delaware Valley University as both teams begin Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) play Saturday. The Colonels enter at 1-1 after ending a 12-game losing skid dating back to the 2016 season with a 30-27 overtime victory at Lebanon Valley last week. It was the first victory under first-year head coach Jonathan Drach. The Aggies also enter at 1-1 after defeating UMass Dartmouth 52-21 last week to move up one spot in the D3football.com Top 25.
 
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 during the 2018 season. Drach comes to Wilkes after 11 years at Hobart. As the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Hobart, Drach 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. A three-year starter, he enjoyed his finest year as a senior, completing a single season record 67 percent of his passes for 1,499 yards and 13 TDs.
 
Duke Greco (Delaware Valley '03) is in his fifth year as the Delaware Valley head coach, entering this game with an astounding 40-8 record. His teams have made the postseason each year, including a pair of NCAA appearances, one trip to the NCAA quarterfinals, a MAC championship and two Centennial-MAC Bowl Series championships. Prior to becoming head coach, Greco had an 11-year stint as an assistant coach with DelVal, including eight as the assistant head coach and offensive coordinator. Greco first joined the staff after finishing his playing days as the school's second all-time leading passer with 299 completions, 3,974 yards and 41 touchdowns.
 
THE SERIES
This will be the 55th meeting between the schools as Wilkes holds the series lead 31-23. Delaware Valley was ranked No. 12 last season when the Aggies came away with a 34-14 win at Schmidt Stadium. The last Colonels win came by way of a 12-7 score in the 2015 meeting.
 
UP NEXT
After two weeks away, Wilkes returns to Schmidt Stadium to face Misericordia on Saturday, September 22 at 1:00 p.m. Last season the Cougars defeated the Colonels 43-14 in Dallas, Pa.
 
SCOUTING THE WILKES OFFENSE (MULTIPLE)
- Junior quarterback Jose Tabora (Egg Harbor Township, NJ/St. Augustine Prep.) was named the MAC Football Offensive Player of the Week after leading the Colonels past Lebanon Valley 30-27 in overtime. He completed 27-of-40 passes for 337 yards and two touchdowns and also rushed 21 times for 91 yards and the game-winning one-yard touchdown run. Tabora has yet to throw an interception this season in 68 pass attempts and has a 62.8 completion percentage.
 
- Senior wide receiver Jeff Steeber (Shickshinny, PA/Berwick) had a career day against LVC with 10 receptions for 168 yards. Through two games he ranks second among MAC players in receiving with 17 catches and 271 yards. He now has 71 receptions for 811 yards and five touchdowns in his career.
 
- Sophomore Nick Yanik (Edison, NJ/Edison Twp.) was the second leading receiver against LVC with five receptions for 57 yards. Junior Derek Nelson (Pompton Plains, NJ/Pequannock) followed with three catches for 36 yards including a 14-yard touchdown in the third quarter to give Wilkes a 21-17 lead.
 
- Justin Deihm (Honey Brook, PA/Twin Valley), Juan Salas-Negron (Laurys Station, PA/Parkland), Jason Wiley (Port Chester, NY/Port Chester ), Jordan Jones (Freehold, NJ/Freehold Twp.), Andrew Seymour (Harrisburg, PA/Susquehanna Twp.) and Matt Rossi (Stewartstown, PA/York County Tech) all caught at least one pass in week two. Rossi's one reception was for a five-yard touchdown in the second quarter to even the score at 14-14.
 
- Freshman running back Kelvin Gonzalez (Wanaque, NJ/Lakeland Regional) scored his first career touchdown with a one-yard run as the first quarter expired to put the Colonels on the scoreboard against LVC. For the game he finished with nine rushes for 16 yards and the touchdown. Sophomore Brandon Taragna (Telford, PA/Souderton) toted the ball six times for 17 yards and Wiley carried three times for 12 yards as the freshman became a bigger part of the offense in week two.
 
SCOUTING THE WILKES DEFENSE (4-2-5)
- After two weeks of play junior linebacker Bud Moyer (Tamaqua, PA/Tamaqua) is tied for the MAC lead with 21 total tackles. He had seven total tackles including six solo against LVC last week and also added a half sack.
 
- Sophomore defensive back Amari Peterson (Baltimore, MD/Dover) and senior defensive back Devon Fink (Pottstown, PA/Pottsgrove) led Wilkes with eight tackles in the week two victory. Peterson added two pass breakups and a fumble recovery. He currently ranks in a tie for eighth in the MAC with 16 tackles and Peterson along with Fink are both tied for second in the conference with three pass breakups.
 
- Sophomore defensive lineman Pat Ricci (Gilbertsville, PA/Boyertown) had a strong game against LVC as he racked up six tackles and 1.5 sacks. Currently Ricci is tied for second in the conference with 2.0 sacks.
 
SCOUTING THE WILKES SPECIAL TEAMS
- Senior Jacob Kadis (Westminster, MD/Delone Catholic) returned a first quarter kickoff 59 yards against LVC. He currently ranks fourth in the MAC with a 25.3 yard average on his four returns this season. Fink didn't get a chance to return a kickoff in week two after he brought one back 70 yards against Hartwick to open the season.
 
- Alexander DeSpirito (Wilkes-Barre, PA/Crestwood ) had another solid kicking day as he connected on all three extra point attempts and made a 22-yard field goal with 3:24 left in the fourth quarter to put the Colonels ahead 24-17. His only miss came on a game-winning 58-yard field goal try as the fourth quarter clock expired. He punted one time for 40 yards.
 
SCOUTING THE DELAWARE VALLEY OFFENSE (MULTIPLE)
- Senior quarterback Dashawn Darden was named Second Team All-MAC last season. He has started his 2018 campaign going 29-of-54 for 359 yards with four touchdowns and one interception through two games. He has also added 24 rushes for 79 yards and one more score.

- Junior tight end Dan Allen was a Second Team All-MAC selection last season and sports a hefty 30.4 yards-per-catch average through two games this season with five catches for 152 yards and two touchdowns. Junior wide receiver Aaron Nelson leads the Aggies with nine receptions.
 
- Donte Simmons leads the MAC in rushing with 156 yards on 21 carries. The sophomore has a 7.4 yards-per-carry average.
 
SCOUTING THE DELAWARE VALLEY DEFENSE (MULTIPLE)
- Senior defensive lineman Christian Snowden is back after being named First Team All-MAC last year. Junior defensive lineman Vincent DiLeo is also back after his Second Team All-MAC selection in 2017.
 
- Michael Nobile is off to a fast start to his career on the defensive line as the freshman has 20 tackles and a conference-leading 7.5 tackles-for-loss through two games. He also leads the conference with two forced fumbles.