Wilkes Colonels (3-0, 1-0) vs. Alvernia Golden Wolves (1-3, 0-2)
Saturday, October 5, 2019 - 1:00 p.m.
Schmidt Stadium
 
Games Notes
 
Live Stats
 
Live Video: (Audio: Tom Ferguson, NEPA Local Sports Media)
 
THE MATCHUP
The Wilkes University football team is set for its Homecoming game as they face Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) foe Alvernia University at Schmidt Stadium with kickoff scheduled for 1:00 p.m. Saturday. The Colonels are coming off a bye week following a 24-17 double-overtime victory to open MAC play at Lycoming College on September 21st. Wilkes is 3-0 for the first time since 2009. The Colonels are also one of five MAC teams to have a perfect conference record heading into this week. The Golden Wolves enter at 1-3 and 0-2 in the conference after falling to Widener University 41-13 at home last week.
 
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.
 
Ralph Clark (Robert Morris College) enters his second season as he was hired as the first head coach in Alvernia's program history on January 11, 2017. He led Alvernia to a 1-9 record in its inaugural season. Clark joined the Golden Wolves' staff after a year as the Defensive Coordinator and Recruiting Coordinator at Seton Hill University. After coaching high school 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 coordinatoor 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
Wilkes holds a 1-0 record against Alvernia as the Colonels defeated the Golden Wolves 34-14 in their first-ever meeting last year at FirstEnergy Stadium in Reading, Pa.

UP NEXT
The Colonels travel to Albright College in Reading, Pa. on Saturday, October 12 for their third conference game of the season. The Colonels defeated the Lions 47-43 at Schmidt Stadium last season to snap a seven-game losing skid to Albright.
 
SCOUTING THE WILKES OFFENSE (MULTIPLE)
- Wilkes is fourth in the MAC in scoring offense (30.7), second in total offense (464.7), fifth in rushing offense (139.3), and second in passing offense (325.3).
 
- Senior quarterback Jose Tabora (Egg Harbor Township, NJ/St. Augustine Prep.) has been a big reason why the Colonels are 3-0 for the first time since the 2009. Last time out he was 24-of-37 for 332 yards. He added 13 carries for 37 yards including the winning touchdown run of four yards in double overtime at Lycoming. Tabora currently ranks fifth in program history with 4,927 passing yards. The Second Team All-MAC selection from a season ago currently ranks second in the conference and 12th in the country with 325.3 passing yards per-game and second in the MAC and 35th in the nation with a 65.1 completion percentage.
 
- Junior wide receiver Nick Yanik (Edison, NJ/Edison Twp.) was Tabora's top target against Lycoming as he caught nine passes for 146 yards and also scored on a seven-yard rush. Yanik now has 92 career receptions for 1,299 yards. Yanik ranks second in the MAC and eighth in the country with 143.7 receiving yards-per-game and is tenth in the nation with 8.7 receptions-per-game.
 
- Derek Nelson (Pompton Plains, NJ/Pequannock) caught seven passes for the second consecutive game last time out. The senior now has 62 receptions for 711 yards in his career. Freshman wide receiver Aboubacar Fofana (Bronx, NY/Kennedy) caught his first career pass for a 41-yard gain against Lycoming. - The Colonels had their best run-game of the season against Lycoming with 148 yards. Freshman running back Kamaal Reed (Egg Harbor City, NJ/Cedar Creek) rushed seven times for a team-high 55 yards and a hefty 7.9 average that included a six-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter. Reed ranks 11th in the conference with 47.7 rushing yards-per-game. Sophomore Jeremiah Acker (Moscow, PA/North Pocono) rushed 12 times for 45 yards and added two catches for 31 yards in the victory at Lycoming.
 
- The offensive line consisting of starters Mike Osayi (Middletown, PA/Middletown), Brendan Boris (Kulpmont, PA/Mount Carmel), Vincent Rogers (Rahway, NJ/Rahway), Cory Berrien (Old Forge, PA/Old Forge), and Billy Anderson (Mount Carmel, PA/Mount Carmel) allowed just one sack in week 3 and helped push Wilkes to 27 first downs and 480 total yards of offense. The Colonels offense ranks first in the MAC with 23.7 first downs-per-game and is second in the conference and 14th in the country with a 52.5 third-down conversion percentage. Wilkes currently ranks ninth in the nation in time of possession at 35:38.
 
SCOUTING THE WILKES DEFENSE (4-2-5)
- Wilkes is fourth in scoring defense (20.7), third in total defense (298.0), first in rushing defense (56.3), and ninth in passing defense (241.7).
 
- The Colonels defense was strong against Lycoming as it allowed just 239 total yards and forced the Warriors to go 2-for-10 on third down. The run defense has been particular strong allowing a conference-low 56.3 yards-per-game which also ranks 19th in the country.
 
- Senior linebacker Bud Moyer (Tamaqua, PA/Tamaqua) was named the MAC Defensive Player of the Week following his game clinching interception in the double-overtime victory against Lycoming. He added 10 tackles and a second interception in the game and ranks fourth in the conference with 8.7 tackles-per-game.
 
- Fellow senior linebacker Gabe Allgyer (Paradise, PA/Pequea Valley) also ranks fourth in the MAC with 8.7 tackles per-game after he had nine and an interception against Lycoming. Junior linebacker Cole Jesmer (Dover, PA/Dover) had nine tackles also last time out. Senior defensive tackle Vinnie Werner (Duncannon, PA/Susquenita) recorded a sack as one of his five tackles against the Warriors. Sophomore cornerback Nahjir Woods (Piscataway NJ/Piscataway) leads the Colonels with four pass breakups.
 
SCOUTING THE WILKES SPECIAL TEAMS
- JaQuan Sheals (Dallas, TX/Cheshire Academy), Nate Whitaker (Upper Darby, PA/Haverford School) and Donte Downing (Nyack, NY/Nyack) all recorded one kick return against Lycoming. Derek Nelson (Pompton Plains, NJ/Pequannock) returned the only punt for the Colonels.
 
- Alexander DeSpirito (Wilkes-Barre, PA/Crestwood) hit a 39-yard field goal in the second quarter against the Warriors. He is also 11-for-12 on PATs this season. The junior is averaging 35.2 yards on his six punts and 58.0 yards on his 17 kickoffs including one touchback.
 
SCOUTING THE ALVERNIA OFFENSE (MULTIPLE)
- Alvernia is tenth in the MAC in scoring offense (18.3), ninth in total offense (337.8), first in rushing offense (188.5), and 11th in passing offense (149.3).
 
- Sophomore quarterback Kevin Washington Jr. was 10-of-19 for 113 yards last week against Widener. He has thrown 60 times for 314 yards this season. Freshman quarterback Darrius Sample has thrown 31 times for 283 yards and also rushed 31 times for 110 more yards.
 
- Malcolm Carey was selected to the All-MAC First Team last season as a freshman. The running back leads all conference players with seven rushing touchdowns and is tied for the lead with 466 rushing yards this season. The Golden Wolves lead the MAC with 188.5 rushing yards-per-game as a team.
 
- Neeko Scurlock and Antwann Cade are the most productive wide receivers for the Golden Wolves. Scurlock has 14 receptions for 175 yards and Cade has 15 for 136.
 
SCOUTING THE ALVERNIA DEFENSE (3-4)
- Alvernia is eighth in scoring defense (30.3), eighth in total defense (377.5), seventh in rushing defense (160.8), and sixth in passing defense (216.8).
 
- Freshman cornerback Myles Brodie was selected the MAC Defensive Player of the Week on September 15th following a game where he intercepted two passes and forced a fumble against New England.
 
- Tajon Whiten leads Alvernia and ranks tenth in the conference with 28 tackles. The linebacker's 5.5 tackles-for-loss rank fifth.
 
- Defensive end Christian Francis ranks second in the MAC with 7.0 tackles-for-loss and 3.5 sacks.
 
SCOUTING THE ALVERNIA SPECIAL TEAMS
- Daniel Scott is the Golden Wolves primary kick returner. He has 162 yards, fifth most in the conference, on 10 returns this season.
 
- Alvernia has not attempted a field goal this season. Keeryen Stevens took over the punting duties last week and was named the Alvernia Player of the Week after averaging 42.6 yards on eight punts including a school-record 60-yarder and three punts inside the 20.