Wilkes Colonels (5-1, 3-1) at Misericordia Cougars (4-1, 4-0)
Saturday, October 26, 2019 - 1:00 p.m.
Mangelsdorf Field
 
Game Notes
 
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THE MATCHUP
The Wilkes University football team travels to local rival Misericordia University in Dallas, Pa. and Manglesdorf Field to face the Cougars on Saturday, October 26 for a Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) matchup at 1:00 p.m. The Colonels are 5-1 overall and 3-1 in the MAC after falling for the first time last week against No. 16 Delaware Valley University, 42-0. Wilkes started the season 5-0 for the first time since the 2006 season. The Cougars are 4-1 overall and unbeaten at 4-0 in the MAC following a 40-14 road win at FDU-Florham last Saturday.
 
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.
 
Mark Ross (Penn State) is in his eighth season as the head football coach at Misericordia University. Ross was hired as the first coach in the history of the program in February, 2011. He was named MAC Coach of the Year in 2018 after leading the Cougars to an 8-3 record, including a 7-1 mark in the conference. The Cougars finished tied for second in the MAC last season and played in their first Centennial-MAC Bowl game. Previously, Ross spent 10 seasons as an assistant coach at Ithaca College and has also coached at East Stroudsburg University. At Ithaca, he served as the Bombers' defensive coordinator and linebackers coach and previously coached linebackers, defensive line and place-kickers. Ross spent four seasons as an assistant coach at East Stroudsburg, where he earned a master's in sport management.
 
THE SERIES
This will be the eighth meeting between the schools as Wilkes leads the series slightly at 4-3. The Colonels dropped a tight shootout by a 47-45 score to the Cougars last season at Schmidt Stadium.
 
UP NEXT
The Colonels host FDU-Florham at Schmidt Stadium on Saturday, November 2 at 1:00 p.m. The Colonels defeated the Devils 31-16 last season in Madison, N.J.
 
SCOUTING THE WILKES OFFENSE (MULTIPLE)
- Wilkes ranks fifth in the MAC in scoring offense (29.8), is seventh in total offense (364.5), ninth in rushing offense (113.0), and fourth in passing offense (251.5).
 
- Senior quarterback Jose Tabora (Egg Harbor Township, NJ/St. Augustine Prep.) looks to rebound after a tough go against a stout Delaware Valley defense last week. He finished 10-for-22 for 80 yards through the air. Tabora is 109-for-181 on the season with 1,480 passing yards and 10 touchdowns. He is closing in on breaking the school record for total offense as he currently has 6,523 yards. Boo Perry holds the record with 6,937. Tabora is currently fifth in school history with 5,431 passing yards.
 
- Freshman wide receiver Nate Whitaker (Upper Darby, PA/Haverford School) caught a 38-yard pass last week and finished as the leading receiver in yards with 47. Senior Derek Nelson (Pompton Plains, NJ/Pequannock) led the Colonels with three catches in the game and ranks 14th in the conference with 26 receptions for the season.
 
- Junior wide receiver Nick Yanik (Edison, NJ/Edison Twp.) reached 100 career receptions two weeks ago and now stands at 105 career catches for 1,462 yards. Yanik ranks second in the MAC and 43rd in the country with 99.0 receiving yards-per-game and is fourth in the conference and 44th in the nation with 6.5 receptions-per-game.
 
- Sophomore running back Kelvin Gonzalez (Wanaque, NJ/Lakeland Regional) was the leading rusher for the Colonels against the Aggies last Saturday as he took three carries for 14 yards.
 
- The Colonels offense is third in the conference and 42nd in the country with a 45.7 third-down conversion percentage this season. Wilkes is currently 31st in the nation in time of possession at 32:21 which is fourth among MAC teams.
 
SCOUTING THE WILKES DEFENSE (4-2-5)
- Wilkes is fifth in the MAC in scoring defense (26.0), fourth in total defense (322.7), third in rushing defense (98.8), and fifth in passing defense (223.8).
 
- Senior linebacker Bud Moyer (Tamaqua, PA/Tamaqua) made a team-high 12 tackles for the second consecutive week and had a half tackle-for loss against Delaware Valley. He now has 274 career tackles and currently ranks fourth in the conference with 9.2 tackles-per-game this season. He was named the MAC Defensive Player of the Week when the Colonels defeated Lycoming after a two interception performance including the game-clinching INT in double overtime.
 
- Gabe Allgyer (Paradise, PA/Pequea Valley) continued his standout senior season with another eight tackles against the Aggies. He is averaging 7.2 tackles-per-game to rank seventh in the MAC. He also recovered a fumble in last week's game.
 
- Pat Ricci (Gilbertsville, PA/Boyertown) recorded two sacks against DelVal as he leads the team and ranks fifth in the conference with 4.0 sacks this season. Dane Tarentelli and Cole Jesmer (Dover, PA/Dover) also registered sacks against the Aggies.
 
- Sophomore cornerback Zack Nesheiwat (Hackettstown, NJ/Hackettstown) made the game-clinching play during a 42-40 victory over Albright two weeks ago when he intercepted a pass in the end zone with 1:41 remaining in the game. Nesheiwat also made a career-high 10 tackles and was named the MAC Defensive Player of the Week for that performance.
 
SCOUTING THE WILKES SPECIAL TEAMS
- Freshman Eddie Soto (Albany, NY/Colonie Central) returned two kickoffs for 26 yards last week fellow freshman Jason Schweizerhof (Warninster, PA/William Tennent) had one return for 18 yards. Sophomore full back Joseph Leszczynski (Pompton Plains, NJ/Pequannock) returned twice for 23 yards.
 
- Alexander DeSpirito (Wilkes-Barre, PA/Crestwood) punted 10 times for a 37.7 average last week including one of 50 yards. He has now punted 21 times for a 37.2 average on the season which ranks seventh in the conference.
 
SCOUTING THE MISERICORDIA OFFENSE (MULTIPLE)
- Misericordia is fourth in the MAC in scoring offense (30.2), third in total offense (416.4), third in rushing offense (173.4), and fifth in passing offense (243.0).
 
- Senior quarterback Brady Williams was 10-of-22 for 217 yards and a touchdown last week in a victory against FDU-Florham. He also rushed 12 times for 66 yards. He has thrown for 1,215 yards and 11 touchdowns to four interceptions this season. Williams has also rushed for four TDs.
 
- Sophomore running back Michael Gawlik had a monster game against the Devils last week as he took 23 carries for 238 yards and a touchdown. He averaged 10.3 yards-per-carry in the contest. Fellow sophomore running back Eric Jeffries also rushed 16 times for 84 yards and a touchdown last week.
 
- Isaiah Williams caught six passes for 135 yards and a touchdown against FDU. The senior is fourth in the conference with 88.2 receiving yards-per-game and third with 6.8 receptions. Fellow senior wide receiver Sam Gillison ranks third in the MAC with six touchdowns.
 
SCOUTING THE MISERICORDIA DEFENSE (3-4)
- Misericordia ranks fourth in the MAC in scoring defense (24.2), sixth in total defense (396.8), fifth in rushing defense (134.2), and ninth in passing defense (262.6).
 
- Senior defensive back Nick Yeager was named the MAC Defensive Player of the Week on Sunday following his performance against the Devils where he registered two interceptions and a forced fumble. Yeager is second in the conference with 10 passes defended (7 breakups, 3 interceptions).
 
- Alex Hafner was named the MAC Defensive Player of the Week on September 29th. The sophomore defensive back leads the Cougars with 7.2 tackles-per-game. He has totaled 36 tackles including 25 solo and also leads the team with 3.5 tackles-for-loss and has recorded one sack.
 
- Junior defensive back Zachary Orzell is second on the team with 32 total tackles.
 
SCOUTING THE MISERICORDIA SPECIAL TEAMS
- Matt Dinnocenti is 3-for-5 on field-goal attempts this season with a long of 42 yards.
 
- Gawlik was named the MAC Special Teams Player of the Week on October 6th after he returned a kickoff 89 yards for a touchdown in a 22-16 victory against King's College. He has 12 kickoff returns for 307 yards on the season. His 25.6 yard average ranks second in the MAC.