Wilkes Colonels (5-0, 3-0) vs. No. 16 Delaware Valley Aggies (5-1, 4-0)
Saturday, October 19, 2019 - 1:00 p.m.
Schmidt Stadium
 
Game Notes
 
Live Stats
 
Live Video: (Audio: Tom Ferguson, NEPA Local Sports Media)
 
THE MATCHUP
The Wilkes University football team welcomes in No. 16/12 Delaware Valley University to Schmidt Stadium on Saturday, October 19 for a matchup of undefeated Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) teams. The Colonels are 5-0 for the first time since 2006 after a fourth quarter comeback in a 42-40 win at Albright College last Saturday. The Aggies are 5-1 overall and 4-0 in the MAC after defeating King's College 28-13 at home last week. Delaware Valley is on a current 24-game conference winning streak dating back to 2016 and are ranked 16th in the D3football.com poll and 12th in the AFCA poll.
 
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 continue to serve as the offensive coordinator during the 2019 season. Drach pioneered one of the biggest turnarounds in Division III football last season when he led the Colonels to a 5-5 record (6-4 after picking up a forfeit) after the team went winless in 2017. Four Colonels were named All-MAC under Drach in 2018 as quarterback Jose Tabora (Egg Harbor Township, NJ/St. Augustine Prep.) was named to the second team while receiver Jeff Steeber (Shickshinny, PA/Berwick), linebacker Bud Moyer (Tamaqua, PA/Tamaqua) and defensive back Devon Fink (Pottstown, PA/Pottsgrove) all garnered Honorable Mention selections. Drach came to Wilkes after 11 years at Hobart. As the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, 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, Ill., 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 sixth year as the Delaware Valley head coach, entering this game with an astounding 53-10 record. His teams have made the postseason each year, including three NCAA appearances, one trip to the NCAA quarterfinals, back-to-back MAC championships and two Centennial-MAC Bowl Series championships. A total of 16 players were named to the All-MAC squad last season including Defensive Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year, Michael Nobile. Nobile and tight end Dan Allen were named All-Americans. 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 56th meeting between the schools as Wilkes holds the series lead 31-24. Delaware Valley was ranked No. 22 last season when the Aggies came away with a 21-10 win in Doylestown, Pa. The last Colonels win came by way of a 12-7 score in the 2015 meeting.
 
UP NEXT
The Colonels travel to Misericordia University in Dallas, Pa. on Saturday, October 26 for their fifth conference game of the season. The Colonels dropped a tight 47-45 game to the Cougars last season at Schmidt Stadium.
 
SCOUTING THE WILKES OFFENSE (MULTIPLE)
- Wilkes leads the MAC in scoring offense (35.8), is third in total offense (417.4), sixth in rushing offense (131.6), and third in passing offense (285.8).
 
- Senior quarterback Jose Tabora (Egg Harbor Township, NJ/St. Augustine Prep.) has been a big reason why the Colonels are 5-0 for the first time since the 2006. He went 17-for-29 for 185 yards and three touchdowns through the air in the victory against Albright. He also capped off a fourth quarter drive that took 8:59 off the clock with a 2-yard touchdown run that gave Wilkes the 42-40 lead. Tabora rushed for a season-high 91 yards on 16 carries in the game. He is closing in on breaking the school record for total offense as he currently has 6,462 yards. Boo Perry holds the record with 6,937. The Second Team All-MAC selection from a season ago currently ranks third in the conference and 21st in the country with 280.0 passing yards-per-game and third in the MAC and 25th in the country with 1,400 passing yards.
 
- Junior wide receiver Nick Yanik (Edison, NJ/Edison Twp.) reached 100 career receptions last week as he now stands at 103 career catches for 1,448 yards. He brought in six receptions for 65 yards and two touchdowns against Albright. Yanik ranks second in the MAC and 20th in the country with 116.0 receiving yards-per-game and is fourth in the conference and 15th in the nation with 7.4 receptions-per-game.
 
- Derek Nelson (Pompton Plains, NJ/Pequannock) caught five passes for 82 yards and a touchdown against the Lions. The senior wide receiver ranks tenth in the conference with 340 receiving yards.
 
- Sophomore running back Jeremiah Acker (Moscow, PA/North Pocono) rushed 12 times for a career-high 55 yards and his third touchdown of the season last week.
 
- The Colonels offense is tied for the conference lead and tenth in the country with a 52.2 third-down conversion percentage after going 10-for-15 against Albright. Wilkes is currently 22nd in the nation in time of possession at 33:31.
 
SCOUTING THE WILKES DEFENSE (4-2-5)
- Wilkes is fourth in scoring defense (22.8), fourth in total defense (310.6), third in rushing defense (102.4), and fifth in passing defense (208.2).
 
- Sophomore cornerback Zack Nesheiwat (Hackettstown, NJ/Hackettstown) made the game-clinching play last week when he intercepted a Jimmy Lahay pass in the end zone with 1:41 remaining in the game and the Colonels clinging to a two-point lead. Nesheiwat also made a career-high 10 tackles and was named the MAC Defensive Player of the Week.
 
- Senior linebacker Bud Moyer (Tamaqua, PA/Tamaqua) made a team-high 12 tackles against Albright and currently ranks fourth in the conference with 8.6 tackles-per-game. He was named the MAC Defensive Player of the Week when the Colonels defeated Lycoming.
 
- Gabe Allgyer (Paradise, PA/Pequea Valley) continued his standout senior season with another eight tackles against the Lions. He is averaging 7.0 tackles-per-game to rank 13th in the MAC.

- Pat Ricci (Gilbertsville, PA/Boyertown) recorded his second sack of the season in the victory against Albright while Dane Tarantelli (Gordon, PA/North Schuylkill) registered one tackle-for-loss and a quarterback hurry.
 
SCOUTING THE WILKES SPECIAL TEAMS
- Freshman Nate Whitaker (Upper Darby, PA/Haverford School) produced a key play in the Wilkes victory last week when he returned a kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown with seven seconds left in the second quarter to pull the Colonels within six-points at 34-28. Whitaker totaled 194 yards on his five kickoff returns in the game.
 
- Freshman kicker Justin Pollack (Sloatsburg, NY/Suffern) was a perfect 4-for-4 on his point-after-touchdown chances in the victory as every point mattered in the tight game. The points were the first of his career in the Navy and Gold.
 
SCOUTING THE DELAWARE VALLEY OFFENSE (MULTIPLE)
- Delaware Valley is third in the MAC in scoring offense (34.5), fifth in total offense (384.3), second in rushing offense (163.0), and seventh in passing offense (221.3).
 
- Senior quarterback Anthony Fontana was 21-of-27 for 146 yards and two touchdowns last week in a victory against King's. He has thrown for 1,159 yards and 12 touchdowns to three interceptions this season. Fontana has also rushed for four TDs.
 
- Senior running back Mario Nigro and junior Donte Simmons have handled the majority of the rushing game this season for the Aggies. Nigro leads the team with 242 rushing yards and four touchdowns. Simmons is coming off his best-game of the year with 12 carries for 64 yards and a touchdown.
 
- Aaron Nelson is the leading wide receiver for the Aggies with 322 yards on 16 receptions. Senior All-American tight end Dan Allen has 18 catches for 290 yards and four touchdowns this year.
 
SCOUTING THE DELAWARE VALLEY DEFENSE (MULTIPLE)
- Delaware Valley leads the MAC in scoring defense (13.2), total defense (204.5), rushing defense (47.3), and passing defense (157.2).
 
- Sophomore defensive end and All-American Michael Nobile leads the country with 16.5 tackles-for-loss and is the MAC leader with 6.0 sacks. He was named the MAC Defensive Player of the Week and to the D3football.com Team of the Week back in week one.
 
- Linebacker Billy Walsh was also named the MAC Defensive Player of the Week back on October 6th. He is third on the team with 31 tackles.
 
- Senior Kenyonn Jones leads the team with 38 tackles and has 6.0 tackles-for-loss and 3.5 sacks from his defensive line position. He was named to the D3football.com Team of the Week on September 17th.
 
- Sophomore defensive back Baline Netterman was named to the D3football.com Team of the Week on Tuesday after he had two interceptions against King's.
 
SCOUTING THE DELAWARE VALLEY SPECIAL TEAMS
- Bobby Miller leads the MAC in punting at 40.8 yards-per-punt and has had four 50-plus yard punts this season.
 
- Tahmir Barksdale was named the MAC Special Teams Player of the Week on September 22nd after he returned a punt for a 78-yard touchdown.