EDWARDSVILLE – Trailing by three touchdowns at the half, host Wilkes University cut the deficit to seven points early in the fourth quarter only to see visiting Stevenson University end the comeback with 14 unanswered points in the final six minutes to seal a 42-21 Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) victory Saturday afternoon at Schmidt Stadium.
 
With the loss Wilkes dropped to 7-2 overall and 5-2 in MAC games standing third overall in the conference. Stevenson improved to 7-2 overall and 6-1 in league games taking over sole possession of second place in the conference with the road win.
 
Stevenson struck first using special teams to setup its opening score. On the opening kickoff, Myles Copes forced a Kelvin Gonzalez (Wanaque, NJ/Lakeland Regional) fumble at the Colonels 28 where the Mustangs recovered the ball. One play later Ryan Sedgwick connected with Keenan Franz for the 28-yard touchdown score to give the Mustangs a 7-0 lead seven seconds into the contest.
 
Wilkes responded on its opening drive as Jose Tabora (Egg Harbor Township, NJ/St. Augustine Prep.) used his feet on a designed quarterback draw scampering 63 yards for the Colonels score tying the game at 7-7 following a Justin Pollack (Sloatsburg, NY/Suffern) extra point.
 
Stevenson went back to the air on its next possession as Sedgwick found Chaz Lyles for an 11-yard touchdown pass capping off a six play, 58-yard drive to give the Mustangs the lead back at 14-7 with 9:42 left in the first quarter.
 
Another Wilkes turnover gave Stevenson the ball back deep in Colonels territory when Tabora was hit and fumbled at his own 31 yard line. Stevenson used short passes to move the ball down to the one before Sedgwick called his own number falling in on a quarterback sneak to push the advantage to 21-7 with 4:44 left in the opening frame.
 
After another Wilkes turnover, its third of the half, gave the ball back to Stevenson in Wilkes territory, the defense stiffened holding the Mustangs at bay and forcing a punt.  The Wilkes possession was plagued by another miscue, this time a Tabora interception at the Colonels 37 yard line. Sedgwick made Wilkes pay for the turnover yet again connecting with Franz for 32 yards before a seven yard pitch-and-catch for the duo put the Mustangs up 28-7 with under ten minutes until the break.
 
Wilkes began a promising drive late in the second quarter, but another fumble inside the Stevenson ten stalled the drive giving the ball back to the Mustangs for a fifth time in the half.
 
Wilkes had one last chance at points before the half, but Pollack's 28-yard field goal attempt was blocked sending the Mustangs into the break with a three score lead.
 
Wilkes began its comeback attempt in the third quarter when the defense came up with a big play as Pat Ricci (Gilbertsville, PA/Boyertown) sacked Sedgwick forcing the ball out which was recovered by Vinnie Werner (Duncannon, PA/Susquenita) at the Stevenson 38. Tabora called his own number after six Wilkes rushing plays moved the ball down to the Stevenson 7 where the senior quarterback ran in cutting the lead to 28-14 with 9:09 on the third quarter clock.
 
Another Stevenson turnover on the ensuing possession gave the ball back to Wilkes as Dylan Walck (Hamlin, PA/Western Wayne) came up with the big hit on a Mustangs receiver forcing the ball out which was recovered by Derek Schneider (Spotswood, NJ/Spotswood) at the Wilkes 44. The Colonels went back to its ground game as Tabora went for 25 yards and connected with Mike O'Donnell (East Newark, NJ/Harrison) for 17 more yards on a third and ten to keep the drive alive. Facing a second and goal Tabora ran in for the third time making it a one score game 28-21 with 14:45 left in the fourth.
 
The teams traded punts on the game's next two possessions before the Mustangs used an 8-play, 65-yard drive capped off by a four yard touchdown run to extend the lead to 35-21 with under five minutes remaining. The Mustangs added one more score with :13 left after Wilkes tried to stay in the game on its final drive before a fourth and eight play went incomplete.
 
Tabora did most of his damage on the ground rushing 16 times for 143 yards and three scores, both season-highs. He also passed for 63 yards. With the performance, Tabora eclipsed Boo Perry's school record for total offensive yards in a career that was set in 1993. Tabora currently has 6,994 total yards with at least one more game left. JaQuan Sheals (Dallas, TX/Cheshire Academy) followed with 13 carries for 76 yards as Wilkes totaled 219 yards on the ground.
 
Werner topped the defense with a career-high 12 tackles and one sack.
 
Wilkes closes out its regular season next Saturday when the Colonels travel to cross-town rival King's College for the Mayor's Cup game. Kickoff is scheduled for 12:00 p.m.