Wilkes Colonels (1-3, 0-2) vs. Alvernia Golden Wolves (1-2, 0-2)
Saturday, September 29, 2018 - 1:00 p.m.
2018 Baseballtown Gridiron Classic - FirstEnergy Stadium
 
Game Notes
 
Live Stats
 
Live Video
 
Live Audio: (NEPA Local Sports Media: Chris Del Sordo, play-by-play)
 
Tickets: $10 Reserve Seating; $7 General Admission
(Guests will receive a $2 discount if they purchase their tickets in advance. Tickets may be purchased online, at the Fightin Phils ticket office, or by calling 610-370-BALL. No passes will be accepted at the game.)
 
THE MATCHUP
Wilkes University travels to Reading, Pa. Saturday for its first meeting with Alvernia University's new football program. The game will be played at FirstEngery Stadium, the home of the Philadelphia Phillies double-A affiliate, at 1:00 p.m. as part of the 2018 Baseballtown Gridiron Classic. Both teams look for their first conference win with both entering at 0-2 in Middle Atlantic Conference play. The Colonels lost 47-45 to Misericordia last Saturday while No. 21 Delaware Valley defeated the Golden Wolves 41-10.
 
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.
 
Ralph Clark (Robert Morris College) was hired as the first head coach in Alvernia's program history on January 11, 2017. Clark joined the Golden Wolves' staff after a year as the Defensive Coordinator and Recruiting Coordinator at Seton Hill University. He started his coaching career as a high school assistant coach before he made the jump to college as a linebackers and secondary coach at Georgetown. Clark got his first opportunity as a defensive coordinator at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology from 2006 to 2008 and then held defensive coordinator positions at St. Francis (Pa.) and Millersville University. He was a four-year letter winner at Robert Morris College and during his senior season was named an Unsung Hero All-American in 1997.
 
THE SERIES
This will be the first meeting between the two schools as Alvernia is three games into its inaugural football season.
UP NEXT
Wilkes begins the back half of its schedule when it hosts Albright College for Homecoming on Saturday, October 6 at Schmidt Stadium at 1:00 p.m. A season ago Albright won a tightly contested game 26-23 on a touchdown with 15 seconds remaining in Reading, Pa. The last Colonels victory came in 2010.
 
SCOUTING THE WILKES OFFENSE (MULTIPLE)
- Wilkes is tied for sixth in the MAC in scoring offense (27.3), first in total offense (411.8), ninth in rushing offense (101.5), and second in passing offense (310.3).
 
- Quarterback Jose Tabora (Egg Harbor Township, NJ/St. Augustine Prep.) is off to a flying start to his junior season. Last week he went 28-of-39 for 410 yards and three touchdowns. The 410 yards were tied for the tenth most passing yards by any quarterback in Division III this season. For the season Tabora is 98-of-154 for 1,195 yards and nine touchdowns with two interceptions and has added 60 rushes for 226 yards and two more touchdowns. His 1,419 yards of total offense rank second in the nation heading into week five.
 
- A trio of wide receivers went over 100 yards last week against Misericordia and have helped Wilkes pick up 63 passing first downs to lead the nation this season. Senior Jeff Steeber (Shickshinny, PA/Berwick) went over the 100-yard mark for the third time in four games and ranks second among MAC players in receiving with 29 catches and 406 yards. He now has 83 receptions for 946 yards and six touchdowns in his career. Junior Derek Nelson (Pompton Plains, NJ/Pequannock) caught a career-high nine passes for 127 yards and added his third touchdown last week. Nelson now ranks eighth in the conference with 260 receiving yards and is tied for sixth with 22 receptions. Sophomore Nick Yanik (Edison, NJ/Edison Twp.) went for a career-high 146 yards last week on seven receptions and added his first touchdown of the season. He ranks fourth in the conference with 321 yards and is tied for fourth with 23 receptions.
 
- Freshman running back Jason Wiley (Port Chester, NY/Port Chester ) earned his first career start last week and took advantage with 15 carries for 100 yards and two touchdowns. He added one reception for 32 yards as well. It was the first time a Colonels running back went for 100 yards since Jacob Brook (Layton, NJ/Kittatinny) went for 120 yards in 2016 against Lycoming.
 
SCOUTING THE WILKES DEFENSE (4-2-5)
- Wilkes is sixth in scoring defense (30.8), sixth in total defense (377.0), seventh in rushing defense (173.5), and sixth in passing defense (203.5).
 
- Junior linebacker Bud Moyer (Tamaqua, PA/Tamaqua) tied his career-high with 17 tackles last week against Misericordia. His effort tied for the 18th most this season in Division III. Moyer's 46 total tackles are first in the MAC and 14th in the country and his 11.5 tackles per game are also at the top of the conference and rank in a tie for 31st in the country.
 
- Senior linebacker Lukas Wood (Quakertown, PA/Quakertown) made a season-high 10 tackles last week and is currently at 191 tackles for his career.
 
- On the defensive line, sophomore Justin Trolinger (Carlisle, PA/Carlisle) had the best game of his career against Misericordia. He totaled a career-high seven tackles with 3.0 tackles-for-loss, a forced fumble and had his first career sack.
 
- Sophomore defensive back Amari Peterson (Baltimore, MD/Dover) forced and recovered a fumble last week. He ranks tied for seventh in the conference with 28 total tackles and is tied for second with 18 solo tackles.
 
SCOUTING THE WILKES SPECIAL TEAMS
- The Colonels rank fifth in the conference in kickoff return average at 21.9 yards per-attempt. Senior Devon Fink (Pottstown, PA/Pottsgrove) returned one 35 yards last week and had a 70-yard return in the season opener against Hartwick.
 
- Alexander DeSpirito (Wilkes-Barre, PA/Crestwood ) made a 20-yard field goal last week and is now 4-of-8 on field goal attempts this season and a perfect 10-of-10 on PATs. The sophomore's four field goals made are tied for 11th among Division III kickers. Freshman David Kutteroff (Stroudsburg, PA/Stroudsburg) connected on the first three PAT attempts of his career against Misericordia.
 
SCOUTING THE ALVERNIA OFFENSE (MULTIPLE)
- The Golden Wolves are tenth in scoring offense (16.7), tenth in total offense (236.3), sixth in rushing offense (133.3), and eleventh in passing offense (103.0).
 
- Freshman quarterback Jake Dilcher is 31-of-57 for 294 yards through three games. He has thrown two touchdowns and four interceptions.
 
- Running back Malcolm Carey has rushed 36 times for 198 yards and three touchdowns. The freshman is ranked ninth in the conference with 66.0 rushing yards per-game.
 
- Freshman Neeko Scurlock and sophomore Darius Young lead the Golden Wolves with seven receptions.
 
SCOUTING THE ALVERNIA DEFENSE (3-4)
- Alvernia is tenth in scoring defense (37.0), seventh in total defense (379.7), ninth in rushing defense (200.7), and third in passing defense (179.0).
 
- Freshman inside linebacker Tajon Whiten leads the Golden Wolves with 25 tackles.
 
- Daekwon Hall was named the MAC Defensive Player of the Week in week one after having nine tackles, two for loss, and a forced fumble as Alvernia won its first ever game 26-21 against Gallaudet. The freshman safety ranks fourth in the conference with 5.0 tackles for loss.