Wilkes Colonels (1-0) vs. Lebanon Valley Dutchmen (0-1)
Saturday, September 14, 2019 - 12:00 p.m.
Schmidt Stadium
 
Game Notes
 
Live Stats
 
Live Video: (Audio: Tom Ferguson, NEPA Local Sports Media)
 
THE MATCHUP
Wilkes University is set for its home opener at Schmidt Stadium against Lebanon Valley College at 12:00 p.m. The Middle Atlantic Conference foes will meet in a designated non-conference game. The Colonels are coming off a 38-21 season-opening victory at Hartwick College last Saturday while the Dutchmen enter at 0-1 after falling at home to Franklin and Marshall College, 35-20.
 
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.
 
Joe Buehler (Lebanon Valley '89) enters his fourth year as the Lebanon Valley head coach in 2019 after serving on the staff for 12 years as the program's offensive coordinator and offensive line coach. He is 11-19 through three seasons. Buehler guided LVC to a double-overtime victory over longtime rivals Albright in 2018, and also led four Dutchmen to all-conference accolades, including Derrek Robinson, Nick Bentz, Tyeair Diggs, and Zach Adams, who all landed on the Second Team. In 2017, Buehler led the Flying Dutchmen to a .500 overall record and five victories in league play that included wins over perennial MAC contenders Stevenson and Lycoming. Buehler's first season at the helm ended with the Dutchmen winning their final three games, including a thrilling 28-25 victory over rival Albright in the season finale that earned the LVC student body a day off from classes on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. Buehler was an outstanding football player at LVC, where he was a four-year letter winner and a Second Team All-MAC selection as an offensive lineman.
 
THE SERIES
This will be the 48th meeting between the schools with Wilkes holding a tight 24-23 record following last season's 30-27 overtime victory in Annville, Pa. The Dutchmen kicked a field goal to open overtime before Jose Tabora (Egg Harbor Township, NJ/St. Augustine Prep.) rushed in from one-yard out to give the Colonels the victory. Prior to 2018, LVC had taken the last seven contests dating back to 2011.
 
UP NEXT
Wilkes will open MAC play at Lycoming College in Williamsport, Pa. on Saturday, September 21. The Colonels defeated the Warriors 14-7 in a low-scoring affair on October 27th last year at Schmidt Stadium.
 
SCOUTING THE WILKES OFFENSE (MULTIPLE)
- Senior quarterback Jose Tabora (Egg Harbor Township, NJ/St. Augustine Prep.) began the 2019 season on a high note as he threw for 365 yards and two touchdowns on 21-of-36 passing and also added 10 carries for a team-high 65 yards and one more touchdown in the Colonels victory at Hartwick. Tabora surpassed 4,000 career passing yards in the game and currently ranks sixth in program history with 4,316 yards. He was selected to the All-MAC Second Team last season after he threw for 2,658 yards and 23 touchdowns while completing 61 percent of his pass attempts.
 
- Junior wide receiver Nick Yanik (Edison, NJ/Edison Twp.) had a career-best game against Hartwick as he hauled in 10 catches for 228 and one touchdown. Yanik had an 89-yard reception in the game to help him to a healthy 22.8 yards-per-catch average heading into week 2. He surpassed the 1,000 yard plateau in the win and now has 76 career receptions for 1,096 yards.
 
- Derek Nelson (Pompton Plains, NJ/Pequannock) caught three passes for 47 yards and a touchdown to start off his senior season. Freshman receiver Nate Whitaker (Upper Darby, PA/Haverford School) contributed a 42-yard gain while junior Mike O'Donnell (East Newark, NJ/Harrison) collected his first career reception for 17 yards.
 
- Freshman running back Kamaal Reed (Egg Harbor City, NJ/Cedar Creek) was the busiest back for the Colonels in week 1 as he carried the ball eight times for 25 yards and a touchdown. Sophomore Jeremiah Acker (Moscow, PA/North Pocono) had seven touches on the day that included four carries for 35 yards and his first career touchdown. He also caught three Tabora passes for 12 yards.
 
- Also contributing on offense in week 1 were freshman JaQuan Sheals (Dallas, TX/Cheshire Academy) with four rushes for six yards, sophomore Kelvin Gonzalez (Wanaque, NJ/Lakeland Regional) with one rush for 12 yards, junior Richard Ermeus (Hillside, NJ/David Brearley) with one reception for nine yards, junior Jordan Jones (Freehold, NJ/Freehold Twp.) with one reception for seven yards, and sophomore Joseph Leszczynski (Pompton Plains, NJ/Pequannock) with one catch for three yards and one rush for one yard.
 
- 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 1 and helped push Wilkes to 506 total yards of offense.
 
SCOUTING THE WILKES DEFENSE (4-2-5)
- Under first-year defensive coordinator Tom Elder the Colonels allowed just one rushing first down to Hartwick and 356 total yards while forcing two turnovers.
 
- Senior linebacker Bud Moyer (Tamaqua, PA/Tamaqua) led the Colonels with 13 tackles including eight solo stops against Hartwick. Fellow starting linebacker Cole Jesmer (Dover, PA/Dover) made six tackles and forced a fumble that was recovered by Vinnie Werner (Duncannon, PA/Susquenita). The senior defensive lineman Werner also blocked an extra point.
 
- Senior linebacker Gabe Allgyer (Paradise, PA/Pequea Valley) and senior defensive lineman Derek Schneider (Spotswood, NJ/Spotswood) combined for a sack in week 1.
 
- Zachary Weber (Douglassville, PA/Twin Valley) collected the interception for the Colonels against Hartwick. The senior now has three career interceptions. Sophomore defensive back Nahjir Woods (Piscataway NJ/Piscataway) had a team-high three pass breakups and fellow sophomore corner Anthony Washington (Montoursville, PA/Montoursville Area) made five tackles and had one pass breakup.
 
SCOUTING THE WILKES SPECIAL TEAMS
- Freshman Donte Downing (Nyack, NY/Nyack) returned three kickoffs for 59 yards including a long of 25 in his collegiate debut. Whitaker took the only punt return for the Colonels back 27 yards.
 
- Alexander DeSpirito (Wilkes-Barre, PA/Crestwood) converted a 30-yard field goal in the second quarter. He also was a perfect 5-for-5 on his extra point attempts for an eight-point game. Despirito and the Colonels did not punt in the game against Hartwick. The junior kicker/punter averaged 55.6 yards on his seven kickoffs.
 
SCOUTING THE LEBANON VALLEY OFFENSE (MULTIPLE)
- Junior Kody Kegarise is the starting quarterback for the Dutchmen after appearing in all 10 games a season ago. He went 12-for-28 for 149 yards and one touchdown and three interceptions in LVC's season opener against Franklin and Marshall. Kegarise also rushed eight times for four yards with a touchdown. Last season he was second on the team with 421 rushing yards and threw for 983 yards and five TDs.
 
- Running back Hunter Wilson had a nice opening game as the senior rushed for 169 yards on 21 carries for an 8.0 average. He scored on an 85-yard touchdown run at the 12:25 mark of the first quarter to put the Dutchmen ahead. Wilson also caught a 39-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter of the game. In 10 games last year Wilson rushed for 281 yards and three touchdowns.
 
- Tyeair Diggs is the top wide receiver and a threat on special teams for the Dutchmen. In the opener the senior caught six passes for 66 yards. He had one kickoff return for 21 yards. Last season Diggs was named Second Team All-MAC at Kick Returner after averaging 22.8 yards-per-return.
 
SCOUTING THE LEBANON VALLEY DEFENSE (4-3)
- Junior inside linebacker Tyler Lutz had a team-high 17 tackles including eight solo in the season opener. Fellow inside linebacker Dillon Estes had 14 tackles including one for a loss and the sophomore forced a fumble against Franklin and Marshall.
 
- Anthony Jenkins recorded his fourth career interception last week and the senior strong safety also made nine tackles and had two pass breakups. Sophomore cornerback Grant Gaumer picked off his second career pass in the opener.
 
- Junior cornerback Dre Burch recorded the lone sack for the Dutchmen in week 1 when he took down the Franklin and Marshall quarterback for a 10-yard loss. He also assisted on another tackle-for-loss in the game. Burch also returned three kickoffs for 58 yards including a long of 31 yards. Brandon Brubaker made five tackles including 1.5 for-a-loss from his defensive line position and outside linebacker Tyler Gerhart also collected a tackle-for-loss.
 
SCOUTING THE LEBANON VALLEY SPECIAL TEAMS
- Senior Nick Bentz made good on 2-of-3 PATs in week 1. He was selected as an All-MAC Second Team member last season after converting six field goals and 25-of-26 extra points while averaging 59.1 yards-per-kickoff with 16 touchbacks. He averaged 46.3 yards on four kickoffs against Franklin and Marshall with one touchback. Senior Patrick Clark punted five times with an average of 38.2 yards in the season opener.