Wilkes Colonels (6-1, 4-1) vs. FDU-Florham Devils (2-6, 1-5)
Saturday, November 2, 2019 - 1:00 p.m.
Schmidt Stadium
 
Game Notes
 
Live Stats
 
Live Video
 
THE MATCHUP
The Wilkes University football team hosts FDU-Florham at Schmidt Stadium on Saturday, November 2 for a Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) matchup at 1:00 p.m. The Colonels are 6-1 overall and 4-1 in the MAC after defeating Misericordia University 36-35 in overtime on the road last week. The Devils are 2-6 overall and 1-5 in the MAC following a 42-21 loss at Lycoming College 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.
 
Brian Surace (Gettysburg '95), the fourth head coach in program history, is in his ninth season at the helm of the Devils program. Last season FDU finished 6-4 overall and 4-4 in the conference. Surace arrived at FDU from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, where he was the Offensive Coordinator for two stints (1999-2004, 2010). In 2003, RPI went 11-2 and advanced to the Semifinals of the NCAA Tournament while Surace was named the American Football Magazine Offensive Assistant Coach of the Year. From RPI, Surace went on to be the Offensive Coordinator and Offensive Line Coach at Northeastern University from 2005-2009 where he coached Ryan Gibbons who went on to play three seasons in the NFL. Surace previously coached at King's College (1995-96), Springfield College (1996-97) and Rutgers University (1997-98). He comes from a long line of football coaches as his father, Tony, coached at Millville High School for 25 years while his brother, Bob, is currently the Head Coach at Princeton University.
 
THE SERIES
This marks the 36th meeting between the schools with Wilkes holding a 30-5 advantage in the series. The Colonels defeated the Devils 31-16 lat year in Madison, N.J.
 
UP NEXT
The Colonels host Stevenson at Schmidt Stadium on Saturday, November 9 at 12:00 p.m. for Senior Day. The Mustangs won the meeting last season 33-21 in Stevenson, Md.
 
SCOUTING THE WILKES OFFENSE (MULTIPLE)
- Wilkes ranks fifth in the MAC in scoring offense (30.7), sixth in total offense (361.6), seventh in rushing offense (124.7), and sixth in passing offense (236.9).
 
- Senior quarterback Jose Tabora (Egg Harbor Township, NJ/St. Augustine Prep.) started the game against Misericordia 4-of-6 for 70 yards and a touchdown and three rushes for 23 yards. Tabora was ejected from the game after a second unsportsmanlike conduct penalty in the first quarter. He is closing in on breaking the school record for total offense as he currently has 6,616 yards. Boo Perry holds the record with 6,937.
 
- Sophomore quarterback Doug Weist (Frackville, PA/North Schuylkill) took control of the Wilkes offense finishing the game against the Cougars 9-of-17 for 79 yards. He connected on his first career touchdown on a fourth-down 16-yard pass to Nate Whitaker (Upper Darby, PA/Haverford School) as he was being pressured up the middle to tie the game at 36 in overtime.
 
- Freshman wide receiver Whitaker caught the overtime touchdown and finished the game with three catches for 30 yards. Senior wide receiver Derek Nelson (Pompton Plains, NJ/Pequannock) led the Colonels with four catches for 53 yards while Sophomore Richard Ermeus (Hillside, NJ/David Brearley) caught a 23-yard touchdown in the game.
 
- Nick Yanik (Edison, NJ/Edison Twp.), a junior wide receiver, is fourth in the MAC with 610 yards receiving and 87.1 receiving yards-per-game.
 
- Running back JaQuan Sheals (Dallas, TX/Cheshire Academy) produced a breakout game with 31 carries for 154 yards and a touchdown against Misericordia. The freshman now has 198 yards on 49 carries this season. Sophomore Jeremiah Acker (Moscow, PA/North Pocono) rushed nine times for 32 yards and a touchdown last week.
 
- The Colonels offense is second in the conference with a 43.9 third-down conversion percentage.
 
SCOUTING THE WILKES DEFENSE (4-2-5)
- Wilkes is fifth in the MAC in scoring defense (27.3), fourth in total defense (332.0), fourth in rushing defense (104.4), and fourth in passing defense (227.6).
 
- Senior linebacker Bud Moyer (Tamaqua, PA/Tamaqua) made a season-high 17 tackles with a half tackle-for loss and a blocked field goal versus Misericordia. He now has 291 career tackles and currently leads the MAC and ranks 35th in the country with 10.3 tackles-per-game. 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.
 
- Cole Jesmer (Dover, PA/Dover) tied his season-high with nine tackles last week with one coming for a loss while also recovering a fumble and breaking up a pass. The junior linebacker is third on the team with 46 tackles this season.
 
- Nahjir Woods (Piscataway NJ/Piscataway) came up with his second interception of the season and fellow sophomore defensive back John VanLenten (Rockaway, NJ/Morris Knowlls) picked off his first career pass last week.
 
- Pat Ricci (Gilbertsville, PA/Boyertown) recorded a sack against the Cougars as he leads the team and ranks fourth in the conference with 5.0 sacks this season. Dane Tarantelli (Gordon, PA/North Schuylkill) also registered a sack against Misericordia.
 
- Sophomore cornerback Zack Nesheiwat (Hackettstown, NJ/Hackettstown) made the game-clinching play during a 42-40 victory over Albright 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
- Whitaker was selected the MAC Co-Special Teams Player of the Week after he returned the opening kickoff 93 yards for a touchdown last week. He finished the game with five returns for 153 yards. The freshman leads the conference with a 32.7 yard average on kickoff returns this season as he has 11 for 360 yards and two touchdowns.
 
- Freshman kicker Justin Pollack (Sloatsburg, NY/Suffern) made his first career field goal, a 37-yarder in the fourth quarter against Misericordia. He then connected on the game-winning PAT in overtime. He is 7-of-8 this season on his PAT attempts.
 
SCOUTING THE FDU-FLORHAM OFFENSE (SPREAD)
- FDU-Florham is sixth in the MAC in scoring offense (27.4), second in total offense (434.8), ninth in rushing offense (116.9), and second in passing offense (317.9).
 
- Junior quarterback Anthony Caserta was 8-of-15 for 99 yards and an interception last week in a loss to Lycoming. He ranks third in the MAC with 290.8 passing-yards per-game and was named the MAC Offensive Player of the Week to open the season when he threw for a school record seven touchdowns. Senior quarterback Tommy Galante went 14-of-23 for 170 yards and a touchdown against Lycoming last week. He added four rushes for 59 yards and another score.
 
- Alnazir Blackman is fifth in the MAC with 76.7 rushing yards-per-game. He was named the MAC Offensive Player of the Week when he rushed 20 times for 180 yards and three touchdowns while adding five receptions for 63 yards and another score in a 50-45 win against Albright.
 
- Damarquis Price is third in the MAC with 642 receiving yards while Rory Sullivan ranks second with 55 receptions.
 
SCOUTING THE FDU-FLORHAM DEFENSE (4-3)
- FDU-Florham ranks tenth in the MAC in scoring defense (41.4), 11th in total defense (523.1), 11th in rushing defense (262.5), and eighth in passing defense (260.6).
 
- Senior linebacker Dane Lupton leads the team and ranks 11th in the conference with 49 total tackles this season.
 
- Jafar Sannie ranks third in the MAC with 10 passes defended. The freshman defensive back is looking for his first career interception but has a conference-leading 10 breakups.
 
SCOUTING THE FDU-FLORHAM SPECIAL TEAMS
- Nick Maciejewski was named the MAC Special Teams Player of the Week in week one after going a perfect 8-for-8 on PATs to set a program single-game record. He is 23-of-25 on PATs for the season and 4-of-5 on field goal attempts with a long of 32 yards. Maciejewski is also third among conference punters with a 38.4 average.