Defense, Run Game Pushes Wilkes Football Past Misericordia 28-0
EDWARDSVILLE – Elijah Jules (Red Bank, NJ/Red Bank Catholic) rushed for 128 yards on the day while the defense didn't allow a score throughout the game as Wilkes University football beats Misericordia University 28-0 in Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) play on Saturday afternoon at Schmidt Stadium.
Wilkes improves their record to 5-1 on the season, going 4-1 in MAC play. Misericordia falls to 2-5 on the year while going 1-4 in conference action.
The Colonels began the series forcing Misericordia to go three and out on the first series. Wilkes would go on a five play, 56-yard drive that ended with Jules running for a nine-yard touchdown to get the Colonels on the scoreboard first and take the lead 7-0.
Both teams traded punts through the first and second quarter. Wilkes would drive down the field behind two long Jules runs. A personal foul brought Wilkes closer to the endzone, where Isaiah Rodriguez (Lebanon, PA/Lebanon) found Nate Whitaker (Upper Darby, PA/Haverford School) for an eight-yard tip-toe touchdown grab that extended their lead 14-0.
After another Cougar punt, Wilkes drove down the field again to continue their offensive momentum. Nate Whitaker (Upper Darby, PA/Haverford School) and Devon Higgins both had crucial catches to convert first downs on the drive, with Rodriguez hitting Whitaker for 12-yards down the field. Two plays later, Rodriguez found Higgins on the sideline for a 34-yard gain, bringing Wilkes inside the ten of Misericordia. After a pass interference and personal foul call, Jules would finish the drive with a one-yard touchdown run to make it a 21-0 lead for the Colonels.
Misericordia would find their footing on offense, getting a first down for the first time in the game with five minutes to go in the half. The Cougars would drive down to Wilkes 28-yard line, where the drive would stall and see Misericordia attempt a 45-yard field goal to get points on the board. Steele Hess (Allentown, PA/Whitehall) would get a hand on the kick and block it, where the Colonels would eventually recover the ball at their own two-yard line. Wilkes would eventually punt the ball, but the ball would slip past the returners hands and fall on the ground, where Ben Contella (Wayne, NJ/Wayne Hills) would recover it at the 39 of Wilkes.
Rodriguez would find Zane Grover (East Stroudsburg, PA/Stroudsburg) for a 45 yard catch that would put Wilkes inside the 20 of the Cougars. The Colonels would send out Nick Volpone (Delco, PA/Ridley) to attempt a 20-yard field goal, who would miss wide left of the upright, keeping the score at 21-0 going into the half.
The start of the third saw both teams begin to not handle the ball, as Wilkes couldn't secure the kickoff and fumble the ball away, where Misericordia would recover it inside the Wilkes 35. The Cougars would drive to the Colonels 13, where John Washington (Brooklyn, NY/Eagle Academy) would intercept the ball and go to the endzone but would be called back for a penalty to the Misericordia 40.
Xavier Powell (Poughkeepsie, NY/Arlington) would begin to run on this drive at the quarterback position, while Rodriguez would hit Jimmy Johnson (Fallston, MD/Fallston) for a 26 yard catch that would set up Alex Orlando (Allentown, PA/Emmaus) for a 36-yard field goal that would go wide right.
Wilkes would get the ball back two plays later as Donell Mackey-Woodson (Hartford, CT/Southington) would intercept Misericordia and give the Colonels the ball back at their own 45-yard line. Wilkes would go on a nine play, 55-yard drive that would end with Jules getting his third touchdown on the day with a four-yard run to extend their lead 28-0.
The fourth quarter would see both teams not find the endzone, with Misericordia getting two interceptions in the last 15 minutes and Wilkes not allowing the Cougars to get on the scoreboard, holding a team to zero points for the second time this season.
Rodriguez would go 15-19 on the day with 204 passing yards and a touchdown while recording 23 rushing yards on three attempts. Jules had 128 rushing yards on the day and three touchdowns, with 121 of those yards coming in the first half. Higgins led the Colonels with seven catches for 88 yards. Whitaker had five catches for 52 yards and a score, while Grover had 54 yards on two receptions. Powell threw for 26 yards on the day and rushed for 40 yards.
De'Von James (Mount Holly Springs, PA/Boiling Springs) and Angel Ramos (Allentown, PA/Parkland) led Wilkes with seven tackles, with James adding half a sack alongside Adam Piston (Laurys Station, PA/Parkland). Brandon Holcomb (Boynton Beach, FL/Boca Raton) and Kellen Redmond (St. Petersburg, FL/Calvary Christian) tied for third with six tackles. Washington had three pass break-ups on the day, adding an interception alongside Mackey-Woodson.
Wilkes will look to their biggest test of the season as they head on the road in MAC action to face #16 Delaware Valley at 1:00 p.m. next Saturday.
