Wilkes Colonels (6-1, 5-1) vs. Lycoming Warriors (5-2, 4-1)
Saturday, October 30, 2021 - 1:00 p.m.
David Person Field
 
Game Notes
 
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THE MATCHUP
Wilkes University returns to the road Saturday for a Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) matchup at Lycoming College at 1:00 p.m. at David Person Field. Wilkes (6-1, 5-1 MAC) got back into the win column last week posting a 30-20 victory against Lebanon Valley College at Schmidt Stadium. Lycoming improved to 5-2 overall and 4-1 in MAC games after a 28-7 home victory over Albright College.
 
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.
 
Mike Clark (Lycoming '93) enters his 14th year as Lycoming head coach in the fall of 2021. Clark has been a part of 127 wins, eight MAC titles, seven NCAA tournament teams, eight postseason-bound teams and six NCAA playoff wins as a Warrior. During his time as head coach, Clark has tutored 105 all-conference selections, 40 Hampshire Honor Society members, 19 all-region selections, 12 Academic All-District selections, seven All-Americans, four Academic All-Americans, a Regional Player of the Year, a NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship winner and led the team to seven wins over top-25 programs. Along the way, the Wildcats had some of the most prolific offensive numbers in school history, with Clark mentoring the top two passing quarterbacks, three receivers and running back during his time. In his last two years, Clark's offense hit its stride, with the 2006 team scoring 29.5 points per game, which was 15th in the Championship Bowl Subdivision. In 2007, the offense average 414.3 yards per game, setting a school record. Before Clark's third go-round at Lycoming, he spent eight seasons as the offensive coordinator and offensive line coach at Davidson. During his years with the Wildcats, Clark helped the team post a 43-36 (.544) record and the only undefeated season in school history. As a player (offensive lineman) on the football team under legendary Coach Frank Girardi, he won four MAC titles and helped the team advance to the 1990 NCAA Division III National Championship game.

THE SERIES
This game marks the 61st meeting between the two schools with the series edge favoring Lycoming at 40-20. 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.
  
UP NEXT
The Colonels make their final home regular season appearance on Senior Day next Saturday when they host #10 Delaware Valley University at Schmidt Stadium at 1:00 p.m.  Wilkes holds a 31-25 advantage in the series, but the Colonels have not won since 2015.
 
SCOUTING THE WILKES OFFENSE (MULTIPLE)
- Wilkes ranks second in the MAC in scoring offense (28.4), first in total offense (406.4), second in rushing offense (196.4), and third in passing offense (210.0).
 
- Wilkes has used a balanced attack on offense reaching the end zone 13 times on the ground and 12 times through the air. The Colonels continue to lead the MAC in first downs per-game at 20.4 and stay on the field by converting third downs at 43.4 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 7,492 career yards passing. He has 62 career touchdown passes and 602 completions, a record he broke last week against LVC. 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 190.4 passing yards per-game and third with a 137.9 QB efficiency.
 
- The run game has been strong all season, and it got back on track in the victory over LVC last week after its lowest output of the season in the loss at Widener two weeks ago. Sophomore running back Kamaal Reed (Egg Harbor City, NJ/Cedar Creek) is the third leading rusher in the MAC averaging 83.7 yards per-game and four touchdowns.  His 6.8 yard per-carry average is also good for sixth 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) ranks fourth in the MAC in yards per-game (75.4) and fifth in yards per-carry (6.9). The duo has rushed for over 1,000 yards and nine of the Colonels 13 rushing scores on the season. Jules went for a career-high 124 yards on 16 carries and one score against LVC last week.
 
- Sophomore Nate Whitaker (Upper Darby, PA/Haverford School) has emerged as the Colonels top threat on the outside hauling in 20 catches for 301 yards and two touchdowns on the year. Fellow sophomore Jason Schweizerhof (Warninster, PA/William Tennent) follows with 19 receptions for 227 yards and two scores while sophomore Cory Pelzer (Somerset, NJ/The Pennington School) posts 18 catches for 327 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 13 catches for 123 yards and one touchdown on the season while junior Jonah Lilley (Wurtsboro, NY/Monticello) totals seven receptions for 86 yards and one score. First year tight end Jason Dean (Auburn, PA/Blue Mountain) made his first collegiate touchdown catch in the win against LVC.
 
SCOUTING THE WILKES DEFENSE (4-3-4)
- Wilkes is second in the MAC in scoring defense (16.3), fifth in total defense (300.1), sixth in rushing defense (141.3), and fourth in passing defense (158.9).
 
- For the second time this season, the Colonels failed to create a turnover in the win against LVC last week. For the season the Colonel defense has intercepted the second most passes in the MAC (11) and recovered three fumbles while posting 19 sacks (third in the MAC).
 
- Sophomore linebacker Nick Gazzola (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill East) leads the Colonels defensive unit with 50 total tackles, 8.0 tackles-for-loss, 3.5 sacks and one interception while breaking up two passes in coverage duties. He is 12th in the MAC in tackles and 13th in tackles per-game (7.1). Twin brother Dante Gazzola (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill East) follows Nick with 47 total tackles, 4.0 tackles-for-loss, 1.5 sacks 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 12th in the league with 7.4 tackles per-game. Senior linebacker Cole Jesmer (Dover, PA/Dover) finished with a season-high six tackles, 2.0 tackles-for-loss and a sack against LVC.
 
- Sophomore Adam Piston (Laurys Station, PA/Parkland) has been solid on the Wilkes front four this year adding 37 tackles and 8.0 tackles-for-loss. First year defensive lineman Steele Hess (Palmerton, PA/Whitehall) adds 31 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 3-for-4 in field goal attempts this year including a season-long of 29 yards against Alvernia. Pollack added a 28-yard field goal in the win against LVC a week ago. He went 3-for-3 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 42.6 yards-per-punt average. He made five punts last week averaging 42.2 yards with one inside the 20. Orlando has also handled the kickoff duties with a 52.8 yard per-kick average on 32 attempts.
 
- Jules is averaging 14 yards per-punt return on 12 attempts. Whitaker has taken 11 kickoff returns for 302 yards and one touchdown averaging 27.5 yards per-return.
 
 SCOUTING THE LYCOMING OFFENSE (MULTIPLE)
- Lycoming is fourth in the MAC in scoring offense (25.3), fifth in total offense (333.7), sixth in rushing offense (139.3), and fifth in passing offense (194.4).
 
- Senior quarterback Elijah Shemory is fifth in the MAC with 191.0 passing yards-per-game and second with a 60.5 completion percentage. He has gone 101-for-167 for 1,337 yards with 12 touchdowns and seven interceptions through seven games.
 
- Shemory has also used his legs to hurt opposing defenses rushing for a team-best 234 yards on 79 carries reaching the end zone five times. Junior Joey Guida follows with 306 yards on 63 attempts.
 
- Senior duo Tyjah During and Tre' Leach are the top threats on the outside having combined for 43 catches for 648 yards and five scores. Senior Kevin Krawczyk adds 15 receptions for 175 yards and one touchdown.
 
SCOUTING THE LYCOMING DEFENSE (4-3-4)
- Lycoming ranks fifth in the MAC in scoring defense (20.1), fourth in total defense (298.7), sixth in rushing defense (101.1), and eighth in passing defense (197.6).
 
- Sophomore defensive back Hunter Campbell tops the defense with 45 total tackles, 4.0 tackles-for-loss, one sack and two interception.  He finished with 10 tackles, 2.0 tackles-for-loss and a pass breakup in the win against Albright last week.
 
- Junior defensive tackle David Tomb has a team-high 3.0 sacks and one forced fumble while posting 28 total tackles.
 
SCOUTING THE LYCOMING SPECIAL TEAMS
- Sophomore kicker Ian Plankerhorn is 8-for-11 on field goals this season including a season-long of 41 yards. He is also 21-for-21 in PAT's.
 
- Guida takes on the kickoff return duties averaging 19.5 yards per-return in 13 attempts. He has also taken 10 punt returns for 92 yards.