Wilkes Colonels (5-0, 4-0) vs. Widener Pride (5-1, 3-1)
Saturday, October 16, 2021 - 1:00 p.m.
Leslie C. Quick Jr. Stadium
 
Game Notes
 
Live Stats
 
Live Video
 
THE MATCHUP
Wilkes University travels to Widener University for a 1:00 p.m. Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) game on Saturday, October 19. The Colonels will look to remain unbeaten on the year after a dramatic come-from-behind 31-28 victory over Albright last Saturday to move to 5-0 overall and 4-0 in the league. The Pride are looking for their sixth victory of the season after starting 5-1 (3-1 MAC), including a 37-7 road win at Alvernia in conference play 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 2021 season as well as working with the quarterbacks. Wilkes continued its success under Drach in 2019 when he led the Colonels to an 8-3 overall record, finishing 6-2 in Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) play and earning a postseason berth for the first time since 2010 and the program's first trip to the Centennial-MAC Bowl Series. The eight wins were also the most since 2006 for the program. Drach pioneered one of the biggest turnarounds in Division III football in 2018 when he led the Colonels to a 6-4 record after the team went winless in 2017. Four Colonels were named All-MAC under Drach in 2018 and 2019. Drach came to Wilkes after 11 years at Hobart. As the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, he was instrumental in leading the Statesmen to six Liberty League Conference championships, seven NCAA playoff appearances and three consecutive undefeated regular seasons. 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.
 
Head coach Mike Barainyak (Delaware Valley '10) is entering his third season as head coach of Widener in 2021. His first year in 2019 saw an improvement in the win total as compared to the previous season and a dramatic jump in the offensive output of the Pride, which scored 37.0 points per game, leading the MAC, ranking in the top-35 nationally, and was the highest per game point total for Widener since 2014. Prior to being named head coach, Barainyak spent two years as an assistant coach with the Pride, most recently serving as the offensive coordinator in 2018. Prior to his arrival in Chester, Barainyak spent two seasons on the coaching staff at the University of Mary-Hardin Baylor as the tight ends and assistant offensive line coach, winning a national championship in 2016 and advancing to the national quarterfinals in 2015. Barainyak has also worked at Villanova where he was the video coordinator and special teams graduate assistant for a Wildcats team that won the Colonial Athletic Association championship and advanced to the NCAA postseason. He began his career at Delaware Valley as the tight ends and assistant offensive line coach, winning multiple conference titles with the Aggies.
 
THE SERIES
This game marks the 34th meeting between the two schools with the series edge favoring Widener at 21-11-1. The Colonels have won the past two meetings including 42-40 in Reading, Pa.  in 2019. The two teams haven't played since 2017 and Wilkes' last win against the Pride came in 2011, 35-27 at Schmidt Stadium.
 
UP NEXT
The Colonels return home to face Lebanon Valley College in a MAC matchup on Saturday, October 23 at 1:00 p.m. Wilkes holds a 25-23 lead in the all-time series, including victories in the last two meetings. The Colonels posted a 30-24 win at home in 2019 before winning 30-27 in overtime in Annville, Pa. in 2018.
 
SCOUTING THE WILKES OFFENSE (MULTIPLE)
- Wilkes ranks third in the MAC in scoring offense (31.2), first in total offense (455.4), first in rushing offense (230.2), and third in passing offense (225.2).
 
- Wilkes used a balanced attack on offense in the 31-28 win at Albright rushing for 233 yards and two scores while throwing for 202 yards and two touchdowns. Wilkes still leads all MAC teams with 22.8 first downs per-game and 455.4 yards of total offense.
 
- Senior quarterback Jose Tabora (Egg Harbor Township, NJ/St. Augustine Prep.) became the school's all-time passing yards leader earlier this year. Tabora enters today's game with 7,153 career yards passing. He has 59 career touchdown passes and 575 completions as he closes in on the school records of 59 and 590 respectively. Tabora was named the MAC Offensive Player of the Week for the second time this season after accounting for all three scores for the Colonels in the win against the Mustangs in week five. He ranks fourth in the conference with 198.8 passing yards per-game and fourth with a 135.6 QB efficiency.
 
- The run game was strong, producing over 200 yards for the second consecutive week amassing 233 yards against Albright, a week after posting 218 yards against Stevenson. Sophmore running back Kamaal Reed (Egg Harbor City, NJ/Cedar Creek) rushed 22 times for a career-best 175 yards. Reed leads the MAC with 103.0 yards rushing-per-game and is third with a 7.3 yards-per-carry average. Reed was the MAC Offensive Player of the Week in week one following his performance during a 46-7 win over Keystone.
 
- Sophomore wide receiver Jason Schweizerhof (Warninster, PA/William Tennent) leads the Colonels in receiving with 18 receptions for 219 yards on the season. Fellow sophomore Nate Whitaker (Upper Darby, PA/Haverford School) caught four passes for 94 yards against Albright and scored once and ranks ninth in the MAC with a 16.2 yards-per-reception average. First year Devin Higgins (Pennington, NJ/Hopewell Valley) caught the game-winning touchdown, a 46-yard completion against the Lions.
 
- Junior tight end Jacob Katz (New City, NY/Clarkson North) has posted eight catches for 109 yards and one touchdown on the season while junior Jonah Lilley (Wurtsboro, NY/Monticello) totals seven receptions for 86 yards and one score. Backup quarterback Heath Hoovler (Sparrowbush, NY/Burke Catholic) saw snaps for the second consecutive week against Albright going 2-for-9 for 21 yards in the air.
 
SCOUTING THE WILKES DEFENSE (4-3-4)
- Wilkes is second in the MAC in scoring defense (12.8), third in total defense (270.6), seventh in rushing defense (123.8), and fifth in passing defense (146.8).
 
- The Colonels defense created a turnover for yet another week in the win against Albright posting one interception while reaching the quarterback four times in the victory. For the season the Colonel defense has intercepted a MAC-best 11 passes and recovered three fumbles while posting 15 sacks (second in the MAC).
 
- Sophomore linebacker Dante Gazzola (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill East) topped the unit with eight tackles, one sack and an interception against Albright. For the season Nick Gazzola (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill East) leads the defense with 41 tackles, 6.5 tackles-for-loss, 2.5 sacks and one interception. He is tenth in the MAC in tackles and eighth in the league in tackles per-game (8.2).
 
- Sophomore defensive back Dylan Walck (Hamlin, PA/Western Wayne) also had a strong game with five tackles and several well defended passes in the secondary. Walck is 16th in the league with 6.5 tackles per-game. First year cornerback Leroy Marshall (Cambria Heights, NY/Chris the King) had seven tackles and two pass breakups. Senior Pat Ricci (Gilbertsville, PA/Boyertown) added to his team-high in sacks with one against the Lions and has posted 3.5 sacks on the year ranking sixth in the MAC.
 
- Sophomore linebacker Dante Gazzola (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill East) has 32 tackles on the season. Ricci posts a team-high 6.5 tackles-for-loss and sophomore Adam Piston (Laurys Station, PA/Parkland) follows with 4.5 tackles-for-loss this season. First year defensive lineman Steele Hess (Palmerton, PA/Whitehall) adds 25 tackles, 3.5 tackles-for-loss and 2.0 sacks.
 
SCOUTING THE WILKES SPECIAL TEAMS
- Sophomore Nate Whitaker (Upper Darby, PA/Haverford School) was selected the MAC Special Team Player of the Week after taking the opening kickoff of the second half back for a 91-yard touchdown to give Wilkes a 10-0 lead against Alvernia in week four.
 
- Sophomore kicker Justin Pollack (Sloatsburg, NY/Suffern) converted a 26-yard field goal in the third quarter against Albright to cut into the Lions lead and begin the dramatic Wilkes comeback. He went 4-for-4 on PAT attempts last week and is now 18-for-21 on the season.
 
- First year kicker/punter Alex Orlando (Allentown, PA/Emmaus) ranks second in the MAC with a 40.7 yards-per-punt average. He made only one punt last week for 28 yards. Orlando has also handled the kickoff duties with a 52.6 yard per-kick average on 23 attempts.
 
- First year Elijah Jules (Red Bank, NJ/Red Bank Catholic) returned two punts for 31 yards against the Golden Wolves in week four. He has two returns of over 40 yards on the season and averages 14.0 yards per-return.
 
SCOUTING THE WIDENER OFFENSE (MULTIPLE)
- Widener is fifth in the MAC in scoring offense (24.3), third in total offense (364.5), third in rushing offense (170.3), and fifth in passing offense (194.2).
 
- Fifth year quarterback Triston Harris, a Towson transfer, is fifth in the MAC with 194.0 passing yards-per-game and a 59.8 completion percentage. He has gone 76-for-128 for 970 yards with eight touchdowns and five interceptions through five games.
 
- Junior running back Shawn Thompson has rushed 96 times for 440 yards and 4.6 yards-per-carry on the season. His 73.3 yards-per-game rank sixth in the conference and he also adds two touchdowns. Sophomore Bryce Casey follows with 22 carries for 218 yards and two scores.
 
- The Pride boast a duo on the outside in seniors James Gillespie and Ty Holbert who have hurt opposing secondaries this season. Gillespie has posted 22 receptions for 295 yards and four touchdowns, good for fourth overall in the conference. Holbert adds 18 catches for 234 yards and two scores on the year.
 
SCOUTING THE WIDENER DEFENSE (4-3-4)
- Widener ranks third in the MAC in scoring defense (15.5), second in total defense (240.3), 2nd in rushing defense (95.3), and fourth in passing defense (145.2).
 
- Junior linebacker Terrence Thompson is seventh in the MAC in tackles with 45 and adds 6.5 tackles-for-loss and 2.5 sacks to lead the unit. junior linebacker Kevin Davis follows with 33 tackles, one interception and three pass breakups.
 
- Senior defensive linemen Mario Scotese tops the Pride defense and ranks fifth in the MAC in sacks with 5.0 for a loss of 46 yards. Scotese also adds 22 tackles including 11 solo stops.
 
- Senior defensive back Anthony Liberatoscioli posts a team-high two interceptions and four pass breakups to go along with 29 total tackles to lead the Widener
secondary. 
 
SCOUTING THE WIDENER SPECIAL TEAMS
- Senior kicker Larry Eimer has gone 7-for-8 on field goals this season with a long of 32 yards. He is also 15-for-16 on PATs.
 
- Gillespie has taken three punt returns for a average of 11.3 yards per-return. Sophomore Jordan Baxter assumes kickoff return duties averaging 19.1 yards per-return on seven attempts.