ANNVILLE, Pa. – Jose Tabora (Egg Harbor Township, NJ/St. Augustine Prep.) provided a near-perfect performance, passing for 337 yards, rushing for 89, and providing a dramatic walk-off one-yard touchdown run to lead the Wilkes University football team to a 30-27 win at Lebanon Valley College on Saturday afternoon, earning head coach Jonathan Drach his first-ever victory at Wilkes.

The Colonels improved to 1-1 this season, ending a 12-game slide that stretched back to 2016 and a seven game string of loses to the Flying Dutchmen dating to 2010.

After Lebanon Valley kicked a field goal to begin overtime, Wilkes' offense needed just four plays to put the game away. From the LVC 25 yard line, Tabora fired a completion to Jeff Steeber (Shickshinny, PA/Berwick) for ten yards and first down. From there, a Brandon Taragna (Telford, PA/Souderton) three-yard rush and another completion to Steeber for 11 yards set up the Colonels with a first and goal on the one-yard line. Tabora proceeded to take the snap and run straight up the middle, sending the Wilkes faithful home happy and the Colonels sideline into a frenzy.

The game started more conspicuously, as the Flying Dutchmen began by taking the kickoff for a six play-71 yard drive that covered only 2:46 culminating in a 46-yard touchdown pass, followed by a successful PAT as LVC started up 7-0.

The Colonels were set up on the ensuing kickoff by a 59-yard return from Jacob Kadis (Westminster, MD/Delone Catholic) to the LVC 32-yard line, but six plays and 28 yards later Wilkes was unable to convert as the Flying Dutchmen stopped the drive at their own four yard line following a fourth down rush for no gain.

LVC took advantage of the opportunity, taking the ball 96-yards on 11 plays as LVC used a 24-yard touchdown run and a PAT, taking a 14-0 lead with just over four minutes on the first quarter clock.

The Colonels then regained the ball at their own 25. Following a third and seven 12-yard rush from Tabora for a first down at the Wilkes 40, Tabora unloaded a 48-yard strike to Steeber to reach the Flying Dutchmen 12-yard line. After back-to-back one yard rushes, Tabora found Steeber for a nine-yard pick-up on third and eight for a first and goal at the one-yard line setting up Kelvin Gonzalez (Wanaque, NJ/Lakeland Regional) for the first touchdown of his career. Alexander DeSpirito (Wilkes-Barre, PA/Crestwood ) followed with the PAT to put the Colonels down 14-7 as the first quarter came to a close.

The Colonels defense started the second quarter in positive fashion, forcing the Flying Dutchmen into a three-and-out.

Wilkes started its next drive at its own 21-yard line and marched down the field on nine plays, facing only one third down on the possession, ending in a five-yard completion to Matt Rossi (Stewartstown, PA/York County Tech) in the back of the end zone for his first scoring reception of Rossi's career, tying the game at 14 with 8:31 on the clock.

LVC responded on its next drive with 40 yards on 10 plays, but the Colonels defense kept the Flying Dutchmen out of the end zone as they settled for a 40-yard field goal to take a 17-14 lead.

Wilkes commenced its next possession at its own 25 and took the ball all the way to the LVC six-yard line before the Dutchmen held the line on fourth down forcing a turnover on downs.

LVC was able to get off just one play before the end of the half as the Flying Dutchmen held a 17-14 lead.

Neither team scored on their first two drives to start the third quarter. On the Colonels third drive, starting at the LVC 46 following a fumble recovery by Amari Peterson (Baltimore, MD/Dover), Wilkes marched down the field aided by a 12-yard completion from Tabora to Juan Salas-Negron (Laurys Station, PA/Parkland) and a 15-yard personal foul on the Flying Dutchmen. That set up Derek Nelson (Pompton Plains, NJ/Pequannock) for a 14-yard touchdown catch and a DeSpirito PAT as the Colonels jumped ahead 21-17, a lead that held through the end of the quarter.

Wilkes was able to hold LVC on its next possession as Bud Moyer (Tamaqua, PA/Tamaqua) and Pat Ricci (Gilbertsville, PA/Boyertown) met at the quarterback for a sack on third and two, forcing a punt on fourth and nine. The Colonels next drive ate up just under 11 minutes across 20 plays as a DeSpirito 22-yard field goal helped Wilkes to a 24-17 advantage with just under three-and-a-half minutes showing on the clock.

The Colonels defense was unable to keep the lead as LVC converted two third downs on a 10-play 61-yard drive that ate up 2:53 ending with a two-yard touchdown pass and PAT to tie the score with a mere 22 seconds on the clock.

Wilkes had a chance to win the game on a 58-yard field goal, which ultimately fell short, leading to the heroics in the extra period.

Tabora finished the game 27-of-40 through the air and two touchdowns with zero interceptions. Kody Kegarise compiled a 14-of-21 stat line with 159 yards and two touchdowns, also with zero interceptions.

Steeber stared in the receiving game, hauling in 10 passes for 168 yards, a career-high in both categories. Nick Yanik (Edison, NJ/Edison Twp.) added five receptions for 57 yards, Derek Nelson (Pompton Plains, NJ/Pequannock) added three catches for 36 yards and a touchdown, while Rossi contributed his five-yard scoring reception. Tyeair Diggs paced LVC with three catches for 63 yards and a score.

Tabora led the rushing attack for Wilkes with 89 yards on 20 rushes and touchdown. Ryan Fink led the Flying Dutchmen ground game with 72 yards on 13 attempts and a touchdown.

Peterson and Devon Fink (Pottstown, PA/Pottsgrove) totaled eight tackles with Peterson contributing two pass break ups. Ricci added 1.5 sacks while Moyer finished with half a sack. Tyler Lutz led the LVC defense with 15 tackles and the lone sack allowed by the Colonels.

Wilkes returns to the field on Saturday when it travels to #23 Delaware Valley with kickoff scheduled for 1:00 p.m., beginning the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) schedule.