Wilkes Colonels (3-0, 2-0) vs. Stevenson Mustangs (0-4, 0-2)
Saturday, October 2, 2021 - 12:00 p.m.
Schmidt Stadium
Homecoming 2021
 
Game Notes
 
Live Stats
 
Live Video
 
THE MATCHUP
Wilkes University welcomes Stevenson University to Schmidt Stadium on Homecoming weekend for a 12:00 p.m. Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) game on Saturday, October 2. The Colonels will look to remain unbeaten on the year after a 23-0 win at home over Alvernia last Saturday to move to 2-0 in the league. The Mustangs are looking for their first victory of the season after starting 0-4, including a 29-28 home loss to Lycoming in conference play last week.
 
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, Drach was instrumental in leading the Statesmen to six Liberty League Conference championships, seven NCAA playoff appearances and three consecutive undefeated regular seasons. He began his career as the quarterbacks coach in 2007 until adding offensive coordinator to his responsibilities in 2014. 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.
 
Ed Hottle (Frostburg State '99), the first head coach in program history, returns for his 11th season at Stevenson. In 2016, Stevenson won its first eight games and captured its first MAC championship with an 8-1 conference record. The Mustangs appeared in the NCAA field for the first time and finished 9-2 overall. Hottle was named the ECAC Division III South and MAC Coach of the Year. Stevenson finished the year ranked No. 20 in the final D3football.com poll and No. 22 in the final AFCA poll, while reaching as high as No. 12 during the season. In the Mustangs last full season (2019), Stevenson finished 8-3 and made its sixth straight postseason appearance, hosting Johns Hopkins in the Centennial-MAC Bowl Series. Hottle has had 80 players named All-Middle Atlantic Conference, including a program best 16 in 2016 and the 2012. Prior to Stevenson, Hottle served as the head football coach and assistant athletics director at Gallaudet University. While there, he amassed a 27-20 record in five seasons from 2005-09 and led the Bison back to NCAA Division III status in 2007. A 1999 graduate of Frostburg State, Hottle earned his bachelor's in physical education in before receiving his master's in education in 2001.

THE SERIES
This game marks the 10th meeting between the two schools with the series edge favoring Stevenson slightly at 5-4. The Mustangs have won the past three meetings including 42-21 at Schmidt Stadium in 2019. The Colonels last win came in the 2016 meeting against No. 12/14 Stevenson 38-35 on the road.
 
UP NEXT
The Colonels travel to Reading, Pa. to face Albright in a MAC matchup on Saturday, October 9 at 12:00 p.m. Albright holds a 25-18 lead in the all-time series, however Wilkes has won the past two times the teams met including 42-40 on the road in 2019.
 
SCOUTING THE WILKES OFFENSE (MULTIPLE)
- Wilkes ranks second in the MAC in scoring offense (34.7), first in total offense (466.3), first in rushing offense (233.3), and third in passing offense (233.0).
 
- While Wilkes only recorded one offensive touchdown in its 23-0 victory over Alvernia last week, the Colonels still produced 16 first downs and 291 yards of total offense. Wilkes still leads all MAC teams with 23.3 first downs per-game and 466.3 yards of total offense.
 
- Senior quarterback Jose Tabora (Egg Harbor Township, NJ/St. Augustine Prep.) continued his climb to the top of the Wilkes passing record book after an 8-for14 day for 83 yards. Tabora is now only 190 passing yards from the school record as he stands at 6,751 entering this weekend. He has 55 career touchdown passes and 547 completions as he closes in on the school records of 59 and 590 respectively. Tabora was named the MAC Offensive Player of the Week after a strong performance in the Colonels 35-15 victory at Misericordia two weeks ago. He ranks third in the conference with 197.0 passing yards per-game and a 138.7 QB efficiency.
 
- The run game was strong, producing 172 yards against Alvernia. First year running back Elijah Jules (Red Bank, NJ/Red Bank Catholic) rushed 11 times for 72 yards including a one-yard score in the third quarter. He is tied for the conference lead with four rushing touchdowns and ranks seventh with 77.0 rushing yards-per-game and fifth with a 7.0 yards-per-carry aver- age. Sophomore running back Kamaal Reed (Egg Harbor City, NJ/Cedar Creek) ranks fifth in the MAC with 84.0 yards rushing-per-game and is fourth with an 8.4 yards-per-carry average. Reed was the MAC Offensive Player of the Week in week one following his performance during a 46-7 win over Keystone.
 
- Sophomore wide receiver Jason Schweizerhof (Warninster, PA/William Tennent) leads the Colonels in receiving with 12 receptions for 156 yards on the season. He ranks tenth in the conference with 52.0 receiving yards-per-game. Fellow sophomore Cory Pelzer (Somerset, NJ/The Pennington School) caught two passes for 27 yards against Alvernia and ranks sixth in the MAC with a 17.5 yards-per-reception average.
 
- Junior tight end Jacob Katz (New City, NY/Clarkson North) led the Colonels in receiving against the Golden Wolves with three catches for 61 yards. Backup quarterbacks Heath Hoovler (Sparrowbush, NY/Burke Catholic) and Xavier Powell (Poughkeepsie, NY/Arlington) both saw snaps against Alvernia. Hoovler went 1-for-2 for 36 yards in the air and added four rushes for 23 yards. Powell stayed on the ground for his work, with two carries for six yards.
 
SCOUTING THE WILKES DEFENSE (4-3-4)
- Wilkes is first in the MAC in scoring defense (7.3), second in total defense (237.7), seventh in rushing defense (144.7), and second in passing defense (93.0).
 
- The Colonels defense was outstanding in posting the first shutout by the team since the 2007 season on Saturday. In addition to not allowing any points the team recorded four interceptions, one fumble recovery, and three sacks.
 
- Sophomore linebacker Nick Gazzola (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill East) was named the MAC Defensive Player of the Week after tallying nine tackles and one for a loss including a half sack in the victory over the Golden Wolves. He also recorded an interception which he returned 42 yards for a touchdown to extend the Colonels lead to 23-0 with 3:50 left in the third quarter. He now leads the team with 22 total tackles this season and ranks 11th in the conference with 7.3 tackles-per-game.
 
- Sophomore defensive back Dylan Walck (Hamlin, PA/Western Wayne) also had a strong game with eight tackles and an interception. First year linebacker Oyame Adoga (Clementon, NJ/Highland Regional) had an interception, forced a fumble and had six tackles. First year defensive back Leroy Marshall (Cambria Heights, NY/Chris the King) came away with an interception for the second straight game.
 
- Sophomore linebacker Dante Gazzola (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill East) has 21 tackles and is 15th in the league with 7.0 tackles-per-game. Senior defensive lineman Pat Ricci (Gilbertsville, PA/Boyertown) and sophomore Adam Piston (Laurys Station, PA/Parkland) each have 4.5 tackles-for-loss (TFL) this season to rank in a tie for fourth in the conference. Ricci and first year defensive lineman Steele Hess (Palmerton, PA/Whitehall) lead the Colonels with 1.5 sacks.
 
- Jeremie Hernandez (Bronx, NY/Kennedy) recovered a fumble against Alvernia. The sophomore defensive back also recorded four tackles in the game.
 
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.
 
- Sophomore kicker Justin Pollack (Sloatsburg, NY/Suffern) converted a 29-yard field goal in the second quarter last week to give Wilkes the first points of the game. He also went 2-for-3 on his PAT attempts and is now 11-for-14 on the season.
 
- First year kicker/punter Alex Orlando (Allentown, PA/Emmaus) leads the MAC with a 42.1 yards-per-punt average. He averaged 41.2 yards on five punts last week and put three inside the 20.
 
- Jules returned two punts for 31 yards against the Golden Wolves. He has two returns of over 40 yards on the season and is second in the conference with an average of 14.0 yards-per-return.
 
SCOUTING THE STEVENSON OFFENSE (SPREAD)
- Stevenson is eighth in the MAC in scoring offense (18.3), fifth in total offense (329.5), ninth in rushing offense (68.0), and second in passing offense (261.5).
 
- Senior quarterback Ryan Sedgwick is second in the MAC with 245.8 passing yards[1]per-game and a 62.5 completion percentage. He has gone 90-for144 for 983 yards with six touchdowns and eight interceptions through four games.
 
- Senior running back Kevin Joppy has rushed 73 times for 268 yards and 3.7 yards per-carry on the season. His 67.0 yards-per-game rank ninth in the conference and amount for nearly all of what the Mustangs average on the ground this season.
 
- The Mustangs senior wide receiver tandem of Steven Smothers and Darian Littlejohn is a threat to opposing defenses. Smothers leads the MAC with 31 receptions, 7.8 per-game, and 344 yards. His four touchdowns rank second. Littlejohn is second with 23 receptions and 338 yards while ranking third with 5.8 catches-per-game.
 
SCOUTING THE STEVENSON DEFENSE (3-4-4)
- Stevenson ranks 11th in the MAC in scoring defense (32.5), ninth in total defense (380.5), second in rushing defense (86.8), and 11th in passing defense (293.8).
 
- Junior linebacker Sean Sullivan leads the team with 25 tackles, ranking 23rd in the conference with 6.3 per-game.
 
- Senior defensive lineman Mario McIntyre has 24 tackles and his six sacks lead league and his 6.5 TFL are tied for the MAC lead.
 
- Senior Garston Banks and junior Jacob Baytoff each have an interception this year.
 
SCOUTING THE STEVENSON SPECIAL TEAMS
- Junior kicker Brody Campbell has gone 3-for-3 on field goals this season with a long of 33 yards. His is also 8-for-8 on PATs.
 
- Littlejohn leads the conference with 27.2 yards-per-kickoff return on his five attempts this season with a long of 79 yards.