Wilkes Colonels (8-2) at No. 15 Susquehanna River Hawks (9-1)
Saturday, November 23, 2019 - 12:00 p.m.
Centennial-MAC Bowl Series - A.A. Stagg Field at Doug Arthur Stadium
 
Game Notes
 
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THE MATCHUP
The Wilkes University football team earned its first postseason appearance since 2010 in the Fifth Annual Centennial-MAC Bowl Series as the Colonels will travel to face No. 15 Susquehanna University on Saturday, November 23 at 12:00 p.m. at A.A. Stagg Field at Doug Arthur Stadium in Selinsgrove, Pa. The Colonels finished the regular season 8-2 overall and 6-2 in the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) after defeating King's 24-14 in the 24th Mayor's Cup last week to earn the MAC No. 2 seed for the Bowl Series. The River Hawks are nationally ranked at 9-1 overall and were 8-1 in the Centennial Conference with its only loss in overtime to No. 4 Muhlenberg. Susquehanna missed out on an NCAA Tournament at-large bid and are the Centennial No. 1 seed.
 
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 continues 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 an additional forfeit) after the team went winless in 2017. Four Colonels were named All-MAC under Drach in 2018. 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.
 
Tom Perkovich (Canisius '03) is in the midst of his fifth season as Susquehanna's head coach after being hired as the 30th leader in program history. He has accumulated a 36-16 record to date and has the River Hawks in the Centennial-MAC Bowl Series for the third consecutive season as has led the team to victories the past two years. During his tenure at SU, Perkovich has mentored 49 All-Centennial players (14 this season), two D3football.com All-South Region picks, two Centennial Rookies of the Year, and one American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) All-America selection. He spent a combined 11 seasons as a member of the Muhlenberg coaching staff before arriving at Susquehanna. Perkovich was the offensive coordinator at Muhlenberg from 2010-2014. He started at Muhlenberg in 2003 as the running backs coach for two seasons before moving on to Division I Holy Cross and later Division I Colgate.
 
THE SERIES
This will be the 38th meeting between the two schools and the first since 2011. Susquehanna holds a 21-16 edge in the series that dates back to 1956.
 
POSTSEASON HISTORY
The Colonels are 4-7 in postseason games all-time. Wilkes' last postseason berth was in 2010 when they lost 26-14 to Moravian in the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Southeast Playoff. In 2006 the Colonels defeated Washington & Lee 42-0 in the NCAA Tournament first round before losing to Rowan 21-14 in the second round. Rowan defeated Wilkes 42-3 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in 2005. In 2003 the Colonels lost 41-19 to Washington & Jefferson in the ECAC Southwest Playoff. In 2002 Wilkes defeated King's Point 33-7 in the ECAC South Atlantic Playoff. Muhlenberg defeated Wilkes 26-22 in the 2000 edition of the ECAC Southwest Playoff. In 1999 the Colonels beat FDU-Madison 27-6 in the ECAC Southeast Playoff. In 1996 Wilkes lost 24-21 to Frostburg St. in the ECAC Southwest Playoff. In 1994 Wilkes beat Stony Brook 28-21 in the ECAC Southeast Playoff. The Colonels lost in the NCAA Tournament first round to Frostburg St. 26-25 in 1993.
 
SCOUTING THE WILKES OFFENSE (MULTIPLE)
- Wilkes ranks fifth in the MAC in scoring offense (30.5), seventh in total offense (359.0), fifth in rushing offense (148.2), and ninth in passing offense (210.8).
 
- Senior quarterback Jose Tabora (Egg Harbor Township, NJ/St. Augustine Prep.) was selected as an Honorable Mention member of the All-MAC team on Tuesday after earning Second Team recognition last year. He threw for 1,876 yards with 14 touchdowns and nine interceptions and a 58.5 completion percentage this season. Tabora also added 101 rushes for 453 yards to lead the team. His eight rushing touchdowns tied for sixth in the MAC. On November 9th against Stevenson he broke the school record for career total offense as he eclipsed Boo Perry's record of 6,937 yards. He finished the regular season with 7,179 yards of total offense for his career and Tabora ranks fifth in program history with 5,827 passing yards.
 
- Sophomore running back Jeremiah Acker (Moscow, PA/North Pocono) rushed 10 times for 37 yards against King's last week. He has totaled 73 carries for 299 yards and four touchdowns this season. Kamaal Reed (Egg Harbor City, NJ/Cedar Creek) has totaled 52 carries for 225 yards and three touchdowns. He was selected the ECAC Division III - North Rookie of the Month for September.
 
- Running back JaQuan Sheals (Dallas, TX/Cheshire Academy) missed the game against King's but over eight regular season games he is second on the team with 421 rushing yards and 81 carries. The freshman went for 154 yards on 31 carries against Misericordia and 147 yards on 19 carries against FDU-Florham.
 
- With junior wide receiver Nick Yanik (Edison, NJ/Edison Twp.) out of the lineup, the Colonels have turned to numerous players to pick up the production. Against King's nine different players caught at least one pass. Senior Derek Nelson (Pompton Plains, NJ/Pequannock) has 39 receptions for 519 yards and five touchdowns. He is seven yards from reaching 1,000 for his career.
 
SCOUTING THE WILKES DEFENSE (4-2-5)
- Wilkes is fifth in the MAC in scoring defense (26.7), fourth in total defense (321.3), second in rushing defense (89.6), and sixth in passing defense (231.7).
 
- Senior linebacker Bud Moyer (Tamaqua, PA/Tamaqua) was selected First Team All-MAC on Tuesday for his second career selection as he was named an Honorable Mention linebacker last season. Moyer led the MAC with 100 tackles (37th in the country) and 10.0 tackles-per-game during the regular season. His 46 solo tackles ranked second in the conference. Moyer tied for the team lead and was tied for sixth in the conference with three interceptions and was one of 17-players in the MAC to force two fumbles. The senior added 6.5 tackles-for-loss, one sack and three pass breakups. He had a season-high of 18 tackles against Misericordia on October 26th. Moyer was named the MAC Defensive Player of the Week on September 22nd after his second overtime interception sealed the Colonels 24-17 victory against Lycoming.
 
- Senior defensive tackle Vinnie Werner (Duncannon, PA/Susquenita) earned his first career all-conference selection on the Second Team. Werner was fourth on the team with 52 total tackles as he helped the Colonels defense to a second-place ranking in the MAC and 20th in the country for rushing defense as Wilkes held its opponents 89.6 yards-per-game. Werner recorded 6.0 tackles-for-loss including 3.0 sacks. He also had four pass breakups, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. Werner had a 30-yard interception return for a touchdown against Alvernia on October 5th and made a season-high 12 tackles against Stevenson on November 9th.
 
- Cole Jesmer (Dover, PA/Dover), a junior linebacker, was named Mayor's Cup MVP and the MAC Defensive Player of the Week. Jesmer finished the King's game with seven tackles, two tackles-for-loss, one sack and the game-clinching 95-yard pick-six with 30 seconds remaining. King's was threatening to score on their final drive with Wilkes leading 17-14, before the interception sealed the victory, the first in the series since 2015.
 
- Sophomore cornerback Zack Nesheiwat (Hackettstown, NJ/Hackettstown) was named the MAC Defensive Player of the Week after he intercepted a pass late in the fourth quarter to preserve the Colonels victory at Albright on October 12th.
 
SCOUTING THE WILKES SPECIAL TEAMS
- Freshman Nate Whitaker (Upper Darby, PA/Haverford School) was selected All-MAC Honorable Mention as a returner. Whitaker led the conference and ranked tenth in the country as he averaged 28.5 yards-per-kick return on his 18 attempts. He was one of only eight players in the nation to have two kickoff returns for touchdowns at the Division III level. Whitaker was named the MAC Co-Special Teams Player of the Week on October 27th after returning the opening kickoff for a 93-yard touchdown against Misericordia. He also finished the game with a 16-yard touchdown reception in overtime as Wilkes won 36-35. Whitaker had an 85-yard kickoff return for a touchdown just before halftime with the Colonels trailing 34-21 to Albright in a game that they came back to win 42-40. He was named the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division III – North Special Teams Player of the Month for October.
 
SCOUTING THE SUSQUEHANNA OFFENSE (SPREAD)
- Susquehanna is second in the Centennial in scoring offense (38.8), third in total offense (413.1), second in rushing offense (175.5), and third in passing offense (237.6).
 
- Sophomore quarterback Michael Ruisch threw for 2,156 yards with a 61.6 completion percentage and 21 touchdowns to six interceptions to direct an offense consisting of seven All-Centennial selections.
 
- Senior wide receiver Mikah Christian was a First Team selection after he averaged a league-best 17.3 yards-per-catch while being tied for fourth with six receiving touchdowns and ranking sixth with 57.0 receiving yards per game.
 
- Junior running back Da'Avian Ellington was also on the First Team after a breakout season as he led the Centennial with 1,060 rushing yards, 106.0 yards per game, 6.5 yards per carry, and 13 rushing touchdowns.
 
SCOUTING THE SUSQUEHANNA DEFENSE (3-4)
- Susquehanna ranks second in the Centennial in scoring defense (14.1), first in total defense (219.5), first in rushing defense (66.2), and second in passing defense (153.3).
 
- Cole Dixon, a senior inside linebacker, was selected First Team All-Centennial after ranking second in the conference with 87.0 tackles. Senior outside linebacker Craig Roumes joined him on the First Team after he led the league with five fumble recoveries and four forced fumbles while scoring three touchdowns.
 
- Senior cornerback Danial Dixon earned his third consecutive First Team nod.
 
- Sophomore defensive lineman Jhemir Stanley and sophomore strong safety L'Trell Bradley were also named to the All-Centennial First Team Defense.
 
SCOUTING THE SUSQUEHANNA SPECIAL TEAMS
- Sophomore kicker Elijah Hoffman was named a Second Team specialist after ranking second in the Centennial with 70 points and 49 extra points made and third with seven field goals made.