EDWARDSVILLE – The Wilkes University football team made its return to the field to open the 2021 season and did so in style on Saturday afternoon, picking up the 46-7 victory over Keystone College at Schmidt Stadium.

Wilkes nearly picked up its first shutout since the 2007 season and racked up 369 rushing yards as the Colonels moved to 3-0 under head coach Jonathan Drach during his tenure in season-opening games. The game marked Keystone's return to varsity football, something the school has not competed in since the 1947 season.

Sophomore Kamaal Reed (Egg Harbor City, NJ/Cedar Creek) and first-year Elijah Jules (Red Bank, NJ/Red Bank Catholic) headed a backfield duo that was dominant on the day. Reed rushed eight times for 148 yards and two touchdowns while Jules added 13 carries for 116 yards and two more scores.

The Wilkes defense set the tone on the first drive of the game forcing the Giants into a three-and-out. The Colonels first drive ended with a fumble after moving the ball, however the defense forced another punt and the offense was able to start at the Keystone 30-yard-line. Jules would cap off a seven-play drive to open the scoring with a three-yard touchdown run and the Colonels two-point try would fail as they led 6-0 with 3:49 left in the first quarter.

After the defense forced another punt from the Giants, the Colonels went 36 yards in six plays for the game's second score. Reed capped the drive with a three-yard rush on the first play of the second quarter and Justin Pollack (Sloatsburg, NY/Suffern) connected on the extra-point to make the score 13-0.

Keystone looked to gain momentum after recovering its second fumble of the game but on the ensuing drive a Tom Roach pass was intercepted by first-year defensive back Jesse Addesso (Staten Island, NY/St. Joes by The Sea) at the Wilkes five. Reed took the next handoff 65 yards to the Keystone 30. Jules then went 17 yards before Reed took to the right edge for a 13-yard touchdown as the Colonels went 95 yards in three plays. Pollack added the extra point for the 20-0 lead with 7:30 left in the second quarter.

After the defense forced a three-and-out the Colonels went four plays and 45 yards capped by an 18-yard touchdown rush by Jules to make the score 26-0 with 4:28 on the clock until halftime. Two stops by the Colonels defense sent the game into the break with the Navy and Gold holding a 26-point edge.

Wilkes used a 10-play drive to open the third quarter that was culminated by a 31-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Jose Tabora (Egg Harbor Township, NJ/St. Augustine Prep.) to sophomore wide receiver Cory Pelzer (Somerset, NJ/The Pennington School) on a fourth-and-14 play. A Pollack conversion on the PAT made the score 33-0.

The Giants drove to the Colonels one-yard line on the ensuing drive but Roach was intercepted by sophomore defensive back John Washington (Brooklyn, NY/Eagle Academy) in the end zone. Junior quarterback Heath Hoovler (Sparrowbush, NY/Burke Catholic) entered for the Colonels next drive and followed a 42-yard Reed run with a 34-yard strike to Pelzer for a touchdown as Wilkes went 80 yards in three plays. Pollack's kick made the score 40-0 with 3:34 left in the third.

Billy Costner (Bordentown, NJ/Bordentown Regional) picked up a sack on a fourth-and-nine play on the Giants next series to force the turnover on downs at the Wilkes 44. Following a stop by the Keystone defense Wilkes would force a fumble that sophomore defensive tackle Adrian Malave' (Clifton, NJ/Passaic County Tech) recovered. First-year quarterback Xavier Powell (Poughkeepsie, NY/Arlington) then led a 10-play 75-yard drive along with first-year running back Romeo Thomas (Colts Neck, NJ/Colts Neck). Thomas would punch in the touchdown from three-yards out as Wilkes extended its lead to 46-0 with 4:06 remaining.

Keystone found the scoreboard to break up the Wilkes shutout attempt with 48 seconds remaining when Kevin Lewis capped an eight-play, 70 yard drive with a three-yard run.

Wilkes racked up 558 yards of total offense and 28 first downs in the game while the defense held Keystone to 192 yards and forced three turnovers.

Tabora finished 9-for-19 for 117 yards and one touchdown through the air for the Colonels and added nine carries for 28 yards. Pelzer led the Colonels in receiving as he scored on both his catches that totaled 65 yards. Sophomore wide receiver Jason Schweizerhof (Warninster, PA/William Tennent) caught four passes for 52 yards. Thomas complimented the big rushing games by Reed and Jules with seven carries for 47 yards.

Sophomore defensive end Adam Piston (Laurys Station, PA/Parkland) and first-year linebacker Nick Troutman (Kulpmont, PA/Mount Carmel) led the Colonels stingy defense with seven total tackles while sophomore linebacker Dante Gazzola (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill East), sophomore defensive back Dylan Walck (Hamlin, PA/Western Wayne), and first-year defensive lineman Steele Hess (Palmerton, PA/Whitehall) each added six tackles.

The Colonels will now prepare for their next game with a bye week before heading to Misericordia University to open Middle Atlantic Conference play on Saturday, September 18 at 1:00 p.m. in Dallas, Pa.