READING, PA – Wilkes University's Jose Tabora (Egg Harbor Township, NJ/St. Augustine Prep.) accounted for four of the Colonels five touchdowns including the game-winning run late in the fourth quarter as Wilkes remained unbeaten after posting a 42-40 Middle Atlantic Conference victory over host Albright College Saturday afternoon at Shirk Stadium.
 
Wilkes moved to 5-0 overall and 3-0 in conference play following its third road win of the season. The 5-0 start continues the program's best start since the 2006 season when Wilkes started 11-0, including a MAC Championship and first round NCAA win over Washington & Lee.
 
Both teams showed no signs of shyness when it came to scoring points in the first half as both offenses had their way as well as using big plays in special teams to bolster a high-scoring affair at the break.
 
Chris Holbrook took the opening kickoff 91 yards for the Lions first score of the game as Albright led 6-0 after a failed extra point. Wilkes responded on its first offensive possession as Nate Whitaker (Upper Darby, PA/Haverford School) gave the Colonels good field position after a 25-yard kickoff return of his own setup the offense at its own 40. Tabora used his legs for 12 yards and Jeremiah Acker (Moscow, PA/North Pocono) went for 13 more to move the ball to the Albright 39. From there it was short runs followed by a ten yard completion to Bryce Harrison (Hunlock Creek, PA/Northwest) that setup the scoring play for Wilkes. Tabora found Nick Yanik (Edison, NJ/Edison Twp.) from 12 yards out to tie the game at six with 9:56 left in the first quarter.
 
The teams traded turnovers on the next two possessions as Albright was stopped short on a fourth and six and Tabora was picked off on the ensuing first play of the Colonels drive. Albright used the short field to score its second touchdown of the game and opted for the two point conversion which was successful to take a 14-6 lead with 3:33 on the first quarter clock.
 
Another great kickoff return from Whitaker (48 yards) setup the Colonels on the Albright 30 on the ensuing possession. A 13-yard scamper from Tabora followed by a pitch-and-catch to Yanik for 14 more yards setup Wilkes' second score of the afternoon. Acker went into pay dirt from three yards out to tie the game at 14 after the extra point failed.
 
Albright's next possession saw the Wilkes defense come up with its second fourth down stop to start the second quarter as two incomplete passes followed by a Jason Hampton (Lakeland, FL/Lakeland) tackle that kept the Lions one yard shy of the first down gave the ball back to the Colonels. Wilkes was unable to muster a drive and punted the ball back to Albright with 10:29 left in the half.
 
The Lions took advantage of the punt and flipped the field again using a 22-yard return to setup its offense at the Wilkes 33. From there Jimmy Lahay found Kevin Zehner for a 12-yard touchdown pass to give the hosts the lead back at 21-14.
 
Whitaker continued his fine play on kickoff returns setting up the Wilkes offense at its own 42 thanks to a 22-yard return. Wilkes used a 7-play, 58-yard drive capped by a Tabora-to-Yanik eight yard pass to tie the game at 21 with 1:57 remaining until the break.
 
Albright special teams came up with its second score of the first half, this time a 93-yard kickoff return on the ensuing kick to put the Lions ahead 28-21 with 1:49 left in the half.
 
Tabora would be intercepted for the second time in the half on Wilkes' next drive and Albright took advantage of the miscue scoring one more time with a one yard rush after a five play, 17-yard drive that lasted just 1:17.
 
The quick drive left enough time for Whitaker, who totaled 194 yards on five returns in the game, to take home his first career kickoff return touchdown to the house 85 yards to cut into the Albright lead with Wilkes trailing 34-28 at the break.
 
The Wilkes offense picked up where it left off in the first half at the start of the third quarter as the Tabora-to-Yanik connection continued to torch the Lions defense this time for a big 23-yard completion to move Wilkes to midfield. From there Tabora found Derek Nelson (Pompton Plains, NJ/Pequannock) on a fourth and two play for a 45-yard touchdown to give the Colonels their first lead of the contest up 35-34 following a Justin Pollack (Sloatsburg, NY/Suffern) extra point.
 
Albright answered with a 13-yard touchdown pass from Lahay on its next possession which put the Lions ahead 40-35 and ended either teams scoring through the rest of the third quarter.
 
Albright was driving to start the fourth quarter, but the Colonel defense posted its third fourth down stop as Lahay's pass failed to reach a receiver on a fourth and three from the Wilkes 32.
 
From there Wilkes began its game-winning drive which lasted 17 plays and 68 yards using almost nine minutes of clock in the process. Tabora was the key factor yet again using his feet to run for first downs and keep the drive alive. A 17-yard run from Tabora moved the ball to the Albright six, and two plays later, the senior signal-caller called his own number running in from two yards out to give Wilkes a 42-40 lead with 5:48 left in the game.
 
Albright tried to answer on its next possession driving all the way down to the Colonel 12 before Zack Nesheiwat (Hackettstown, NJ/Hackettstown) picked off Lahay in the end zone for the touchback. Wilkes was able to rush for one first down and burn the rest of the clock in the process ending any more attempts of a Lions comeback.
 
Tabora was the story offensively for Wilkes finishing 17-for-29 passing for 185 yards and three touchdowns. He also ran the ball 16 times for 91 yards and the final Colonels score. Acker followed with 12 carries for 55 yards and the other Wilkes touchdown.
 
Yanik hauled in six balls for 65 yards and two scores continuing his fine play on the outside for Wilkes. Nelson finished with five receptions for 82 yards and one score.
 
Bud Moyer (Tamaqua, PA/Tamaqua) led the Wilkes defense with a game-high 12 tackles, while Nesheiwat followed with 10 stops and the key interception late in the game.
 
Wilkes welcomes #13 Delaware Valley University to Schmidt Stadium next Saturday for a matchup between two unbeaten teams in MAC play. Delaware Valley stands 5-1 overall and is tied with the Colonels and Misericordia atop the conference standings. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.