Wilkes Colonels (2-0) at Lycoming Warriors (1-1)
Saturday, September 21, 2019 - 1:00 p.m.
David Person Field
 
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THE MATCHUP
The Wilkes University football team is set to open Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) play at David Person Field against Lycoming College at 1:00 p.m. Saturday. The Colonels are coming off a 30-24 victory over Lebanon Valley College in their home-opener last Saturday and are 2-0 for the first time since 2009. The Warriors enter at 1-1 after completing a 19-point comeback to defeat Widener 43-42 at home last week.
 
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.
 
Mike Clark (Lycoming '93) is in his 12th year as the head coach of the Warriors with a 65-49 overall record. Last season his team advanced to the Centennial-MAC Bowl Series for the first time. Clark coached the Warriors to MAC titles in 2008 and 2013. Clark has also served as the Director of Athletics at Lycoming since 2012. He has tutored 97 all-conference selections, 32 Hampshire Honor Society members, 18 all-region selections, seven All-Americans, nine Academic All-District selections, four Academic All-Americans, a Regional Player of the Year, and a NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship winner. The Warriors have seven victories against top-25 teams under the direction of Clark. In four years as an offensive lineman at Lycoming, under legendary Coach Frank Girardi, he won four MAC titles and helped the team advance to the 1990 NCAA Division III National Championship game. Clark spent eight seasons as the offensive coordinator and offensive line coach at Davidson where the Wildcats went 43-36 including one undefeated season.
 
THE SERIES
This season marks the 60th meeting between the two schools with Lycoming holding a 40-19 series advantage. A season ago the Colonels defeated the Warriors 14-7 at Schmidt Stadium on October 27th.
 
UP NEXT
Wilkes will have a bye week before returning to the field for Homecoming against Alvernia University on Saturday, October 5 for its second conference game of the season. The Colonels defeated the Golden Wolves 34-14 at FirstEnergy Stadium in Reading, Pa. last season.
 
SCOUTING THE WILKES OFFENSE (MULTIPLE)
- Senior quarterback Jose Tabora (Egg Harbor Township, NJ/St. Augustine Prep.) helped the Colonels to its first 2-0 start since the 2009 season by throwing for 279 yards and two touchdowns on 24-of-33 passing against Lebanon Valley last week. He also added nine carries for 24 yards. Tabora currently ranks sixth in program history with 4,595 passing yards and is in need of only 10 yards to pass Jeff Marshman for fifth all-time. The Second Team All-MAC selection from a season ago currently ranks third in the conference with 644 passing yards and 45 completions while ranking second with a 65.2 completion percentage.
 
- Derek Nelson (Pompton Plains, NJ/Pequannock) was the top target for Tabora in week 2 as the senior caught seven passes for 110 yards and a touchdown. He now has 55 receptions for 631 yards and six touchdowns in his career. Junior wide receiver Nick Yanik (Edison, NJ/Edison Twp.) followed up his career-best game against Hartwick with seven more catches for 57 yards. Yanik now has 83 career receptions for 1,153 yards.
 
- Junior wide receiver Richard Ermeus (Hillside, NJ/David Brearley) had a breakout game with five receptions for 85 yards. Senior tight end Bryce Harrison (Hunlock Creek, PA/Northwest) caught his first career touchdown in the victory over Lebanon Valley.
 
- The run game made the Colonels a balanced attack against Lebanon Valley. Freshman running back Kamaal Reed (Egg Harbor City, NJ/Cedar Creek) rushed nine times for a team-high 62 yards for a healthy 6.9 average. Sophomore Jeremiah Acker (Moscow, PA/North Pocono) rushed 14 times for 37 yards and his second touchdown of the season. JaQuan Sheals (Dallas, TX/Cheshire Academy) found the end zone for the first time in his career on one of the freshman's four total touches.
 
- 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 2 and helped push Wilkes to 22 first downs and 408 total yards of offense. The Colonels also controlled the clock with a time of possession of 38:17 compared to 21:36 for the Dutchmen. Through two weeks the Colonels lead the conference at a mark of 35:42 per-game. Wilkes went 7-of-15 on third down and currently ranks third in the MAC at 51.9 percent on third down conversions.
 
SCOUTING THE WILKES DEFENSE (4-2-5)
- The Colonels defense was once again strong as the unit allowed just 299 total yards and forced the Dutchmen to go 3-for-11 on third down. The run defense has been particular strong allowing a conference-low 56.5 yards-per-game through two weeks.
 
- Senior linebacker Gabe Allgyer (Paradise, PA/Pequea Valley) junior linebacker Cole Jesmer (Dover, PA/Dover) led Wilkes in week 2 with seven tackles. Allgyer had one tackle-for-loss in the game and currently leads the Colonels and ranks 11th in the MAC with 17 tackles.
 
- Senior linebacker Bud Moyer (Tamaqua, PA/Tamaqua) had three tackles and a quarterback hurry against Lebanon Valley. He currently is 13th in the conference with 16 tackles.
 
- Jason Hampton (Lakeland, FL/Lakeland) had a breakout game for the Colonels as the freshman linebacker made five tackles including one for a loss and also broke up two passes including a would-be touchdown.
 
- Sophomore cornerback Nahjir Woods (Piscataway NJ/Piscataway) made six tackles last week and had a pass breakup. He is tied for the MAC lead with four pass breakups through two weeks.
 
 
SCOUTING THE WILKES SPECIAL TEAMS
- Sheals took the lone kick return back for 16 yards against Lebanon Valley.
 
- Alexander DeSpirito (Wilkes-Barre, PA/Crestwood) converted a 20-yard field goal in the third quarter for his second make of the season. He also was 3-for-4 on his extra point attempts and is now 8-for-9 on the season. The junior kicker/punter averaged 35.2 yards on four punts against the Dutchmen and 59.7 yards on his six kickoffs including one touchback.
 
SCOUTING THE LYCOMING OFFENSE (MULTIPLE PRO STYLE)
- Sophomore quarterback Chase Snavely came into last week's game with 1:58 left in the third quarter after an injury to starting quarterback Elijah Shemory and the Warriors trailing Widener, 42-23. Snavely proceeded to lead Lycoming to three scoring drives over the final quarter for a shocking win over the Pride. He finished the game with 130 yards passing, one touchdown pass and one touchdown run and was named the MAC Offensive Player of the Week in the process. Shemory has thrown for 412 yards and four touchdowns while also rushing for another score in about seven quarters of action this season.
 
- Running back Joey Guida capped the Warriors comeback last week as he scored on a one-yard touchdown run with 26 seconds left. The freshman rushed 27 times for 122 yards and two scores against Widener. Guida also led the ground game in Lycoming's season opening loss to Susquehanna with 14 carries for 33 yards.
 
- Senior wide receiver Stephen Toczylousky has produced two solid games to start the season. He caught three passes for 83 yards and a touchdown in the loss to Susquehanna, a team now ranked No. 25 in the country, and then produced a seven reception game for 145 yards and a touchdown against Widener. Junior wide receiver Tyjah During has 10 receptions for 150 yards and a touchdown through two games.
 
SCOUTING THE LYCOMING DEFENSE (4-3)
- Senior linebacker Sam Pawlikowski leads the Warriors with 13 tackles through two games. He also has one sack. Fellow senior linebacker Jarrell Payne has 11 tackles (8 solo) and 2.0 tackles-for-loss.
 
- Matt Galasso leads Lycoming with 1.5 sacks from his defensive line position. The junior has nine total tackles.
 
- Senior defensive back DJ Boyd is tied for the MAC lead with four pass breakups. Freshman defensive back Austin Rowley has the Warriors only interception through two weeks.
 
SCOUTING THE LYCOMING SPECIAL TEAMS
- Senior kicker Jamie Fisher was named the MAC Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance against Widener. Fisher recorded four extra points, including the final PAT with 26 seconds remaining that gave Lycoming the 43-42 win. Fisher also made a 27-yard field goal. He averaged 59.8 yards on kickoffs, including four touchbacks in the game as well.
 
- Senior running back Keith Batkowski has returned 10 kickoffs for 261 yards over the first two games for the Warriors.