EDWARDSVILLE – Wilkes University first year running back Elijah Jules (Red Bank, NJ/Red Bank Catholic) rushed for 124 yards and a touchdown that sealed the Colonels 30-20 Middle Atlantic Conference victory over visiting Lebanon Valley College Saturday afternoon at Schmidt Stadium.
 
Wilkes improved to 6-1 overall and 5-1 in league games following the win. The Colonels remain in sole possession of second place in the conference standings after Widener University fell to Stevenson. LVC dropped to 3-4 overall and 2-4 in conference contests.
 
The Wilkes defense started things off forcing a LVC three and out to setup the first scoring drive of the afternoon. Facing a third and seven, Jose Tabora (Egg Harbor Township, NJ/St. Augustine Prep.) connected with Cory Pelzer (Somerset, NJ/The Pennington School) for nine yards to continue the drive down to the Colonels 42. Jules then found daylight up the left side for 29 yards moving the ball into LVC territory at the twenty. Tabora then continued his record-breaking season as he found Devin Higgins (Pennington, NJ/Hopewell Valley) for a six yard completion, breaking the school mark of 590 set by Ryan Daily in 2016. After a two yard rush from Tabora picked up a first down inside the LVC 10, the senior signal-caller hit Kamaal Reed (Egg Harbor City, NJ/Cedar Creek) for a six yard touchdown pass to put the Colonels up 6-0 with 6:47 left in the first quarter. The two point attempt failed as Wilkes took the early lead.
 
On the ensuing LVC possession, the Wilkes special teams unit provided the next points opportunity when Billy Doron (Hawley, PA/Wallenpaupack) blocked an LVC punt and Ryan Travis (Montrose, NY/Hendrick Hudson) scoped and scored from two yards out to push the lead to 13-0 following a Justin Pollack (Sloatsburg, NY/Suffern) extra point.
 
LVC used an 11-play, 72-yard drive on the following possession to cut into the lead as the Flying Dutchmen used the ground game to do most of its damage eventually running it in from 10 yards out. Wilkes continued to lead 13-7 following the LVC extra point with :31 left in the opening stanza.
 
LVC continued its momentum into the second quarter forcing a Colonel three and out setting up its offense at its own 34 yard line. From there quarterback Braden Bohannon hit Jay Sisko for a 48-yard pass to move down to the Colonel five yard line. Two plays later Bohannon snuck in in from one yard out as LVC took its first lead of the game at 14-13 with 12:03 left in the first half.
 
After the teams traded punts, Wilkes began its second offensive scoring drive and the Colonels used the ground game to move down the field. Reed and Jules combined for 43 yards moving Wilkes inside the LVC 20. After two rushes from Jules, Tabora found first year tight end Jason Dean (Auburn, PA/Blue Mountain) in the back of the end zone for his first collegiate touchdown giving the Colonels a 20-14 advantage with 3:44 left in the second quarter.
 
LVC responded again on its next drive as Bohannon connected with wide receiver Andrew Olson for a 31-yard touchdown pass down the right sideline as the teams went to the break tied at 20 after the extra point attempt was blocked.
 
Wilkes received the second half kickoff and began its third scoring drive of the day. Tabora made good on two big plays, passing to Nate Whitaker (Upper Darby, PA/Haverford School) for 19 yards before a pass to Devin Higgins (Pennington, NJ/Hopewell Valley) went for 27 more yards moving the Colonels down to the LVC 15. After two short rushes and an incomplete pass, Wilkes settled for a 28-yard field goal from Pollack to take back the lead at 23-20 with 11:42 left in the third frame.
 
Wilkes then put the game out of reach on its second drive of the final quarter as Jules slipped through the left side of the line and darted 49 yards to the end zone to extend the lead to 30-20 following the successful extra point.
 
Jules was the story on the ground for Wilkes rushing 16 times for a game-high 124 yards and the game-sealing touchdown. He also caught three passes for 33 yards. Reed finished with 55 yards on 10 carries.
 
Tabora finished 13-for-27 for 139 yards and two touchdowns. Higgins topped the receivers with two receptions for 33 yards.
 
Bohannon finished 13-for-29 for 184 yards and one touchdown for LVC, He also led the squad in rushing with 74 yards on 20 attempts.
 
Dante Gazzola (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill East), Cole Jesmer (Dover, PA/Dover) and Angel Ramos (Breinigsville, PA/Parkland) each posted six tackles for Wilkes. Jesmer added a sack while Kellen Redmond (St. Petersburg, FL/Calvary Christian) added 1.5 sacks and three stops.
 
Evan Kutzler topped LVC defensively with eight tackles.
 
Wilkes heads on the road next Saturday with an important MAC matchup at Lycoming College (5-2, 4-1 MAC)  at 1:00 p.m. in Williamsport, Pa.