DALLAS, PA – Visiting Wilkes University scored 21 of its 35 points in the final quarter as the Colonels stayed unbeaten and opened Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) play with a 35-15 victory over host Misericordia University Saturday afternoon at Mangelsdorf Field.
 
Wilkes improved to 2-0 overall and 1-0 in MAC games following the road victory. Misericordia dropped to 1-1 overall and 0-1 in league contests.
 
The teams went scoreless until the final possession of the first quarter as Jose Tabora (Egg Harbor Township, NJ/St. Augustine Prep.) found Nate Whitaker (Upper Darby, PA/Haverford School) for a 19-yard touchdown pass as time expired in the opening frame capping off a four-play, 50-yard drive to take a 7-0 lead.
 
The Colonels didn't strike again until the closing minutes of the first half as the offense was setup at its own 30 yard line following a missed 40-yard field goal by the Cougars. Tabora used his legs and his arm to move the Colonels down the field before scampering in from 11 yards out on a third and goal to push the advantage to 14-0 at the break.
 
Misericordia responded in the third quarter cutting the lead in half when Mitchel Micale connected with Kevin Pearson for an 11-yard touchdown pass with 2:09 left in the stanza.
 
From there Wilkes began its third promising drive of the game which continued into the start of the fourth quarter as Tabora went in the air to Elijah Jules (Red Bank, NJ/Red Bank Catholic) for 10 yards and 12 yards to move the Colonels inside the Cougars 30 yard line.  After another 11 yard completion to Jules, the first year running back took it in from the ground three yards out as Wilkes led 21-7 with 13:33 left in the game.
 
Misericordia's next drive was short-lived as John Washington (Brooklyn, NY/Eagle Academy) picked off Dallas Engel setting up the Colonels inside the Cougars 45 yard line. Kamaal Reed (Egg Harbor City, NJ/Cedar Creek) ran twice for 11 yards and Jonah Lilley (Wurtsboro, NY/Monticello) caught a 26-yard pass from Tabora to move Wilkes to the Misericordia 20 yard line. From there it was Tabora to Jason Schweizerhof (Warninster, PA/William Tennent) from 16 yards away for the Colonels fourth touchdown of the contest. Justin Pollack's (Sloatsburg, NY/Suffern) extra point made it 28-7 Wilkes with 7:36 remaining in the game.
 
Misericordia scored again on its next drive and added the two point conversion which kept the lead at 28-15. The Cougars attempted an onside kick on the ensuing kickoff but Dante Gazzola (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill East) recovered for the Colonels.
 
After a Reed three yard rush, Tabora connected with Schweizerhof for the second time on the day, this time for a 43-yard touchdown pass, to put the game out of reach with the Colonels leading 35-15 with 2:56 left on the clock.
 
Tabora was the story on offense for Wilkes all day finishing 26-of-39 passing for 391 yards and three tocuhdowns. He also ran 10 times for 59 yards and one score, accounting for four touchdowns on the day.
 
Reed finished with 60 yards on 14 carries while Jules added nine rushes for 43 yards and one score.
 
Whitaker was the top outside threat for Wilkes in the game making six catches for 104 yards and one touchdown. Schweizerhof was equally as impressive posting seven catches for 89 yards and two scores.
 
D. Gazzola led the Colonel defense with 11 tackles while Steele Hess (Palmerton, PA/Whitehall) (nine tackles) and Nick Gazzola (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill East) (eight tackles) anchored a tough Colonels defense that allowed just 105 yards through air and 11 total first downs throughout.
 
Wilkes returns home next Saturday hosting Alvernia University at 1:00 p.m. at Schmidt Stadium in another MAC contest.