Wilkes Colonels (5-1, 4-1) vs. Lebanon Valley Flying Dutchmen (3-3, 2-2)
Saturday, October 23, 2021 - 1:00 p.m.
Schmidt Stadium
 
Game Notes
 
Live Stats
 
Live Video
 
THE MATCHUP
Wilkes University returns home after a two week road stretch as the Colonels host Lebanon Valley College in a Middle Atlantic Conference matchup at 1:00 p.m. at Schmidt Stadium. Wilkes (5-1, 4-1 MAC) suffered its first defeat of the season last week falling 30-13 at Widener University. Lebanon Valley evened its overall record at 3-3 and 2-2 in MAC games after a 31-10 home victory over Alvernia University.
 
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.
 
Joe Buehler (Lebanon Valley '89) enters his sixth year as Lebanon Valley head coach in the fall of 2021 after serving on the staff for 12 years as the program's offensive coordinator and offensive line coach. In 2019, the Dutchmen posted a 3-7 overall mark, including a thrilling 41-35 victory over conference rival Widener. Buehler guided seven Dutchmen to all-conference honors, including C.J. Steinhilber and Nick Bentz, and Logan Grauer, who were name to the First Team, Hunter Wilson and Jack Heft, who each earned Second-Team honors, and Patrick Clark and Brandon Brubaker, a pair that earned Honorable Mention. Additionally in 2019, Grauer was named to D3football.com's All-America List and he and Bentz earned All-Region accolades. Finally, Bentz earned the MAC's highest honor and was named the MAC Football Scholar Athlete of the Year in addition to his Academic All-Conference nod. Buehler also coached in the high school ranks for 15 seasons, most recently as an assistant at Cedar Cliff High School in 2003. Buehler was also the head coach at nearby Palmyra High School from 1996-2002. In addition, he has served as an assistant at Milton Hershey, Lebanon, and Palmyra high schools. 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 game marks the 49th meeting between the two schools with the series edge favoring Wilkes at 25-23. The Colonels have won the past two meetings including a 30-24 win at home in 2019 before winning 30-27 in overtime in Annville, Pa. in 2018.
 
UP NEXT
The Colonels return to the road next week for another tough MAC matchup at Lycoming College on Saturday, October 30 at 1:00 p.m. Lycoming holds a 40-20 series advantage. Wilkes has taken the last two meetings including a thrilling 24-17 double overtime win in Williamsport, Pa. in 2019 and a 14-7 victory at Schmidt Stadium in 2018.
 
SCOUTING THE WILKES OFFENSE (MULTIPLE)
- Wilkes ranks second in the MAC in scoring offense (28.2), first in total offense (421.2), second in rushing offense (194.2), and third in passing offense (227.0).
 
- Wilkes has used a balanced attack on offense reaching the end zone 12 times on the ground and 10 times through the air. The Colonels continue to lead the MAC in first downs per-game at 21.0 and stay on the field by converting third downs at 42.6 percent (third in the MAC).
 
- Senior quarterback Jose Tabora (Egg Harbor Township, NJ/St. Augustine Prep.) became the school's all-time passing yards leader as well as touchdown passes thrown earlier this year. Tabora enters today's game with 7,353 career yards passing. He has 60 career touchdown passes and 589 completions as he closes in on the school record of 590 completions. 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 third in the conference with 204.2 passing yards per-game and second with a 141.9 QB efficiency.
 
- The run game has been strong all season, although it was held to its season-low of 31 total yards last week at Widener. Sophomore running back Kamaal Reed (Egg Harbor City, NJ/Cedar Creek) is the second leading rusher in the MAC averaging 88.5 yards per-game and four touchdowns.  His 7.0 yard per-carry average is also good for fifth best in the conference. Reed was the MAC Offensive Player of the Week in week one following his performance during a 46-7 win over Keystone. Teammate first year Elijah Jules (Red Bank, NJ/Red Bank Catholic) returned from injury last week and ranks eighth in the MAC in yards per-game (63.3) and sixth in yards per-carry (6.5). The duo has rushed for over 800 yards and eight of the Colonels 12 rushing scores on the season.
 
- Sophomore Nate Whitaker (Upper Darby, PA/Haverford School) has emerged as the Colonels top threat on the outside hauling in 19 catches for 282 yards and two touchdowns on the year. Fellow sophomore Jason Schweizerhof (Warninster, PA/William Tennent) follows with 18 receptions for 219 yards and two scores while sophomore Cory Pelzer (Somerset, NJ/The Pennington School) posts 16 catches for 299 yards and a team-best three touchdowns. Pelzer recorded his longest score of the season in the loss at Widener when he hauled in a 68-yard pass from Tabora.
 
- Junior tight end Jacob Katz (New City, NY/Clarkson North) has posted 12 catches for 121 yards and one touchdown on the season while junior Jonah Lilley (Wurtsboro, NY/Monticello) totals seven receptions for 86 yards and one score.
 
SCOUTING THE WILKES DEFENSE (4-3-4)
- Wilkes is third in the MAC in scoring defense (15.7), third in total defense (293.3), seventh in rushing defense (138.7), and fourth in passing defense (154.7).
 
- For the first time this season, the Colonels failed to create a turnover in the loss at Widener last week. For the season the Colonel defense has intercepted the second most passes in the MAC (11) and recovered three fumbles while posting 16 sacks (third in the MAC).
 
- Sophomore linebacker Nick Gazzola (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill East) leads the Colonels defensive unit with 47 total tackles, 8.0 tackles-for-loss, 3.5 sacks and one interception while breaking up two passes in coverage duties. He is tenth in the MAC in tackles and tackles per-game (7.8). Twin brother Dante Gazzola (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill East) follows Nick with 41 total tackles, 3.5 tackles-for-loss, one sack and two interceptions.
 
- Sophomore defensive back Dylan Walck (Hamlin, PA/Western Wayne) had his best outing of the season at Widener finishing with 13 tackles and several well defended passes in the secondary. Walck is 11th in the league with 7.8 tackles per-game. First year cornerback Leroy Marshall (Cambria Heights, NY/Chris the King) had seven tackles last week and posts 26 total tackles and two interceptions on the year. Senior Pat Ricci (Gilbertsville, PA/Boyertown) is sixth in the MAC in sacks (3.5) and anchors a strong defensive line with 23 tackles and 7.5 tackles-for-loss.
 
- Sophomore Adam Piston (Laurys Station, PA/Parkland) has been solid on the Wilkes front four this year adding 32 tackles and 5.5 tackles-for-loss. First year defensive lineman Steele Hess (Palmerton, PA/Whitehall) adds 28 tackles, 4.0 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) is 2-for-3 in field goal attempts this year including a season-long of 29 yards against Alvernia. He went 1-for-1 on PAT attempts last week and is now 19-for-22 on the season.
 
- First year kicker/punter Alex Orlando (Allentown, PA/Emmaus) ranks first in the MAC with a 42.7 yards-per-punt average. He made three punts last week averaging 50.7 yards with one inside the 20. Orlando has also handled the kickoff duties with a 53.2 yard per-kick average on 26 attempts.
 
- Jules is averaging 14 yards per-punt return on 10 attempts. Whitaker has taken eight kickoff returns for 219 yards and one touchdown averaging 27.38 yards per-return.
 
SCOUTING THE LEBANON VALLEY OFFENSE (MULTIPLE)
- Lebanon Valley is seventh in the MAC in scoring offense (18.3), ninth in total offense (283.0), fifth in rushing offense (153.8), and ninth in passing offense (129.2).
 
- First year quarterback Braden Bohannon is eighth in the MAC with 129.2 passing yards-per-game and a 47.9 completion percentage. He has gone 68-for-142 for 775 yards with five touchdowns and six interceptions through six games.
 
- Bohannon has also used his legs to hurt opposing defenses rushing for a team-best 356 yards on 100 carries reaching the end zone three times. Junior Tim Ervey follows with 269 yards on 61 attempts including a season-high 23 carries for 178 yards and three scores in the Flying Dutchmen win against Alvernia last week.
 
- Senior duo Cameron Niemeyer and Andrew Olson are the top threats on the outside having combined for 44 catches for 520 yards and three scores. Junior Jay Sisko adds 11 receptions for 151 yards and one touchdown.
 
SCOUTING THE LEBANON VALLEY DEFENSE (4-3-4)
- Lebanon Valley ranks fourth in the MAC in scoring defense (19.7), sixth in total defense (316.8), eighth in rushing defense (153.7), and sixth in passing defense (163.2).
 
- Senior defensive end and reigning MAC Defensive Player of the Week Brandon Brubaker tops the defense with 53 total tackles (sixth in the MAC), 12.0 tackles-for-loss, 2.0 sacks and one interception.  He finished with 14 tackles, 5.0 tackles-for-loss and a half sack in the win against Alvernia last week on way to the award.
 
- Sophomore safety Erik Williams has a team-high three interceptions and three pass break ups while making 35 tackles in the secondary.
 
SCOUTING THE LEBANON VALLEY SPECIAL TEAMS
- First year kicker Kevin Roberts has yet to miss a field goal this season going 6-for-6 including a season-long of 40 yards against Widener in week two. He is also 3-for-3 in PAT attempts.
 
- Niemeyer takes on the kickoff return duties averaging 15.4 yards per-return in seven attempts.