Wilkes Colonels (7-1, 5-1) vs. Stevenson Mustangs (6-2, 5-1)
Saturday, November 9, 2019 - 12:00 p.m.
Schmidt Stadium - Senior Day
 
Game Notes
 
Live Stats
 
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THE MATCHUP
The Wilkes University football team hosts Stevenson University for Senior Day at Schmidt Stadium on Saturday, November 9 at 12:00 p.m. for a matchup of Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) teams currently tied for second in the league. The Colonels are 7-1 overall and 5-1 in the MAC after defeating FDU-Florham 45-20 at home last week and became regionally ranked at No. 10 in the East Region as announced by the NCAA  Wednesday. The Mustangs are 6-2 overall and 5-1 in the MAC following a 42-13 victory at Lebanon Valley College last Saturday. Both teams have only dropped a conference contest to nationally-ranked Delaware Valley.
 
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.
 
Ed Hottle (Frostburg State '99) is in his ninth season at Stevenson. In just eight-plus years, Hottle has built the Mustangs into a contender on a regional and national level. In 2016, Stevenson won its first eight games and captured its first Middle Atlantic Conference championship with an 8-1 conference record. The Mustangs appeared in the NCAA field for the first time and finished 9-2 overall. Hottle was named the ECAC Division III South and MAC Coach of the Year. Stevenson finished the year ranked No. 20 in the final D3football.com poll and No. 22 in the final AFCA poll, while reaching as high as No. 12 during the season. His 2018 team was the fifth consecutive to make a postseason appearance. Prior to Stevenson, Hottle served as the head football coach at Gallaudet University from 2005-09 where he went 27-20 overall.
 
THE SERIES
This game marks the ninth meeting between the two schools with the series tied 4-4. The Mustangs won the meeting last season 33-21 in Stevenson, Md. The Colonels last win came in the 2016 meeting against No. 12/14 Stevenson 38-35.
 
UP NEXT
The Colonels travel across town to face King's College in the Mayor's Cup on Saturday, November 16 at 12:00 p.m. The Monarchs won the meeting last season 45-0 at Schmidt Stadium.
 
SCOUTING THE WILKES OFFENSE (MULTIPLE)
- Wilkes ranks fourth in the MAC in scoring offense (32.5), sixth in total offense (384.1), sixth in rushing offense (143.3), and sixth in passing offense (240.9).
 
- Wilkes played five quarterbacks last week in its 45-20 victory against FDU-Florham. Sophomore Doug Weist (Frackville, PA/North Schuylkill) drew his first career start after helping lead the Colonel to a 36-35 overtime victory at Misericordia the week before. Fellow sophomore Heath Hoovler (Sparrowbush, NY/Burke Catholic) entered and finished 3-for-7 for 79 yards including his first two career touchdown passes in the first half. Freshman John Washington (Brooklyn, NY/Eagle Academy) completed his first career pass for 44 yards and rushed six times for 19 yards. Senior quarterback Jose Tabora (Egg Harbor Township, NJ/St. Augustine Prep.) entered after halftime and finished 10-for-14 for 145 yards and three touchdowns while adding one rush for 27 yards. He is closing in on breaking the school record for total offense as he currently has 6,788 yards. Boo Perry holds the record with 6,937. Junior Wade Rippeon (Damascus, MD/Damascus) also saw action last Saturday.
 
- Freshman wide receiver Aboubacar Fofana (Bronx, NY/Kennedy) had a breakout game as he caught four passes for 121 yards and two touchdowns against FDU. Senior Derek Nelson (Pompton Plains, NJ/Pequannock) also caught two touchdowns as he finished the game with five receptions for 75 yards. Junior Mike O'Donnell (East Newark, NJ/Harrison) caught his first career touchdown as part of a three catch day where he went for 51 yards.
 
- Running back JaQuan Sheals (Dallas, TX/Cheshire Academy) made it back-to-back 100 yards rushing games as the freshman scampered for 147 yards on 19 carries and one touchdown. The freshman now has 345 yards on 68 carries this season and is tenth in the MAC at 49.3 yards per-game. Sophomore Jeremiah Acker (Moscow, PA/North Pocono) rushed five times for 38 yards while freshman Kamaal Reed (Egg Harbor City, NJ/Cedar Creek) had six rushes for 25 yards.
 
- The Colonels offense is second in the conference with a 45.1 third-down conversion percentage after going 8-for-15 against the Devils.
 
SCOUTING THE WILKES DEFENSE (4-2-5)
- Wilkes is fourth in the MAC in scoring defense (26.4), third in total defense (328.3), third in rushing defense (91.6), and fifth in passing defense (236.6).
 
- Senior linebacker Bud Moyer (Tamaqua, PA/Tamaqua) now has 299 career tackles after picking up eight last week. He currently leads the MAC and ranks 39th in the country with 10.0 tackles per-game. Moyer also intercepted his third pass of the season and had 1.5 tackles-for-loss last week. 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.
 
- Dane Tarantelli (Gordon, PA/North Schuylkill) collected 2.0 sacks and 3.0 tackles-for-loss against the Devils. The senior defensive lineman now has 4.0 sacks in his past four games and ranks tenth overall in the conference in the category.
 
- Nahjir Woods (Piscataway NJ/Piscataway) came up with his third interception of the season against FDU-Florham and the sophomore ranks eighth in the MAC with eight passes defended.
 
- Pat Ricci (Gilbertsville, PA/Boyertown) leads the team and ranks sixth in the conference with 5.0 sacks this season. Gabe Allgyer (Paradise, PA/Pequea Valley) and Cole Jesmer (Dover, PA/Dover) ranked second on the team with 52 total tackles.
 
- 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.
 
SCOUTING THE WILKES SPECIAL TEAMS
- Nate Whitaker (Upper Darby, PA/Haverford School) was named the ECAC Division III - North Special Teams Player of the Month for October on Tuesday as he returned two kickoffs for touchdowns in the span. Two weeks ago he was selected the MAC Co-Special Teams Player of the Week. The freshman leads the conference with a 32.7 yard average on kickoff returns.
 
- Against FDU last week, Sheals had one kick return for 32 yards and Jason Schweizerhof (Warninster, PA/William Tennent) brought back two for 49 yards. Nelson had three punt returns for 36 yards.
 
- Freshman kicker Justin Pollack (Sloatsburg, NY/Suffern) made a 28-yard field goal and was 4-of-6 on extra points last week. Junior punter Alexander DeSpirito (Wilkes-Barre, PA/Crestwood) punted three times inside the 20 last week with a long of 48 yards.
 
SCOUTING THE STEVENSON OFFENSE (SPREAD)
- Stevenson is third in the MAC in scoring offense (37.3), second in total offense (443.8), fifth in rushing offense (144.9), and third in passing offense (298.9).
 
- Sophomore quarterback Ryan Sedgwick leads the MAC with a 68.1completion percentage while throwing for 2,385 yards with 23 touchdowns and six interceptions. Last week Sedgwick went 23-of-28 for 281 yards through the air with three touchdowns and two interceptions. Sedgwick was the MAC Offensive Player of the Week on September 29th after producing six total touchdowns against FDU-Florham.
 
- Chaz Lyles ranks second in the conference with 118.1 receiving yards-per-game. He has 56 receptions for 945 yards and seven touchdowns on the season. Keenan Franz ranks eighth with 79.6 yards-per-game as he has 45 receptions for 677 yards and also seven touchdowns.
 
- Running back Titus Johnson ranks seventh in the conference with 57.7 rushing yards-per-game. He has rushed 80 times for 404 yards and five touchdowns.
 
SCOUTING THE STEVENSON DEFENSE (3-4)
- Stevenson ranks second in the MAC in scoring defense (15.6), second in total defense (292.3), second in rushing defense (91.4), and second in passing defense (200.9).
 
- Senior linebacker Ryan Schoppert leads a defense ranked second across the board among most statistical categories in the MAC with 45 total tackles including 29 solo.
 
- Don Jones had two sacks last week against the Dutchmen and the junior defensive end is tied for the team lead with three sacks with senior linebacker Isaac Boyd.
 
- Senior defensive back Kobe Bolanos and junior Garston Banks are fourth in the conference with seven pass breakups this season.
 
SCOUTING THE STEVENSON SPECIAL TEAMS
- Da'Juan Miles won the MAC Special Teams Player of the Week award on Sunday after he recorded two blocked punts against Lebanon Valley.