EDWARDSVILLE – Wilkes University was held to its lowest total yardage output of the season accounting for only 66 yards in a 30-0 Middle Atlantic Conference defeat against No. 10 Delaware Valley University Saturday afternoon at Schmidt Stadium.
 
Wilkes slipped to 6-3 overall finish 5-3 in MAC games on the season. Delaware Valley improved to 9-0 overall and 7-0 in league games clinching the MAC Championship and the automatic bid in the NCAA Tournament.
 
Delaware Valley wasted little time gaining its lead and never looked back taking the opening drive 75 yards on 11 plays capped off by a Donte Simmons score on the ground from two yards out as the Aggies led 7-0.
 
After a Wilkes punt, DVU extended its lead with another touchdown, this time a nine-play, 65-yard drive capped off by a 15 yard touchdown pass from Casey Decker to Ryan Loughlin pushing the advantage to 14-0 with 3:12 left in the first quarter.
 
The Colonels moved into Aggies territory for the first time in the game early in the second quarter as Jose Tabora (Egg Harbor Township, NJ/St. Augustine Prep.) connected with Jacob Katz (New City, NY/Clarkson North) for 12 yards and Nate Whitaker (Upper Darby, PA/Haverford School) for nine yards followed by a DVU personal foul penalty that moved the ball to the DVU 25. After a sack on third and seven, Tabora was intercepted on fourth down as Damion Smith picked off the pass at the Aggies 11 and return the ball to the DVU 20.
 
DVU began its third promising drive on the ensuing possession only to see Decker fumble on a fourth and goal which was recovered by Wilkes' John Washington (Brooklyn, NY/Eagle Academy) at the Wilkes three yard line.
 
On the next play, Tabora would be sacked in the end zone by Yusuf Aladinov as Delaware Valley added the safety pushing the lead to 16-0 with 5:39 left in the half.
 
Delaware Valley had one more shot at points before the half ended, but a Jack Hughes 30-yard field goal attempt was blocked by Steele Hess (Palmerton, PA/Whitehall) keeping the Colonels trailing by 16 at the break.
 
The Aggies defense, which ranks in the top ten in the country in almost every statistical category, made yet another big play in the game as Jamir Prevard picked off Xavier Powell (Poughkeepsie, NY/Arlington) at the DVU 13 and returned it 87 yards for the touchdown as DVU led 23-0 after three quarters.
 
Wilkes had another chance for points deep in Aggies territory, but Tabora was sacked on a fourth and goal at the seven and the Colonels failed to reach the points column on its second try from the red zone.
 
Simmons added his second rushing touchdown with just over 12 minutes left in the fourth quarter to seal the scoring for the Aggies who held its opponent to seven points or less for the seventh time this season.
 
The Wilkes offense was held in check accounting for only 75 yards through the air and -9 yards on the ground. The Aggies defense also caused five turnovers including four interceptions.
 
Simmons was the story offensively for DVU rushing 17 times for 141 yards and two scores.
 
Oyame Adoga (Clementon, NJ/Highland Regional) led the Colonels defense with a career-high 13 tackles and one sack. Dylan Walck (Hamlin, PA/Western Wayne) followed with 12 tackles.
 
Wilkes concludes its regular season slate next Saturday as the Colonels travel across town to face King's College (4-5, 3-5 MAC) in the 25^th annual Mayor's Cup game at McCarthy Stadium starting at 12:00 p.m.